"Understanding Patriarchy" by Bell Hooks
1. I find it liberating how Bell Hooks recalls being "stronger and more violent than her bother" growing up in a confident manner. While her brother was a "gentle, peaceful boy" failing to reach the masculine ideal. We live in a society where hyper physicality can drastically impact a young male or female's reputation. Personally, I feel that an individual's resilience should be shown through other means than physical attributes. Trying too hard to depict an ideal rather than expressing oneself can make an individual lose their sense of particularity. Being distinctive is the most powerful trait one can behold.
2. For one to assume dominance over an entire group or family is systemically corrupt. I am drawn to Hooks' claim that "dismantling and changing patriarchal culture is work that men and women must do together." In any movement regarding social change, there is a strong need for co-conspirators of the other to work with those ones may fight against.
In terms of sexuality in American culture, marriage and companionship are very individualized. Two socially monogamous people fall in love, live happily ever after, XOXO, because that is what's expected via cultural upbringing. Advertising love in such a manner can be promoting patriarchy and the prescription of gender roles unconsciously. From a holistic point-of-view, ties of kinship involving multiple husbands and/or spouses is more realistic than what's taught historically in Western cultures. The act of working together to achieve practicality over fantasy can fuel self-determination. Through many lenses of politics regarding capitalism, there is always other types of people feeling betrayed by the system passed down to them. Patriarchy just happens to be a prime example.
"What Memes Owe to Art History" by Alice Bucknell
1."Memes offer a highly accessible and interactive platform pf production that is ripe for challenge and dissent[.]"
I find this incredibly true and ironic. Everything is so easily accessible through media outlets that the idea of not knowing something (at all) is rare. This phenomenon makes me question the importance of engaging an audience as a contemporary artist. A viewer can so easily google something and have a hard-headed approach to understanding your statement in a matter of seconds.
2. Memes convey "political power as critical resistance"
Memes portray complex human emotions. It is fascinating to think of the power dynamics associated with meme culture. One can provoke critical emotions at one's leisure forming both a recipe for enlightenment, and disaster. Memes can oversimplify (or under simplify) to form the illusion of understanding topics without thorough explanation. In turn, misinformation can spread quickly, reflecting major issues like fake news being publicized.
"Memes Are Our Generation's Protest Art" by Sage Lazzaro
1. "Most [activist memes] are rooted in either expressing anger, mocking Trump, or collectively coping with the absurdity of his presidency."
I can't think of a better reason to make a meme than to interrogate a superficial, capitalist bootlicker like Donald Trump. He disregards all forms of ethical norms. Yet, his rhetoric has forced America to address difficult issues like white privilege. Having immediate access to these memes provides an outlet to bridge political conflicts and challenge the status quo.
2. "In identifying social problems, the genre needs villains."
This quote resonates with me because it goes against the assimilationist expectation in America. From a young age, we are taught that violence and acts of resistance are evil. But in terms of revolutionary movements, violence, or at least some form of retaliation is necessary to spark actual change. This debate is the reason figures like Malcolm X or Colin Kaepernick are dismissed. As Malcolm X once said: "You can't sing up on freedom, but you can swing up on some freedom" (The Ballot or the Bullet). To be an activist, one needs to take charge.
No comments:
Post a Comment