What is Art Activism - Rocco Francisco

 Reading Quotes

"Art is highly effective at translating events, facts, and ideologies into stories, images, and performances, making objective things into subjective forms we can experience, feel, and, importantly, remember." (Page 25)

     Art is able to tap into a subjective medium, that being emotionally driven, from something that could be treated as matter-of-fact. Often people describe knowledge and events as "boring," preferring to stay in places that offer entertainment or satisfaction. Art takes something that someone may treat as "dull" and offer it in a medium that is easier to digest and enjoy. A message can then be extrapolated from this art, creating a strong potential in activism. Where one person may be disinterested in an activist fact, they may find more engagement from activist art, with the latter proving incredibly useful in helping drive change.

"At first glance, these aims seem at odds with one another. Activism moves the material world, while art moves the heart, body, and soul. But effect and affect can be complementary. " (Page 29)

    There is something to be said about how effective art activism is because of this subversion of expectation. People may expect activism to stay formal, and others may imagine art not to focus on activist aspects. Both things create influences on life, and work together in ways that are easy to ignore. The combination of an objective and subjective medium creates a space that is as intriguing as it is effective: art activism captures attention while calling for change.

What is Art Activism?

    Art activism is the usage of art as an involved vessel used to call for change. Art, through its subjective appeal and emotion acts as a force to drive the objective of an activist message forward. The relationship between art and activism here is one that creates a product that is able to appeal to viewers and urge them to move towards change. There is a range to be had here, with art activism sometimes learning in the direction of art, and at other times leaning in the direction of activism.

    This piece from page 35 of the book refers to that of Chinese cities, specifically that of the War on Smog. The art surrounding the War on Smog performance piece in 2014 is powerful in the fact that it depicts the event in a way that draws attention to it. There is an emotional draw to the piece that brings people into it, and urges the audience to both look into the issue.