Murals

There are alot of way to commit an act of resistance. Resistance is when you refuse to accept or when you go against law or something simple. For example you can use music, speeches, protest and art. Although the most popular one is speeches and protest, you can use art as an act or resistance. There are time where art can mean different and have deeper meaning. Art is protesting without violence and such. Some people are not good with words but are better with art. In which case they can use art to express how they feel toward the society. Like the black lives matter shirt or art. By showing that art or wearing it u are protesting but in art form, no violence. Like how we talk about in class some time you can really say what you want to cause it can get you in trouble but in art form you can. Like how color mean different thing you can use color to tell deeper meaning to what you are against.

Art can most definitely be a form of resistance. One of the most notable movements of resistance is BlackLivesMatter. Many people expressed how they felt about the treatment the black community was receiving by not only voicing their opinions but physically expressing it through murals. The art displayed by said people definitely did not go unseen, it shed light on a tough problem in society today and was anything but ignored. It opened the eyes of people who may not understand the stand point and experiences of people of color. I feel that society and people today in the US have taken great steps in uniting cultures, but we’ve also taken some steps back. With more shared culture through art whether it be movies, poems, or books, we can come together as a culturally inclusive country.

Art is the sole foundation of societal change. Everything that is created to stir society into an act of resistance, or cultural change, is melted into an always stirring pot called Art. Art is books, it is poems, it is political cartoons, speeches, quotes, inventions, crafts and so much more; it is the basis of all change in Society. Everything that has happened in any society has been because of art; wars because of inventions, national uproar because of speeches, historical discoveries because of books, bias because of cartoons… The world revolves around this axis, even though we do not attribute art to it. When you really delve into the true meaning of art, it sticks out that maybe, just maybe, art is just a definition of anything that moves us.

When I think of art, and I let the word sit in my head for a while, it is impossible not to think of cathedral ceilings and gold, marble and hushed voices. It is impossible not to think of museums and no-photographs-please, velvet ropes and polished frames. When we think of art, we are conditioned to see it in its highest form - art, to some Americans, is nothing but a portrait of a half-smiling woman, and the dozens of replicas that mimic it, like ghosts. Art is not supposed to be high-and-mighty. When we condition ourselves to see art as a “do-not-touch”, “no-photographs-please”, tidy exhibit free of dust and oxygen, we take away its humanity. Art is supposed to be human. Art is graffiti adorning the sides of buildings like angry red ivy. Art is blurry photos and terrible poems. Art is the opportunity that humans give themselves to let their souls go, whether it’s on a canvas, or through a lense, or with a pen and paper. Art can be resistance. Art should be resistance - humans are rebellious creatures, and art should reflect such. Art can be anything you want it to be - but please, for the love of all things, do not let it become a luxury.

Art has always been a vehicle for resistance. It is true that owning art or purchasing tickets to see a performance costs money, and that in this sense art can be called a “luxury.” However, art has transcended wealth to inspire change throughout history. In the baroque period, the artist Artemisia Gentileschi indicted an assaulter through her paintings of Judith slaying Holofernes. In colonial America, Paul Revere crafted an engraving that transformed the “Boston Massacre” into a symbol for the British government’s oppression. In the wake of WWI, European dadaists criticized the value of the bourgeoisie with jarring and raw pieces of art that were the antithesis of the soft and harmonious paintings that belonged to the previous era. In the modern day, street artists like Shepard Fairey and Banksy oppose ‘the system’ with subversive graffiti. I have no doubt that artists will continue to fight the wrongs they perceive in this world with creative expression, just as they always have.

Art is built upon resistance. Throughout every culture that has ever existed on this earth art has been used by so many to completely express themselves. I personally think the greatest art comes from those resisting. Those in a dire time of need have the most to express. They can completely fill their art with the purest emotion possible. I am a very strong believer that art is an amazing way to vent and allow your audience to almost empathize with whatever it is you're going through. I don’t completely see art as a luxury. The way I see it, luxury is merely a byproduct of the message you're sending within your art. An example of resistance in our nation's past can be shown through many of the famous poet Langston Hughes’ poems. Hughes wrote from the perspective of a black man in a nation against him and the raw emotion displayed in his poetry puts you there. Hughes alone shows how beneficial resistance can be within art.

Of course art is an act of resistance. The point of art, whether it be music, books, fashion, or artwork(paintings/drawings), is to display the way one feels, or their beliefs, in an outside of the box manner. A lot of times in english class we are required to find the theme or message of a specific text or image, and that is because everything has one. Recently, I have begun to read books that are about the African-American society, police brutality, and racism (). The books themselves have such significant meanings about the racism in the US and the injustice of the system (which I won't go into detail about right now). Books are just one small example, but the point I'm trying to get across is that all art has an underlying meaning, whether it be beauty, resistance, unfairness, or injustice, and therefore, art can be a form of protest.

Personally I do believe that art can be a viable form of resistance or protest. Artist are able to convey different thoughts or emotions through their wok in a way that cannot be completely expressed through words alone. With this, the same sorts of feelings can be provoked from those who feel similarly and can eventually lead to a united group that is capable of working for change. Through different means of expressing an opinion, using art has continuously helped spark people’s motivation. Art has been used to introduce new perspectives throughout history and can be just effective today. It is true that many people may not view art as anything with meaning, but rather just a luxury. Some tend to view art as an unsuitable approach when pushing for societal change, let alone an effective option at all. Having people physically protest for a cause can be incredibly successfully if handled correctly. Having a physical presence in the situation at hand alone can create a considerably powerful message. While these points are justifiable, it is not to say that art in unable to contribute to these various approaches in a different way. With such a wide group of people art can be exposed to, countless ideas can be shaped by viewers of all backgrounds.

I think that art can definitely be an act of resistance. Many works of art share a message that holds some form of resistance such as hidden messages about problems that our world today is facing, or things that are happening today in the world that people feel strongly about. This can help influence someone on their feelings towards an important message that has been created within the artwork. Today throughout social media, I see many artworks that are sharing the artists depiction on issues that we are facing around the world today. For example, I see a lot of artworks emerging around social media regarding the “Black Lives Matter” movement. I have seen quite a few artworks that pertain a message regarding police brutality. I have also seen many artworks around social media regarding the “Times Up” movement. I believe that these works of art highly depict social and cultural messages that need to be changed or resolved.

I believe that art can be an act of resistance. Art can be created in an abundance of forms and is given to everyone to access, no matter who you are or what your background. By creating art, it gives the creator as well as others the ability to emote and show opinion through these images. I believe in this ideal because of how widespread art is and how many forms that it may take. Hence why societal transformation can be focused on protests, politics, business and art as a whole.

Liberty leading the people, the murals painted on the Berlin wall, and the women’s march logo. All these images are more than just murals and paintings. Art unites people under a common image. One painting or one image can be the face of a revolution or what the movement is remembered by. For example the “Everyone is welcome here” which can be seen around America in storefront windows in other places. It is what is spread and seen by people. Or look at Liberty leading the people the image we all associate with the French Revolution. Art gives one unforgettable image for a moment to be remembered by. Watching history throughout the years it is clear that art mirrors the way people feel. Take the dada art movement for example. People were disillusioned after WWII and it was the new types of art that showed that. Art is people’s true feelings and anger used productively to make something creative and inspirational. I understand the importance of protests and politics, but we first need art to initially spark the revolution. Protests means nothing if no one is there. People need to see how people are feeling first. People need to see why change is needed first. People need to see why people want change first. People need to see art and murals first. Art can unite and build support. Art shows how people feel. Art is not just paint on wall and canvases. Art is what begins the revolution.

As a student artist, naturally, I was drawn to this topic. As someone who believes that you should work to see a change, naturally, I was drawn away from this topic. I mean, no offense, but come on. Nothing's going to change if we just sit around making art that expresses our unease with our situations. I can draw as many political works as I want, nothing is going to change my situation unless I try to improve it for myself. While yes, maybe your art can help shift the mind of someone who is already slightly partial to your views and ideals, your art isn't going to save the world or have as big of an impact as you think unless you have influence. In supplement with actions that better your life, socially and culturally, yeah, art can be great. However, if making pretty pictures and clothing is all you're doing in the hopes of a societal reform, I'm afraid we're not living on the same planet. I say yes, do continue to create art maybe for the comfort of others who find solace in your work, but know that it's rather optimistic to think that the change you want lies within the creative works of yourself or others. While popular works of art can serve as a catalyst for change, these ideas can only go so far without being carried to fruition by active people willing to make a change (the right way).

In a historical context, it is safe to say that art has the ability to inspire and provoke change within a society. Whether that change is good or bad, however, depends upon the influence of the artist. For example, Karl Marx’s famous book The Communist Manifesto is widely recognized as the catalyst of communism. This is an example of an instance when an attempt of societal transformation through art has gone in dark directions, as it has led to nations starving and people dying. Especially today, it’s important for an artist to use his influence in order to aid society, not the contrary. This is exactly the revelation that Kendrick Lamar conveys in his album To Pimp a Butterfly. He raps about the importance of using one’s influence for the good of the community, not for a personal agenda. This is such an important message for all the artists in the world, especially this day in age. Because art does spark resistance and provoke change, and these can be very positive things.

Art is expression. Expression is a tool that humanity takes as a tool to express the mind, body and soul. And in this tool, history has proven powerful of which examples such as grief, happiness and resistance can be expressed. Namely, a growth in awareness of social justices in recent years of the inequality of gender- job salaries and treatment are prime examples. A specific expression of resistance to the gender inequality would be the negative publicity the Grammy’s have recently been the subject of- only one woman was awarded for her career achievements. News broadcasts, articles, fashion have all been effective in bringing about awareness for the social injustices women (and men) are victims to. Social and cultural change does not happen overnight, however awareness can be described as the beginnings of a social revolution. Although many may see different forms of art as simply entertainment, the only reasoning art exists and is made is for a spectacle to the public, art does not have one reasoning for its existence. Artists of many forms strive to expression of emotion, of truth, of life and even have specific reasons for their art, their ulterior motive. Therefore, art cannot simply be to entertain but, to expressions of the artist or the artists attempt to gain public awareness of their art and their cause and purpose. Art is an expression that can be a form of resistance, thorugh out history in innumerable ways.

Murals - Michael Ward I believe that art can in fact be a form of resistance. The definition of resistance is the refusal to accept or comply with something. Resistance in society can be seen through many different ways such as protests, speeches, riots, music, and art. Although resistance is most successful through politics, protests, and motivational speeches, resistance can also be enabled through different forms of art. Art generates different emotional responses from people, and if the art reflects the people’s common dissatisfaction with society, than it can certainly be a form of resistance. Throughout history the main and most effective forms of resistance have been through physical protest and resistance to government, but there is always an underlying aspect of art and literature that helps to drive such resistance movements. An example of this is the colonists during the American Revolution. Yes, there main forms of resistance were through battle, boycott, and protest, but in the background there was specific types of propaganda and art that helped to fuel the fire of the American Revolution. The art conveyed the colonists feelings of refusal to accept or comply with the British tyrannic rule.

Yes, I think art can be an act of resistance. The wide umbrella of art includes literature, cinema, painting, drawing, photography, etc. Art can be quite an effective form of protest, using creative expression as a weapon in the fields of politics, allowing certain groups to further their agendas through popular art. For example, literature has seen many significant acts of resistance throughout history, including the pamphlet Common Sense written by Thomas Paine in January 1776. Paine’s pamphlet was written as an act of resistance towards King George III and Parliament, imploring American colonists to fight for their independence from the tyrannical rule of Great Britain. Paine’s pamphlet became a phenomenon and was widely credited with convincing many colonists that independence was necessary, leading to the American Revolution which shaped the country and global superpower we live in today. While I can understand why some may argue that art is just a luxury, and insist that art cannot invoke major changes in our world, Paine’s pamphlet perfectly exemplifies the power art contains, and how art can most definitely be an successful act of resistance.

Art is the most sincere form of expression a person can achieve. While it has a wide range of style and influences, purposes and impacts, but fundamentally, art is whatever we make it to be - both as creators and consumers. Dance is known for its emotive displays, a physical outburst at communicate what words can not. Literature captivates and transforms its audience, engulfing them in a world that only a dancer would be able to feel. Music speaks from the soul, the heart, the brain. Sculpture, painting, illustration, animation - they all tie down beauty and horror and everything that makes of this world and beyond. Art is many things, from grand paintings displayed at the Louvre or the Acropolis to street musicians and the clothes visionaries sew. Anything a person can hope to express can be expressed through art - so why not resistance? Throughout the ages, protest and revolution have propelled humanity forward with art running not parallel, but entwined with the changes. Sure, the most dire of circumstances may cause some to pause and ask if art ought to be a priority, but the fact is that art is so fundamental to understanding human nature that is doesn’t detract from revolution, it doesn’t detract from resistance - art enhances it.

Although some may say that art is a luxury now a days, with all the bad that is going on in the world, I think that art is a way that we can make a change. When we feel like we are losing our voices, art can speak for us, and make the public the change that we want to see. Although people are going through struggles with status, this should spark an effort in the art community, where people can make public and put on record their opinions. By writing stories on current day politics and how they have been effected, they are publicizing the voice of other people, who may have lost their own voices. Paintings can show what is going on in the world better than words can explain, by showing the audience the pain, and have them experience and see what the artist sees. Art is a beautiful way to voice opinions, and show the audience the wrong that is going on. Art can spark a revolution that can bring a change, and can show the audience what is going on, and what needs to be done. Art is a beautiful way to voice opinion. When times are hard, it is easy to shut down and say art is now a luxury because there are more important things going on, but I believe art can bring that change. In the past, many people have voiced their opinions on war through songs, and explaining how their needs to be peace. Celebrities wore "Me Too" buttons on their shirts at an award ceremony to stand with sexual assault victims. Art is a way that can help bring change.

Art can absolutely be a form of resistance. I that that one of the most common forms of resistance is art; whether it be a painting, a poem, or a song, many artists use their talents to speak out against ideas or events that they do not agree with. I believe that is is extremely important for influential artists to do. If they have a large fan base, they should take advantage of that and create a piece of art that speaks volumes for what they believe is right. I think that it is also a very effective way of resistance because it easily spreads throughout a larger population. If a person hears a song on the radio that promotes racial equality, they are more likely to resonate and remember that song rather than a political debate or protest. Logic, who is a popular rap artist in today’s industry, wrote an album entitled “Everybody” that a great example of this. In the songs in his album, he promotes equality for “every race, religion, color, creed, and sexual orientation”. He used his fan base to spread his messages of equality. Many artists like Logic use their popularity to their advantage to create a form of resistance.

I do think that art can be an effective method of resistance--and I believe so because art has been one of the most profound factors in shaping society as we know it. Any major change in history came with a change in the arts. For example, the Renaissance cam with rebirth of culture--and art is what led us out of the “darkness” of the Middle Ages into the intellectual sophistication of the Renaissance. Art belongs to the people; it always has. We saw that with the birth of hip-hop as a form resistance to an unjust government. In the history of humans, there has always been art as a constant. It has shaped any major event that has happened--political cartoons, a form of art, has managed to overwhelmingly affect the course of wars and politics. Art has always been about the people, and it can be a very effective method to bring about change and resistance. Art is what makes “political” things or heavy subjects that aren’t really talked about, a major topic in popular culture. Art is what makes us human, and in cases like the Holocaust where the government tried to entirely erase a group’s humanity, the simple existence of art can be a form of resistance. Art can also resist through representation--representing the oppressed, the ones silenced, the ones that don’t have a voice. Art gives a voice to the people, and it can and should be used as a form of resistance to oppression and injustice.

Art can be an act of resistance. Throughout history, ordinary people have turned to art for political expression and social defiance of standards in their government, nation, and/or society. One notable movement that required art was the Civil Rights Movement, which sparked in the 1960s. While direct involvement in protests and lawsuits moved forward the goal of racial equality for black citizens, art captured the deep and complex themes and emotions associated with the oppressed minority. Viewers could empathize with the subjects in paintings and murals, which demonstrate pain and distress. For example, Norman Rockwell's 1964 painting "Rockwell & Race" depicts violence against civil rights workers, an unfair issue in America that requires social change. Of course, artwork during the Civil Rights Movement was not always dark. Portraits of Martin Luther King Jr. could also be considered "an act of resistance", as struggling minorities would continue to support him and his legacy despite of backlash from the federal government and the majority of Americans. Ordinary people enjoy and relate to art, which is why it remains a powerful weapon of resistance against certain political and social conditions.