Friday, January 19, 2018
Art is Essential to Democracy
HowlRound: The Federation is a coalition of artists, arts organizations, and allies that are committed to keeping cultural borders open. The idea and the name was sparked by the artist Laurie Anderson. In the early spring, she, the producer Laura Michalchyshyn, and I were having dinner. Laurie talked about her recent experience working in Berlin, the growing refugee crisis there, and the threatened closing of physical borders throughout Europe. This was after the US Presidential inauguration but before the harmful tactics of the current administration, such as the travel ban, had taken effect.
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The author of this article says it perfectly when she says that artists may not be able to change the world but they can inspire people to change the world. In a business that is ever-so focused on keeping a good name in both the eye of the public and the eyes of those who provide for and allow the cultivation of theater, also known as: the government, the fine line between speaking out and watching what you say becomes completely muffled. When speaking about countries like Sri Lanka that was plagued with a tyrannical government, we have to understand that though we may think that it's exactly the same here in the U.S, we still have unalienable rights that make it possible for artists to speak up both aggressively and respectfully at the same time, only problem is that it's a huge risk. The federation is the first step towards in blurring that line, the mission and goals presented in this article have merit, are simple, and are crafted with intelligence. It's only with orginizations like the federation, that true empathy will be able to be made through art.
I like how this article combined artistic democratic ideals with actual concrete solutions and organized actions going forward. I feel like people are sometimes too quick to dismiss the arts as unable to bring about meaningful change in our current society and democracy. Indeed, with that attitude, it will be impossible to bring about change. But when people who believe strongly in the power of the arts join their forces and organize, as in the article, I think it can really bring about meaningful social change and progress. We are living in a time where the priorities of our government and the people being governed have stark divides, as has been the case in our history before, such as during the anti-war and counterculture movements of the 60's. If we look to the 60's as an analogue, it was also a time of great artistic exploration and innovation, which sprung from the anti-establishment actions of the time, and incited change and action in turn. I believe we are living in such a time, and the more people who are willing to wield their art as a tool for change the better off we will be.
That was such a fascinating read! In high school, I was taught that art is a mirror that we, as theatre artists, hold up to society. We force the world to reflect on itself, as every piece we create is a product of our own perception of the world. Thus, I agree with the author when she explains that the world needs "a federation that is made up of cities, organizations, and people that are defiant of the powers that be that seek to divide us and keep us separate." By promoting the free flow of culture and ideas across borders, those in power will find it far more difficult to maintain oppressive policies. If you don't agree, I suggest you take a look at the results of the Arab Spring. In using social media to not only exchange information, but also express thoughts and feelings about their situations, people across the Middle East were able to overthrow dictatorships and install more equitable governments.
I really like hearing about projects like this. Art, especially theatre, is made exponentially better, in my opinion, when collaboration is done between worlds that otherwise would never join together. I think it can create really great results when people from different careers, social standings, backgrounds, ethnicities, or countries come together and work together because so many different points of view are able to be expressed all together. I like the idea that art is necessary for democracy. I like to think that as well. I think that art is essential to all forms of human civilization moving forward. Of course, it is not necessary for survival but for humanity to progress and to continue doing so, art is the catalyst that has to be used. Without art and education to propel humanity forward, we would be stuck ages in the past. There is nothing that we do that compares to art in this way.
#ArtUnitesUs. This article is so profound and was truly an incredible read. Culture is based of art, or even more so the lack thereof, and in a democracy it is a true way for peoples voices to be heard and their work to be seen. Creation of work leads to action which leads to change, which is truly what is so important, especially in a time like this. What seemed incredibly cool to me that the federation did was the Art Action Day kit that I am sure was used by so many people today in their protests. Truthfully, the one thing I love most about art and, in turn, theatre is the way it can inspire change, unite people and pave a way for voices to be heard. Art is so essential in creating a meaningful and powerful democracy, and I can only imagine the state that the United States would be in today if art was non-existent in our lifestyle.
What strikes me about the Federation, is the way in which it inspires people to voice their opinions. To me that is one of the most key elements of democracy, and is the first step in protest and revolution. While art itself doesn’t change the world, I agree with Shahzad in the sense that it still has profound effects on the world. Overall, I like the way the organization unites artists and encourages them to work together in solidarity. The effect of art can be amplified through solidarity and artists working together. The Federation is useful to artists, as a place to channel their work and goals. I find it inspiring to see art promoting social change, not just as a side effect but a conscious effort. While I find it difficult to wrap my head around current events I find it inspiring to see people who care and use their art as protest.
It’s fitting that the article opens with a quote from one of my favorite feminist authors, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. I fully agree that culture is the path to upholding and preserving a people, and the concept of art as a function of democracy comes along with it. The root of the word democracy comes from the Greek word “demokratia”, meaning “people” (demos) and “power” (kratos). I believe these are the two most foundational elements of creating art as well. You cannot create art without people-- whether that be the artist themselves or the audience witnessing the creation of art. Furthermore, art gives power to both those who make it and those viewing it as well. This seemed to be the intrinsic elements of The Federation, created by artist Laurie Anderson. Hopefully the creation of this will contribute to a collective protest from the arts community against things such as the Trump administration and the travel ban, as the article mentioned.
Art is essential to democracy because it allows people to express themselves in very powerful ways that manifest itself in forms of expression against oppressive governments, fight for equality, and galvanizes free movements all around the world. This article accentuates the need for why artists everywhere are integral for the struggle for freedom for oppressed peoples all over the world. This is especially true for people of color and the LGBT community who are too frequently maligned and cast aside in society. By empowering artists we allow powerful messages to spread, to create a culture where art is used to inspire the downtrodden and oppressed to be a beacon of hope unto the world. As we see the country and the world that we live in changing around us, due to the current political climate and its ramifications, Art has become even more integral to our worldview and our integrity as a society.
Reading things like this excites me! In the midst of all of the negative stories that deal with sexual misconduct, hate, and exclusivity, reading something that is specifically designed to cultivate inclusivity, unification, diversity, and acceptance is really, truly encouraging. As so many of my peers have commented, art comes from our experience in the world. We are shaped by how we are treated, how we see others being treated, the tragedies, the successes, and so much more. Art is an incredible way to remove the distractions that pull us apart, and to force us all to the time to really see the ways that other members of the global community experience our world. When we are able to step beyond just seeing others’ viewpoints, and begin to create the symbols of our realities together is a beautiful thing. The Federation does fantastic work in supporting artists in not only revealing their truths, but empowering and helping others to allow their truths into the world as well. I look forward to see what comes from The Federation in the future, and I really hope their work shows the rest of the world that collaboration between people who seem different is, not only possible, but absolutely wonderful.
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