tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441758389977123332.post5617632792827488140..comments2023-06-17T07:51:21.039-06:00Comments on Critical Communication Re-Imagined: Art As Activism is Effective in the Digital AgeGideon Burtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08282494104976426309noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441758389977123332.post-68532546037103657162016-06-16T14:29:30.974-06:002016-06-16T14:29:30.974-06:00I would like to wholeheartedly agree with your cla...I would like to wholeheartedly agree with your claim that art in its many forms can elicit emotional responses and personal questioning that can lead to reform. I would like to comment on the “can” in my previous sentence. <br /><br />Whenever I think of something that makes me re-evaluate my way of thinking, the commercials for the SPCA come along – the ones with the sad song and the sad animals that make you cry. I think that art is a very powerful way to bring about a change of heart and mind, but sometimes there are not clear channels for that emotion to turn it into action. In the case of the SPCA videos, this is not an issue since a phone number is displayed on the screen to call in order to help and donate to their cause. When I spoke with my friends about this group post and shared it with my boyfriend, they all said that they wanted to make a difference, but simply did not know how.<br /><br />However, if you look at photographs, listen to slam poetry, or go to a play, there may not be as obvious of a course of action following the experience, leaving viewers emotional and undirected. <br /><br />In the past, art was very important in maintaining the emotions of individuals. In the times of the Colosseum, events put on in the arena were meant to be viewed as games to support those who were in the upper class and in power. They discouraged uprisings and questioning of power, at the cost of a bloody public death. In the times of the many American wars, poetry was used to make sure that soldiers and citizens remained firm in their nationalism and patriotism for their country and cause. An example of such poetry is our nation’s “Star Spangled Banner,” or the “War of 1812.” <br /><br />It almost seems that in the past art was used to maintain emotions, rather than to harness them to change something. This was an important thing that I just noticed, and it may play into the fact that it is harder to get people to act on art today. In the past, art was used to enforce and elicit responses for the social norm, whereas now art is asking people to stand out in society as an advocate for change from the social norm. <br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14730088596295208430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441758389977123332.post-65539096785706450652016-06-15T22:51:26.758-06:002016-06-15T22:51:26.758-06:00I completely agree that we are bombarded with so m...I completely agree that we are bombarded with so many causes it is often so difficult to decide which to promote actively that we end up doing nothing or very little. I've also encountered a lot of groups that think their way is the only way and will belittle anyone who thinks otherwise, often missing chances for wonderful communication, collaboration, and compromise. I do wonder though, which arts that applies to. You make a good point that art at times can just raise awareness, but that hasn't been my experience with theatre, nor with live experiences at galleries and things. I think there is a human component there that can be missing in things shared online. In my post I discuss the power of empathy and how theatre causes us to ask questions; it promotes discussion. If we can, through any art, get people talking about it in their daily lives, not just liking it on social media, we are a lot closer to getting them to act. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09133201429293486078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441758389977123332.post-48812783283871681222016-06-15T12:18:19.118-06:002016-06-15T12:18:19.118-06:00I think that art and photography are a means of el...I think that art and photography are a means of eliciting emotion and creating awareness of issues in our society. However, I do not feel that it has enough power to bring about lasting change. <br /><br />With the recent shooting in Orlando at a gay nightclub, slacktivism seems to be a very current topic. Not only does this tragedy bring about mourning and terror, but it also stirs up political opinions and raises debates about controversial politicial topics. This was evident on social media sources such as Twitter and Facebook after searching #slacktivism. This idea of sharing originally brings about much activism, but with everyone pushing his or her own activist ideas, it gets lost in the mix and ultimately returns back to a slacktivist mentality. People read the posts and voice their own thoughts, but it is rare that anything actually gets put into action because there is so much out there. <br /><br />After looking on Pinterest and searching “gun control”, there is an accumulation of memes, photography, and quotations stirring up the pot on the debate of the subject. While adding these pins to one’s board can seem like it is spreading awareness and activism, it really only links to slackivism: the idea that spreading, liking or sharing controversial issues on social media can lead to change. As I was scrolling, I came across some memes or art pieces that elicited emotion such as laughter or sadness, but it didn’t seem to leave a lasting impression on me that would push me to get deeply involved.<br />https://id.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=gun%20control&rs=typed&0=gun%7Ctyped&1=control%7CtypedMadeline Vancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07691260322160372654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441758389977123332.post-63564604937569950162016-06-15T12:03:20.804-06:002016-06-15T12:03:20.804-06:00I believe that art is effective at raising awarene...I believe that art is effective at raising awareness concerning a given issue, but not necessarily at inciting action. It is kind of like the "inspirational quote" mentality, where one may experience a positive response, but unless it actually changes that person's behavior, the quote failed to achieve its purpose.<br /><br />This is partially due to the number of supportable causes. During World War II, the Allies and the Axis Powers effectively used propaganda to incite responses in their citizens (as Karee brought up in her post: http://criticalcomms.blogspot.com/2016/06/the-rise-of-individual-leverage-of.html) primarily because this was THE cause at the time. The propaganda also provided a means for action, such as enlisting in the army or purchasing bonds.<br /><br />Abraham Maslow said in The Psychology of Science: A Reconnaissance, "…it is tempting, if the only tool you have is a hammer, to treat everything as if it were a nail." Each activist group has their hammer, and views contemporary issues as nails that only their hammer can pound. I feel that this almost promotes slacktivism in that, because of the sheer amount of content, it may seem overwhelming to be involved in so many worthwhile causes, no matter the medium that is used to represent them.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17100852786836657571noreply@blogger.com