Analysis of Art as a Form of Activism - Case Study Example

Analysis of Art as a form of Activism Different art forms, have since long, been apprehended as a tool to activism. Underlying notions to the integration of arts with activism, have much been emphasized over the fact that activists are always in demand of voice that can create an influence on the society and this is where artists gain the privilege. Whatever the reason may be, recognized artists, such as Miley Cyrus and Beyonce among many others have used their art to bring noteworthy changes within the society. The concept of art as a tool to activism and artists as activists is not new to human civilization and has existed since the ancient period. Nevertheless, the contribution of media in shaping activism today, involving art forms as tools to raise communal awareness and social conscience have been phenomenal. Thesis statement. In this paper, focus will be over assessing the views of the two young artists, Tatyana Fazlalizadeh and Inez Jasper reflecting on their media coverage. Tatyana Fazlalizadeh concentrates on gender stereotyping as a street artist and Inez Jasper highlights different aspects related to racial, ethnic and color discriminations reported frequently within the so-called modern human society with her pop music. Concentrating on Tatyana Fazlalizadeh, her creations can be observed as directly voicing street violence against women. Starting from eve-teasing to even rapes have been subjects on her street arts with the novel intention to generate awareness among women as well as other groups of the society overall, especially those included in her recent campaign of ‘Stop Telling Women to Smile’. More than gender stereotyping, the campaign emphasizes over street and public sexual harassments against women, voiced through the captions included in her posters, such as “No, you cant talk to me for a minute” and “My outfit is not an invitation”. The campaign indirectly however intends to generate awareness among women regarding their rights against such harassments, stressing on the women rights movements still on continuation, as often covered in television. Through her campaign, Tatyana has interviewed many such victims of public sexual harassments and street harassments that firmly echo the gender based on stereotypes still faces by women in the modern society. However, hardly or seldom do these victims raise their voices owing the various inhibitions and doubts regarding their rights (Stop Telling Women to Smile, “Stop Telling Women to Smile”). A similar affirmation was drawn in a video by Vanderbilt University picturing “The Women’s Rights Movement on TV News”. This video affirms that the problem was found to be more associated with the lack of awareness among women regarding their rights that had somewhat built a stereotypical view within the society that women rights activists are only concentrated on gaining equality between men and women (Vanderbilt University, “The Women’s Rights Movement on TV News”). My personal experience to the factor has also been much similar to what has been argued by the social right activist Tatyana through her campaign and its posters with strong captions. Being a woman myself, I have also faced such harassments on streets not only in my native country but also in the US, where I am an international student. The issue is certainly not related to any specific country or a geographic region but it is a problem, I would rather relate to people’s mindset. Men on streets or public places have often been witnessed addressing a woman as a ‘babe’ or similar referrals, which at times becomes rather uncomfortable situation for the women passing by. In my personal opinion, it is also a fact that such unwelcomed gestures not only come from young boys, but also by adults and even middle-aged men are also observed to decipher such misconducts at frequently instances. This leads to the notion that such acts are also not a matter of age related awareness but is a behavioral stereotype that needs to be amended for social betterment that can only come through creating high awareness. Both the referred video by Vanderbilt University and the campaign by Tatyana voice that rather than focusing on such rectifications, it has often been pointed as a fault of women class calling their “outfit as an invitation” to such harassments. Undoubtedly, this calls for a strong movement against such violence victimizing women that is often ignored within the social class. My attention was also drawn by another artist activist who has recently gained much attention as a pop music singer and a songwriter namely Inez Jasper. She and her contribution as an activist was recently covered by MTV channel their Rebel Music column along with other artists who have been focusing on the racial stereotyping practiced against Native Americans since decades by the settlers in the country. The documentary focuses on various issues, such as the fact that most suicides are reported to victimize Native Americans, with women belonging to this social class accounted among the majority victims to sexual harassments (MTV, “Native America: 7th Generation Rises”). To put it simply, the themes, or rather the sufferings that Inez addresses through her songs along with the other artists documented in this series argue sexual as well as racial stereotyping against Native Americans taking place even in the current decade, when social awareness concerning these matters are supposed to have gained higher attention and concentration. Not only street arts, but also pop music has also been much focus as a tool to activism in the modern world apparently, gaining continually increasing hype in the media, which has been inspired by revolutionary and much appraised singers, such as Miley Cyrus and Beyonce. These singers have been drawing the attention of the entire world as Feminists, emphasizing on sexual stereotyping that our society still suffering from by treating men and women differently. As I could identify from the songs written or sung by these pop singers, including Inez, the core theme or notion of their art remain concentrated on the challenges, hardships and maltreatments faced by women belonging to different classes of the society and irrespective of their cultural, ethnic or social background. The messages that these singers intend to give through their arts also indirectly emphasizes over the often reluctant behavior that observed among women to raise their voices against such maltreatments. It is thus that these young artists attempt through their songs to motivate young women to protest against such violations of their rights to equality and respect as an individual (Apolloni, ““The Biggest Feminist in the World”: On Miley Cyrus, Feminism, and Intersectionality”). The most intriguing fact related to the artists and their activist nature arguing that women in our society still have lack of independence. Taking example from Beyonce, her arts having unavoidable similarities with that of Inez, at least when emphasizing the core theme, it can be noted that women independence has been a major area of concern among these activists (Eddo-Lodge, “Beyoncé is doing it Her Way”). Even when related back to the campaign ‘Stop Telling Women to Smile’ introduced by Tatyana, the degree to which women’s independence has become essential today, wherein not only the other society members but also women themselves need to be aware of their rights, become stronger. In another field, wherein the performances of Inez gain similarities with Beyounce’s art form is emphasis led to racial inequalities persistent in the current social phenomenon by both of them (Hobson, “Beyoncés Fierce Feminism”). On the other hand, Beyonce has been more aggressive in expounding these concerns, Inez focuses on a more lenient side, giving greater significance over the emotions attached to such issues. Nevertheless, the messages and the intent that these artists voice in their performances have been much inspired by their personal experiences as a women and their relative association with a particular race. For instance, I found that Tatyana and Inez both belonged to the community of Native Americans and so did Beyonce and Miley Cyrus. As explained by these activists, or rather Feminists, they have been strongly inspired by the experiences of themselves as well as those of other women in the society. It was their feeling or earnest need to women empowerment and independence form the root to their activist approach through their art performances. Even from a general point of view, women independence is somewhat non-negligible concerning its worth and meaning in the current society. However, even though we do understand the needs for such movements, we must admit that involvement of the common public as well as that of the political enforcers have been insignificant or lagging to deal with such social hindrances when it comes to the implementation of laws. It is in this context that I believe these artists to act very significantly in building an alignment between the political and the social forces, through their voice and impression on the society. Referring to the described contextual ground, these activists’ approaches have often been linked to their association to political groups. Music has often been linked with such political exposure, as it is able to attract the attention of the masses and stimulate social groups to form clusters of Protestants that in turn are able to create pressure on the political enforcers of laws (Belcher, and Haridakis. “From “Alternative” To “Trance”: The Role Of Music In Facilitating Political Group Activity And Activism”). This particular notion can be well examined with reference to the performances of Inez through her songs, which are mostly based on the hardships and challenges faced by women of her race as well as the entire race as well. As observed, it is very necessary for these creations to be entertaining and capable of drawing the attention of the masses in order to gain the significance and put the desired degree of pressure on law enforcers within the society to consider these aspects as vital. Simultaneously, for other forms of art, such as the paintings of Tatyana also, it is important to gain the audiences’ attention with a message that is clear to the understandings of the public and essentially indeed, must be associated with the public interest. Perhaps, it has been owing to these underlying reasons that the activists, i.e. the artists, have deciphered quite a pivotal significance in assuring that their audiences are adequately entertained by their creations. I have to admit that at often times, I have heard to Inez, to Beyonce, to Miley Cyrus and had even noted Tatyana when she received much recognition for her painting of the current US President Mr. Barack Obama. However, each time I visualize their creations or enjoy their performances, I feel positively motivated to react on witnessing any occurrence that might be hindering women independence or racial equality directly or indirectly. Nevertheless, the significance of communal unity is uncompromising in this context. As per my personal experience, I have followed much news in my national community as well as even after relocating to the US as an international student that individuals fear to raise their voices against sexual or racial crimes with doubt to lack adequate power, which often leads to a more violent crime of an unaccepted level. Similarly, even if a few individuals depict their intent to voice against such malpractices, their protests subside after certain period due to lack of social attention and political non-recognition. I believe it is where the artists gain a better chance to voice the hardships and complaints of the women around the world as well as specific races if they are facing injustice and inequality. These artists, as mentioned above, have their themes in common even if their specializations and scale of appreciation or recognition is observed to reside at different levels, virtually. These artists have been engaged to one of many such campaigns those are programmed to help the victims of social injustice raise their experiences in front of the mass media. Websites are created to allow a better interaction of the fans with these artists building their reachability to a varied range of social classes around the world. Measures are also taken on the political front to address these issues with the intent to balance social well-being and equality above all. Conclusively, it can be asserted that art has undoubtedly expanded its reach and impression within the modern society, wherein it is no more considered as a means of entertainment only but has its wings flaunt a more significant attribute as a tool to activism. Its ability to gain mass attention and thereafter build social conscience and political strictness against injustices have certainly aided as such a tool, wherein artists have taken the virtue to pay a commendably responsible role in generating awareness. Works Cited Apolloni, Alexandra. “The Biggest Feminist in the World”: On Miley Cyrus, Feminism, and Intersectionality.” American Music Review 43.2 (2014): 1-5. Web. 15 Jun. 2015. Belcher, James D., and Paul Haridakis. “From “Alternative” To “Trance”: The Role Of Music In Facilitating Political Group Activity And Activism.”Ohio Communication Journal 49. (2011): 145-174. Web. 15 Jun. 2015. Eddo-Lodge, Reni. “Beyoncé is doing it Her Way.” New Humanist 129.1 (2014): 18. Web. 15 Jun. 2015. Hobson, Janell. “Beyoncés Fierce Feminism.”Ms 23.2 (2013): 42. Web. 15 Jun. 2015. Kunhardt, Jessie. “Poetry Activism.” The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPostcom, 18 Jun. 2015. Web. 15 Jun. 2015. MTV. “Native America: 7th Generation Rises.” Rebel Music (2015). Web. 15 Jun. 2015. Stop Telling Women to Smile. “Stop Telling Women to Smile.” About (2015). Web. 15 Jun. 2015. Vanderbilt University. The Women’s Rights Movement on TV News. Web. 15 Jun. 2015. Read More