Works Cited
Cotter, Holland. "May Stevens, Who Turned Activism into Art, Is Dead at 95." The New York Times [New York City], 26 Dec. 2019. The New York Times, www.nytimes.com/2019/12/26/arts/may-stevens-dead.html. Accessed 14 Feb. 2020.
Duncombe, Stephen. "Does it Work? The Æffectof Activist Art." Project Muse, Johns Hopkins University Press, 4 Nov. 2016, c4aa.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/DuncombeAeffectSR.pdf. Accessed 14 Feb. 2020.
Guard, Julie, et al. "Art as Activism: Empowering Workers and Reviving Unions through Popular Theater." Labor Studies Journal, vol. 37, no. 2, 5 Jan. 2012, pp. 163-82. Sage Journals, journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0160449X11431895?journalCode=lsja. Accessed 14 Feb. 2020.
Sember, Robert, and David Gere. "'Let the Record Show . . .': Art Activism and the AIDS Epidemic." American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, 10 Oct. 2011, ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/full/10.2105/AJPH.2006.089219. Accessed 14 Feb. 2020.
Shank, Michael and Howard Zinn, Forward by (2004) "Redefining the Movement: Art Activism," Seattle Journal for Social Justice: Vol. 3 : Iss. 2 , Article 20. Available at: https://digitalcommons.law.seattleu.edu/sjsj/vol3/iss2/2
Cotter, Holland. "May Stevens, Who Turned Activism into Art, Is Dead at 95." The New York Times [New York City], 26 Dec. 2019. The New York Times, www.nytimes.com/2019/12/26/arts/may-stevens-dead.html. Accessed 14 Feb. 2020.
Duncombe, Stephen. "Does it Work? The Æffectof Activist Art." Project Muse, Johns Hopkins University Press, 4 Nov. 2016, c4aa.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/DuncombeAeffectSR.pdf. Accessed 14 Feb. 2020.
Guard, Julie, et al. "Art as Activism: Empowering Workers and Reviving Unions through Popular Theater." Labor Studies Journal, vol. 37, no. 2, 5 Jan. 2012, pp. 163-82. Sage Journals, journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0160449X11431895?journalCode=lsja. Accessed 14 Feb. 2020.
Sember, Robert, and David Gere. "'Let the Record Show . . .': Art Activism and the AIDS Epidemic." American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, 10 Oct. 2011, ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/full/10.2105/AJPH.2006.089219. Accessed 14 Feb. 2020.
Shank, Michael and Howard Zinn, Forward by (2004) "Redefining the Movement: Art Activism," Seattle Journal for Social Justice: Vol. 3 : Iss. 2 , Article 20. Available at: https://digitalcommons.law.seattleu.edu/sjsj/vol3/iss2/2
AJPH: “Let the record show” Art activism and the AIDS epidemic
The “SILENCE = DEATH” logo was created in 1986-7, and was adopted by the new activist group, the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT UP). This group used the logo as an agent of cultural activism. It was put everywhere, posters, media, etc. The use of this illustration attracted the attention of the mainstream media. Up until then, most of the media was dominated by pictures of people suffering with aids, not people wanting action. In 1988, ACT UP members created Gran Fury, an arts collective that’s purpose was to use the power of art “to end the AIDS crisis.” Gran Fury showed the power of art. The simplicity in the logo created mystery, allowing various interpretations. The pink triangle on the logo has important historical significance. Similar to how Jews were required to wear stars on their clothing, homosexuals were required to wear a pink triangle. In the 1960s, gay activists made the pink triangle the symbol to resemble the struggle for sexual rights, so having it included in the SILENCE=DEATH image connects that movement with ACT UP’s movement against AIDS. It also adds an aspect of ominousby insinuating that if nothing is done, thousands will die.
This source is very useful because it provides a very literal and helpful example for my project. It taught me the who what when and why, then showed me the specific impacts of the art itself.
This source is very useful because it provides a very literal and helpful example for my project. It taught me the who what when and why, then showed me the specific impacts of the art itself.
Does it Work? The Æffectof Activist Art
It is often difficult to conceptualize activist art because activism and art have different roles in society. Activism is the action of challenging power. It does not always mean going to protests, it can mean anything including “organizing a child care collective among parents in one’s neighborhood.” Art is more complicated, for it is never clear what the art is for or against. Its purpose, however, is to evoke feeling and emotion.
This source is good for my project because it gives me a good background on what activism is, what art is, and where and how they intersect. I will use this source further in order to learn the efficiency of the combination of the two, its aim/objective, and the methods to use them.
This source is good for my project because it gives me a good background on what activism is, what art is, and where and how they intersect. I will use this source further in order to learn the efficiency of the combination of the two, its aim/objective, and the methods to use them.
Redefining the Movement: Art Activism
Our emotions are easily impacted by art. Art has been seen to encourage positive behavior in preschool environments. They learn to engage without judgement in artistic expression. The reason art seems to be such a safe space for children is because it is not subject to the harsh grading founding in subjects like their math, science, history, and english classes. The lines of art are less defined, allowing kids to freely participate without caution. These include expression through dance, music, painting, and theater. This appeals to social justice advocates because they want their audience to feel different than they would watching a formal speech. They can shape their art to stimulate the desired social behavior.
This source is good for my project because it gives me a different perspective on my topic. By showing me the more scientific and analytical side of art activism, I can understand why it has such a profound effect on its audience.
This source is good for my project because it gives me a different perspective on my topic. By showing me the more scientific and analytical side of art activism, I can understand why it has such a profound effect on its audience.
Art as Activism: Empowering Workers and Reviving Unions through Popular Theater
Theater has great potential to be utilized as a tool to raise political awareness in unions. Activist theater substantiates the creator’s confidence and knowledge, and it promotes activist culture. It also can raise awareness about gender inequality within unions. The experience of a single group of workers shows how theater can help a movement by building solidarity.
This source could be good for my project because it showed me a very different type of art activism: theater and labor unions. This is a perspective that I have never heard about before.
This source could be good for my project because it showed me a very different type of art activism: theater and labor unions. This is a perspective that I have never heard about before.
May Stevens, Who Turned Activism Into Art, Is Dead at 95
May Stevens was a painter whose art dealt with political and social issues like civil rights, antiwar, and feminism. She died December 9, 2019 at age 95. She was a part of a generation of activist artists like Rudolf Baranik, Leon Golub, and Nancy Spero. “The reason I’m an artist is because it’s a place where you can be totally free. No one is going to prevent me from doing political work when I want to, and no one is going to make me do it if I don’t want to.” The following painting is titled “Freedom Riders,” inspired by the civil rights movement. She was born in Massachusetts on June 9, 1924, and grew up near Boston. Her father Ralph was a pipefitter, and her mother Alice Dick Stevens was a homemaker. Her younger brother Stacey died of pneumonia when she was 17. She then went to Massachusetts School of Art in 1946, and later moved to NYC where she met her husband.
Her most famous paintings known as the “Big daddy” series was inspired by her opposition to the vietnam war.Then in the 1970s, she became involved in the feminist movement. She was a founder of the Heresies Collective, “A Feminist Publication on Art and Politics.”
This source is very useful because it provides very literal and helpful examples for my project. It taught me about a specific artist who dedicated her life to activist art as well as the specific impacts of the art itself.
This source is very useful because it provides very literal and helpful examples for my project. It taught me about a specific artist who dedicated her life to activist art as well as the specific impacts of the art itself.