Artists and activists in a time of war
“Protesters held and wore signs demanding impeachment of the president.” [From the Wikipedia page: Movement to impeach George W. Bush.]
“A public opinion poll from the American Research Group recently reported that more than four in ten Americans — 45% — favor impeachment hearings for President Bush and more than half — 54% — favored impeachment for Vice President Cheney.”
From PBS site: Tough Talk on Impeachment, the Bill Moyers Journal, July 13, 2007. Also see related blog comments: What Can I Do?
“To criticize the government is the highest act of patriotism…. The role of the artist in times like ours is to help facilitate a skepticism, to transcend conventional wisdom.. the word of the establishment.. to go beyond and escape what is handed down by government and what is said in the media.”
Howard Zinn, in his book Artists in Times of War - about the role of artists, activists and publishers in working toward change.
But protesting may have difficult, even threatening, consequences. The photo is the Dixie Chicks on the cover of Entertainment Weekly magazine released on April 24, 2003.
“Emily Robison, Natalie Maines and Marti Seidel (L-R) said they posed nude in response to the controversy created by pro-war advocates over Maines’ remark at a concert in London on March 10 that they were ‘ashamed’ President Bush was from their home state of Texas.
“Maines said in a separate interview on ABC TV’s show “Primetime” interview to air on Thursday night that the band members feared for their lives amid criticism they say was ‘out of control.’
She told interviewer Diane Sawyer on the ABC network that she criticized Bush out of frustration and remained ‘passionate’ in her anti-war views…”
[Reuters, 4/24/03 - more on the page Nudity: art / identity / activism 3]
From blog associated with site of performer Sherry Glaser: Breasts Not Bombs - “We are dedicated to empowering women to speak out for a world that remembers what is sacred and honors the mother. Using political street theater and the act of baring our breasts in public serves as an excellant forum to speak about the vulnerability of humanity and the earth.”
“Pablo Picasso was so horrified by the B&W photos he saw in French newspapers where he lived, he filled one wall of the pavillion at the World’s Fair in Paris with his anguish. It was a commission he had for some time without inspiration; and the subject matter was probably not what his sponsors expected.
“Guernica was the name of the village, and through his heart-rending canvas, you can experience his anguish long after the man himself has passed. THAT is the power of art, not the jibberish you see on TV.”
[Image from Wikipedia page on the Guernica painting.]
