Everywhere we go we are surrounded by art. Art comes in different sizes, shapes, colors, and many more. Art is the way an individual is able to express every emotion one is feeling. As you can see from all of the art in the world, there were many factors that influenced the art created by people. What’s amazing is that there could be art that is trying to tell the same story but the way the artist expresses it in their art is so different from the others since they have their own perspective of the story they are trying to tell. The world is full of cruel things but with the art that surrounds us it makes the world shine brighter. Botero frequently included people dancing in his paintings. And, while his satirical depictions may appear amusing at first, they frequently highlight social and political concerns. Botero shows a ballerina at the ballet bar with one leg and one arm held erect in Dancers at the Bar. The picture might be interpreted as a critique of the social pressure on women to be thin, particularly in the traditional dancing business. Botero’s subject exudes confidence and strength, as though she is unconcerned about complying. Botero’s “Ballet Dancer at the Bar” demonstrated that society’s idea of beauty is incorrect. It makes no difference how someone seems because they are stunning in every manner. 

i picked both of these because the first one reminded me of what role women play in society. I feel like we are the creators of things and there is so much about us that we are good, can add onto and and can flourish in. However, her being buried  is like all that we are capable of is buried however we still manage to flourish. The second one I picked because it was a famous interview Cher had where she spoke about her mom. Growing up Cher’s mom would tell her that in order to insure her success she’d need to find a rich man. To which Cher responded I am a rich man. Stating that she will be the one to secure her success and wealth in life. I just absolutely adored her reaction to it. It’s so expected to just follow the rules and play it safe. However she was determined and she was able to get on live to and tell that story of how she made it. There’s this understanding built by the patriarchy that women need to rely on men. Cher publicly announcing that she doesn’t care for it was a bold statement. However, it was all in par true.

i believe activist art is absolutely important and necessary to culture and society. As people we experience life through what we see, hear and are taught. However what we are taught and what we think are always fluid.  Artistic activism allows people to see things they aren’t used to. Pictures have a thousand words. One is always bound to have some type of emotion whether positive or negative. Being exposed to seeing images they’re not used to is also a form of introduction to concepts they have either disagreed with or haven’t been exposed to. Though I picked much calmer versions of activist/political art there are many that genuinely tell a story. I feel as if art allows a person to express themselves with their soul. It is more than just paint or shapes put together. Sometimes we can look at art and it looks right back at us. Exposing our beliefs and making us question their foundation. I think feminist art and war art are one of my favorites. It feels like such a revolt. It’s a beautiful form of rebellion. It’s vulgar, it’s life, it’s real. Activism wouldn’t have gotten far with just words. People need something to see and look at. Something that can physically evoke feeling.

‘American people series #20 die’, 1967 is a paint from Faith Ringgold.

This Piece evokes the riots that were then erupting around the country. On the canvas, blood spatters evenly across an interracial group of men, women, and children, suggesting that no one is free from this struggle. Their clothing—smart dresses and business attire—implies that a well-off professional class is being held accountable in this scene of violent chaos.

I chose this piece because Violence is something has become a social problem and we are seeing it even more this day. The attack on the Capitol, The vandalism in clothes stores that was just happening in Manhattan and the Bronx, crime has increase drastically and it seem like nothing is being done to stop it as police feel powerless. This piece is a create example of the 60’s, 70’s but it fit todays situation as well. This also show us that all races, genders and ages are being affect by violence and crime.

This piece of art is by Artemisia Gentileschi. It spoke to me the most because it’s a depiction of smashing the patriarchy in an odd way. Gentileschi painted a woman taking advantage of her rapist. It is ironic and powerful. I think it’s important to note that Gentileschi was a rape victim herself at the age of 17. I believe this shows activism because it shows a man what it’s like to be on the other side of the activity. The man is shown hopeless as the women gets her revenge. I think Gentileschi wanted to portray what she desired to do to her rapist at the time. This painting flips roles and needs to be shown to men to understand the hopeless feeling of being a rape victim.

This cartoon is by Rose O Neill. It was made in 1915 to combat anti-suffrage for women. During this time, men were the lawmakers and voters, meaning they were in control of society. This cartoon means activism to me because it helped advocate for women’s rights. Women’s suffrage was non-existent and made them feel like they had no voice. Political cartoons, such as this one, brought this issue to light. It’s still relevant today because although we have the right to vote, men are still the majority in politics and women are still looked down upon for having a voice. More needs to be done for there to be equality.

I chose this image because of what’s going on this week with abortions. Us women, should have a right to do what we want with OUR body. “My body my rules.” There Is nothing pro-life about forcing others to give birth against their will. Why are we letting men that have no clue about the reproductive system make laws about women’s bodies? Whether or not a woman gets raped or simply doesn’t want to carry anymore doesn’t matter. No government has the right to tell women they can and cannot do with their bodies. I feel like we went back decades, fighting for this again.

Not sure who made this painting, I found it on google.

this picture was taken by artist marilyn minter in 2020. to me its an artistic activism because this was made by her to target the problem women are facing today when it comes to a right for abortion, the wording its a bit vulgar but for those of us who understand knows the meaning behing it. right now the supreme court has overthrown the right for an abortion. abortion is more than just getting rid a of fetus, is healthcare and it shouldnt be overthrown by men because they dont own a female reproduct organ to begin with. I sympathize with this topic because getting an abortion saved a friend’s life, and women should feel safe enough to do whats best for them physically and emotionally as well as mentally without the goverment intervening.

The art that I choose is Equal Pay Today! illustrated by Ashley Lukashevsky.  For decades, women had the need stood up and fought for equality. The different income between men and women and the significance of fighting for what you’re worth and your work. Women are banding together today to bring justice and transparency to their profession, which has been segregated for far too long. The gender wage gap is a situation that stills happening in our society, with racial difference, making it extremely difficult for Black, Latinx, Native, Trans, and Disabled women to achieve equal pay, to succeed. This was not just an art illustration, it was art activism that was brought to street demonstration, to state houses and shared in social media to create with theire message an effect in people´s feelings and thoughts, This artistic activism is working constantly to consolidate gender equity and bringing a change into our society, especially into women’s life.

These images are a part of a series of 10 pastel works called Untitled: The Abortion Pastels created by Portuguese artist Paula Rego in 1998. In this series, Rego depicts women undergoing unsafe abortion. This was her attempt at advocating for the legalization of abortion, in Portugal. Her work is thought to have been an integral influence in changing the public’s perception of abortion. (Buchanan, 2021)

While there are many amazing arts to chose from, this artwork resonated with me, especially after the recent news about how Roe v. Wade may be overturned. Rego’s art shows the reality of how women (and even little girls) have always had, and will keep having, abortions because of various reasons. Criminalizing abortions will only restrict their access to safe procedures and risk their lives. Most people that protest against abortion demonize it, portraying it as something only “promiscuous” women do. However, like we saw in the movie The Vessel, the reality is very far from it. It is a traumatic experience no women enjoys, but should be entitled to. The least we can do is make sure they get the proper health services and support they require.

Rego’s art aimed to bring light to the terrifying reality of unsafe abortion and how these are real people whose lives we are dictating. It is so much more than whatever moral or religious belief we may have.

Just like the article ” Why Artistic Activism?” by Stephen Duncombe and Steve Lambert I believe that Art impacts society much deeper than speeches. When people talk in front of large groups they can just listen but it depends on the person who is delivering that speech and their tone. However this can sometimes be difficult because their is no transcript of speeches when its live talking and will have to wait for pre-recorded videos for transcripts/captions. Live speeches happens once and if recorded will have to wait for it to be uploaded. Art however (depending on which) is always available and can be looked at and even bought. Art can have multiple meaning and mean something different to everyone whereas speeches are seen at face value. However performative art only happens while its live sometimes it is recorded but the times that it isn’t and people are there to experience and intimate and much more impactful.

Someone who I believe has very impactful performative art is Marina Abramovic. All her performance pieces have a very deep meaning but also have multiple because it can be interpreted in different ways. However my one of my favorite performative arts she has done is called Balkan Baroque. In this performance, she sat amidst an enormous pile of bloody cow bones, washing them one by one while singing folk songs from her childhood. For four days she sat in the middle of the pile, scrubbing away at 1,500 fresh beef bones.  Her dress became increasingly stained by blood as she sang and weeped.This art is suppose to represent that when times of war you can always wash away the blood but never the shame that comes along with it. Marina Abramovic was born in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. Yugoslavia was violently disintegrated by brutal wars. The title of this piece serves as a response to the war ravaged country.