On Tuesday, we’ll get started on our final projects for the
fall class. Your task? To create a piece
of art that is at the same time an act of social justice. That’s a very
broadly defined task, so, in class on Tuesday, each of you will write a more
specific and detailed version of the assignment for yourself. So, between now
and Tuesday, please brainstorm ideas for that more detailed, specific
self-assignment.
A few things to bear
in mind:
We’ll define “art” broadly here, too. You might decide to
write a short story, or to create a painting, or to compose a song; or maybe
Sarah will want to make a short video (film is an art form), or Mikaela will
want to design a new kind of homeless shelter (architectural drawing is an art
form); or Oscar will want to draw up plans for a sustainable urban garden
(engineering is an art form, too: a mechanical art). The important thing is
that you create something that is BOTH an artistic expression AND a social
justice action — like Picasso’s Guernica,
or Dunham’s Southland, or Branch’s
writings about King, any of the film’s we’ve watched.
With that in mind, you may find it useful to review the
definition of social justice that we developed on the first day of class:
Social
justice activists struggle together to change systematic forms of oppression
and inequality and to create wholly new, freer, more equal ways of living
together.
•
Social
justice activism isn’t simply charity work; it’s about working together as
equals and inclusively to make changes in which the entire community has a
stake.
•
Social
justice activism is not the struggle against anything that seems unfair or
oppressive; it’s a struggle against SYSTEMATIC unfairness or oppression.
•
Social
justice activism is not only about reforming what is; it’s about creating
something NEW.
On Tuesday, I’ll provide some guidance about how to craft
the assignment that you write for yourself. On the following Tuesday, you’ll
bring a “first draft” of your project to class to workshop. But for now, let
your creative juices flow and come to class with some exciting, imaginative,
world-changing ideas for combining art and activism.
