Agitprop 






                                 

El Zeft’s stencil of a riot-ready Queen Nefertiti first appeared on Cairo streets in 2012, as, in his words, "a tribute to all women in our beloved Revolution." When Amnesty International initiated a global campaign to address mounting human rights violations in Egypt, their German section partnered with El Zeft to make this their symbol. Amnesty activists wrote thousands of letters to the Egyptian authorities and president, circulated petitions, held protest marches with self-made Nefertiti banners, and wore bloodied masks using the image. Based on a famous statue in Berlin’s Neues Museum, El Zeft’s updated icon helped to build media attention and worldwide pressure.
https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/exhibitions/agitprop
  
Century of self relates to advertising and how it affects people differently. Big company's uses woman insecurity and men pride to there advantages so they can buy the company's products.This picture shows me that even at bad times like a protest rally big company's can still benefits from it. Every one is wearing a similar mask that some one else made witch gave his or her company a higher profit  That moment. All though protest is a form of rebelling someone else always benefits from a person lost.

              
The Trayvon martin movement is a prime example of big company's benefiting from a protest

Agitprop assignment

the first project I choose was from an artist known as Dread Scott. The exhibition is called "On the Impossibility of Freedom in a Country Founded on Slavery and Genocide". its a performance that speaks on the oppression of African Americans and how they have been fighting this long for almost nothing. I chose this performance because it speaks out on a problem that has been on going for many years. even in todays society, we have the same problems with many young African Americans getting shot and killed by police officers, with the victim doing little to nothing to cause gun fire.







I chose this movement called "Witness: Art and Civil Rights in the Sixties" taken by Moneta Sleet Jr. it was taken during the civil rights movement in 1964. this protest stood out to me because it shows the unity not only between the African American community, but as well as Caucasians joining in the fight to stop oppression and make everyone equal.


Both of these protests speak on what is going on in todays world. even though in todays society everything is considered to be "equal" amongst the Caucasian and African American race, there is still an incredible amount of racism and discrimination going on. It is a great thing to see that people like Dread Scott are not afraid to express their feelings and stand up for the people of their race.      https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/exhibitions/witness_civil_rights/

International Working Women's Day Is the Fighting Day of the Proletariat

International Working Women's Day Is the Fighting Day of the Proletariat is a piece of art that is reflective of both women's stuggles in current society in their attempts to join the work force. It finds it's chance of showing women's strenght by portraying a woman as a leader in the revolution and essentially promising women that this revolution, which the artist feels is continuing today will bring about the changes that women want.

In a similar fashion the We Can Do It! was also empowering to women telling them that they too have a role to play in the war with Japan. The poster was actually meant to also be placed in factories rather than in civilian hubs to help boost America's factory workers' morale. Both factory workers and women would go on to contribute strongly to America's victory over Japan and Germany.

Both of these images are striking and empower women to become involved in something great, whether it be a Revolution or just helping their homeland in it's time of need. One was produced by an artist to spark a feelings of being discontent and desire to take on more politically and physically aggressive roles, while the other was more about motivating the women who largely have already taken over the man's place in the workplace since the men are off fighting a war.

The title of the We Can Do It! was changed later on when it was rediscovered for feminist purposes to Rosie the Riveter. Riveter being the assumed job of the central character "Rosie". Riveter in particular takes on a position of supplying the American troops. Rivets were a key part of many different American war vehicles including: tanks, airplanes and boats.

In the same way that Rosie the Riveter was rediscovered and re purposed so was International Working Women's Day Is the Fighting Day of the Proletariat since the piece was made a decade after the revolution technically ended. The two pieces share an agenda and go about achieving their goals in a similar fashion.

Agitprop

Agitprop:The Similarities Between Two Artists

                                  The Mindset of the Like Mind
                                         Samantha Garcia

         Gran Fury is an activist art collective that rose during the mid-1980's that focused on stirring up emotions people have towards AIDS. They use techniques of advertising with information and outrage to get the message out.  This is how they educate and motivate the general public. The piece "Women Don't Get AIDS" was one chosen from Agitprop's Exhibition and its slogan was to get people thinking about women and the fact that they do get AIDS and they do get sick and they do die. AIDS isn't discriminatory. It isn't choosy. Men or women can get it and that is what Gran Fury is all about. 

Another piece to look at is Jenny Holzer’s The Living Series: You Can Make Yourself Enter Somewhere.  For her it was what she said that made an impact. Both pieces are not the same though they share similarities. Holzer’s piece is something to take on a more personal level. While both are meant to raise awareness, Gran Fury does so through advertisement and Holzer does so through a poetic sort of speech. One is about being aware of real life events that are happening around us, while the other is more about what is happening within us. 

Holzer once said that for her work, "The anonymity was critical. I wanted people to consider the ideas but not give more than passing thought to who produced them." In her mind it wasn’t as much about why she wrote her pieces or created them, she just wanted a reaction. It was the work that spoke for itself. 

       

        The same can be said about Gran Fury. It was about the reaction of the crowd that mattered. It wasn’t just about who was saying it, it was about the why. Both artist intentions were to reach people on an entirely new level. It was a get-in-your face type of level.

Between the two, I enjoy Holzer’s. I like the way she is so straight forward and frank. I wouldn’t call it poetry because it doesn’t feel like it but it seems like it.  She intends to "generate debate and make us think critically. A political activist as well as an artist, Holzer's aim is to disrupt the passive reception of information from damaging sources." 

To learn more about Jenny Holzer and Gran Fury, check out these two links.https://www.artsy.net/artwork/jenny-holzer-the-living-series-you-can-make-yourself-enter-somewhere-dot-dot-dot-text-living-1980-82

http://hyperallergic.com/46881/gran-fury-read-my-lips-80-wse-nyu/

Agitprop: Art & Race

There were many projects presented in the AGITPROP Exhibition that had powerful meanings, but the one that caught my attention the most was the piece by Dread Scott. The piece by Dread Scott was titled "On the Impossibility of Freedom in a Country Founded on Slavery and Genocide". This performance piece was only performed once in 2014. Scott's piece was used to show the concept of "the struggle for freedom", which referenced the Civil Rights struggle faced in Birmingham Alabama. Dread Scott decided to reenact what had happened that time when the government used high-powered water hoses to hose down non-violent protestors. In order to reenact this brutality and struggle, Scott decided to attempt to walk into the strong jet of water to create a metaphor comparing the resistance of an individual and the actions of a violent protestor.

There are many protestors and activists who would applaud Dread Scott for his powerful piece, but there are also other art pieces that also shine a light on racial issues. Another art piece that caught my attention after reading about Scott's piece is that of Nate Hill. Like Dread Scott, Nate Hill is also an African American man who has done pieces based on racial issues. Hill's piece is titled "The White Ambassador", which was performed for about three times a week ending on February of 2012. Hill's piece focused on racism towards whites by blacks. The piece consisted of Nate Hill walking in the streets of Harlem, New York in whiteface, wearing a sign that read "White People DO NOT Smell Like Wet Dog" while chanting "We are white! We smell alright!". Nate Hills claims that this piece was entitled as an effort to tackle racist attitudes, and to prove that racism can go in any direction not only towards African Americans.

These two performance art pieces share a few things in common, which would explain why I chose to write about them. Both pieces involve racial issues that can easily be seen based on the actions of the artists. Dread Scott and Nate Hills use racial symbolism that provides their audience with insight about the theme of their work. They both share the theme of incorporating racial issues with a physical performance. Along with these physical performances, they both play a role that reverses the issues they are trying to expose. Scott reverses the situation of the water hoses by voluntarily walking towards it instead of being brought down. Hill reverses the idea of who is racist, by flipping the idea of "blackface" and using "whiteface" to show that black people can also be racist along with other races. Therefore, they both protest related and both focus on a single theme which includes racial issues. 

Although they might have similarities they do have their differences. One of these differences being that one piece focuses more on one race while the other reaches out for another. Dread Scott's piece tends to focus more on just how African Americans were treated, but Nate Hill focuses on the racial relationship between African Americans, white people, and other races in terms of who can be racist. These two performances both deliver a powerful message to their audiences. Even if it is a staged performance like that of Dread Scott's or more of a spontaneous performance like Hill's, they both reach the audience in their own way. In all, these two performance art pieces create one single form of activism to raise awareness of racial issues. 

Agitprop

     Rachel George
      Tina Modotti, Italian artist, is born in Udine in Italy in 1896. Modotti fascination in the arts led her to theatrical interest. She was also a beauteous woman and was able to meet a photographer name  Edward Weston. Modotti's structure was model-like so she modeled for him. During this time, Mexico's politics is on a rise and so is Modotti's interest in politics. Photography is not just pictures to  her, it is one way of displaying issues occurring at the time.
        Images is one of the best ways to seek a revolution. Tina Modotti use photos of women and laborious workers and their hands. Also by joining the Communist party and El Machete, a group that speaks on problems in Mexico. One of her photographs is Woman with Flag dated in 1928. This picture reveals how women can be involve in politics.
        Lady Liberty is a prime example of women in politics. According to National Park Service, the torch she holds in her hand denotes enlightenment. It's implicit meaning tells us that the torch lighting is liberty and human rights. I believe that it also symbolizes woman power.
        Both images symbolizes freedom. One picture shows a woman holding a flag. The other picture shows a woman standing tall holding a torch. The themes are different; Modotti's picture is politics; Lady Liberty's theme is politics.

Agitprop Exhibitions

The first exhibition that I chose to talk about its the KAWS : "Along The Way"https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/exhibitions/kaws_along_the_way exhibition. The piece was open from June 10th to March 27th 2016. The reason I chose this exhibition is because I am familiar with KAWS and the art he does as in fashion. It caught my eye also due to the fact of the such large scale, it is 18 feet high and all wood. Both of the big creatures, which are said to look like childhood toys or cartoon characters, have their heads both looking down and arms around each other for comfort. They look to be helping each other.

 In my opinion, the piece by KAWS represents something more than just two figures and i am sure can be perceived in many ways. The way I see it as is two friends growing old together and only having them left to each other. Due to the name of the piece, "Along The Way", I strongly feel it is about loosing people along the way and only having one person by your side. For my second exhibition i chose one named "A World Not Ours"http://myartguides.com/exhibitions/a-world-not-ours/ which is directed by The Schwart's Foundation. It is shown off in Foundation's venue in Greece, Art Space Pythagorian.

    This exhibition sets out to talk about and inform viewers about forced migration and refugee crisis from the standpoint of artists,photographers, filmmakers and activists. The refugee crisis began in 2015 and it brought migrants, mostly from Syria, seeking better life. They traveled across the Mediterranean, due to travel the rate of death at sea rose tremendously. In my opinion both of these exhibition actually has some stuff in common, it is just hidden and you must use your imagination.

To me, although they do not nearly mean the same thing, or have the same message, stuff can be taken out of both to put together. During these refugee migrations people were often homeless, jobless, and only left to be with the people they migrated with, maybe people who they lived with back in the countries they came from. I am sure in times they have been bent over try to comfort each other as the figures are in KAWS' piece. The only way to make it through tough situations in my opinion is to remember the people close to you and seek comfort and guidance from them. In conclusion live with no path can be hard to tackle, which is why sometime you just need to seek for help from friends and loved ones. 

AGITPROP: Serve the People!

Century of self is a movement that was both business and politics throughout their whole movement. Over the years, self worth was not part of the way we lived. We were ruled by others for many years till we finally stood up as the people. The power finally transferred to "the people". This story is about the untold story of how Britain and the United states has different ways of being social. As from the untold story, it was also about how the different ways they have advertised their products. In a way that they kept putting new ads out the open for rich people.
http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/50sclothes.html

http://www.mtlblog.com/2013/09/sophia-bush-declares-war-on-urban-outfitters/#

A very different way of a campaign was when Sophia Bush declared that 0 was not a size. When you look at new ads of Victoria Secret, H&M, or the company that Bush went against, Urban Outfitters. One of their shirts that one girl was wearing was Eat Less. Which downgrades women in all aspects. Woman are the top sex to have eating disorders. When young girls go to the mall, or a store, they think they are fat because they don't fit in any clothes that the store has.
Sometimes girls don't see it as it being promoted, they see it as, I'm to fat. I need to stop eating. Or they eat, but end up throwing up their food so they can look like the girls on VS.“You should issue a public apology, and make a hefty donation to a women’s organization that supports those stricken with eating disorders. I am sickened that anyone, on any board, in your gigantic company would have voted ‘yes’ on such a thing, let alone enough of you to manufacture an item with such a hurtful message." Bush said in an interview with MTL blog.

The two have in common by misleading their customers. They want their customers to want something, or need something. When they can't afford to buy it, or even fit in the products. In the past, they made lower class believe that they were to broke to buy any of the nice things that higher class has. In the future/nowadays, you have to starve yourself or make yourself throw up to be like society, or as you think you are.

Jenny Holzer

In Jenny Holzer's collection "Inflammatory essays' she has this certain tone that she gives off; a very independent, strong, confident tone. In the Brooklyn Museum's agitprop, they write an article about only one of her poems, but Holzer has dozens of different one's that are just as interesting and empowering. In the specific one posted in agitprop, I wasn't necessarily sure on how to interpret her poem. But, after several times of carefully reading it, I had a feeling she was talking about feminism in a sense. The opening line to her poem was, "Don't talk down to me. Don't be polite to me. Don't make me feel nice." From this I can gather that Jenny Holzer is very independent. She doesn't need anyone helping, worrying, or taking care of her. 

As for Holzers other essays(poems), she prints them all on bright colored paper. I believe she does this to connect to the readers emotions. All of these colors are very attention grabbing and it makes the reader wonder what it's about. Although Holzer doesn't specify the issue she writes about in her poems, she writes about empowering issues that she thinks need to be heard about. Another poem from Holzer that really caught my attention is, (the one posted below)

Probably what caught my attention from this poem was her opening line, "Ruin your fucking self before they do." Automatically, her expressive writing makes me want to keep reading because I can already tell she's mad and has something important to say. What i love about Jenny Holzer is that she's so open; she isn't afraid to say whats on her mind. What i've interpreted from this second poem is basically not to do anything for anyone else.    "They'll keep you alive, but you'll have to crawl and say thank you for every bone they throw…….If the rich guys want to play with you, make them get their hands dirty." This is also an example of her being independent, she's saying to stick up for yourself, and fight for your rights. Out of what i've read from Holzer's poems, I feel as if one of her main points is to stay strong, and fight for yourself. 

(Jenny Holzer’s “Inflammatory Essays,” as displayed at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Barcelona)

AGITPROP: Serve the people!

The Asian American movement gives information of history about Asian activism in the 1970s which were the first exhibition. A group called the A Grain of sand sang about "the struggle" and walked by celebrating the Asian American histories and attended a screening of documentaries in Chinatown. In doing the protest, Serve the people, it helped them cut the stereotype apathy among Asian American. This movement was limitless whether they worked towards community control or not.http://interferencearchive.org/serve-the-people-the-asian-american-movement-in-new-york/

  "Black lives matter" was inspired in the 1960s by civil rights and black power movement.In 2014, Black lives Matter members took their complaint and protested to the streets for the first time through the Black lives Matter Freedom Ride to Ferguson,Missouri. They took part in the non-violent demonstration for justice in the wake of  Michael brown who was shot by a police officer. http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/08/13/us/ferguson-missouri-town-under-siege-after-police-shooting.html?_r=0

Serve the People: The Asian American Movement in New York, 2014 exhibition organized by Ryan Wong and Interference Archive and Black lives Matter was made by three women named Alicia Garcia, Opal Tometi and Patrisse Cullors which was created in 2012 after Trayvon Martin's death.

The similarity on both projects is fighting for civil rights. They want to be heard and treated right because we are under the same law and follow it. Peoples lives are risk so we dont know who or what is next in the country. The only way to save lives is to protest and show compassions to what is going on in the world. These protest is not a moment,It's a Movement.

Who do you think you are?

As a single mother of two children, 5 and 10 years old, I find it extremely hard to protect my children from seeing inappropriate subjects due to the media, both social media and regular media. Nowadays the media is everywhere and has taken over our lives. Though it is easy to blame the media for my children gaining knowledge of certain information, it is my fault as well. In the car I have the radio on, at home I may watch the news (which I try not to do around the kids) and I am guilty of checking Facebook periodically throughout the day. Since my children are constantly over my shoulder, the catch glimpses of news clips and gossip, which the media LOVES to spread.

I must be honest, there was a point where I was on Facebook all of the time, and I actually began to feel my kids becoming a bit disconnected from me. When I felt this disconnection, at first, I thought it was because I had went back to school and wasn’t able to read them their bedtime stories every night as I once did. But then one day my daughter looked at me and said “ hm, you’re on Face book AGAIN I see”. My response was, “well if you’re playing or reading I can have some ‘me’ time”. But then I began to think. Those are not the only times that I was on social media. I began to be more aware of my time spent on both my telephone and social media, and instantly felt my kids not being distant with me anymore. I couldn’t believe that I had become THAT mother!

Not only was I not paying as much attention to my kids, I found myself feeling more depressed than usual. Granted in was going through a divorce, so I was already pretty down. But onto of that, every time I was on Facebook, I would see everyone with their families, and I felt like now mine was a broken family. I became irritable and felt very low about myself. Until I realized just because the kids dad was no longer there, doesn’t mean there was something wrong with my family, it was just 1 person less. I had to learn how to appreciate all of the little thongs, and realize that media and social media paints pictures for people, but you make your in control of painting your own picture according to your own life. I learned to stop putting my self in the mold that the media was telling me to put myself in, and appreciate what I had with my beautiful babies. (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-perpetua-neo/does-facebook-make-you-de_b_8474654.html)

Social media, or media for that matter, may not only distance one from their families, but from all the images that one sees constantly being thrown at them, one may become distant with themselves. You tend to loose a sense of your self and even self worth at times. I know for me, when I see all of these images of what beauty is supposed to look like, I feel fat and ugly. I’ve struggled with eating disorders and have purchased expensive makeup and diet pills, because I never felt like I looked “good enough”.

The media is constantly drilling, dreams, ideas, desires etc. into our heads, and we eat it all up! For example, they have made this election into an absolute scepticle of a circus. As an American I am absolulty embaressed for all parties involved. Donald trump is an unqualified, unkind, horrific person who is glorified by the media. They eat every littlee stupid word up that comes out of that mans mouth. The other night I was watching the Jimmy Fallon showand Trump was being interviwed by him. Jimmy Fallon always makes fun of that ignorant man and makes it clear how full of crap tump is. But that night, he was joking with Trump and making him look like a really cool guy. I was horrified! Needless to say, Ive officially boycotted the Jimmy Fallon show and everything he is associated with. But honestly, what good is that going to do when so many people In the media don’t realy care about the election, they just care about how many viewers and followers they can get.

The Media plays a big part in how we see the world and intern how we see ourselves. Though it is, that’s the truth. And until people stop allowing the media to take total control of their lives and start to have a mind and an opinion of their own again, its only going to get worse. This society needs to open their eyes and realize what is going o, and put a sop to it!

Who do you think you are ?

My role in media consumption is finding out the current events going on in the world today. My only platform of social media is twitter and watching the news occasionally to stay updated with the happenings of today's world. I tend to stay off social media due to the tragedies that we face today.

Everything that happens in the world is covered in social media. You can find anything that has happened on the internet, from the new topics trending on twitter, from stories about famous actors to the recent shootings. Many famous celebrities are on twitter or Instagram or Snapchat staying updated, sharing their new song or promoting the next movie they will be in. If it wasn’t for social media like twitter or Tumblr’s #TerrenceCrutcher or #blacklivesmatter many people wouldn’t know about the tragic story of Terrence Crutcher.  

The media outlets we have presents peaceful protests, marches, and other hashtag current events. For example, when Ferguson took place social media outlets like Instagram and twitter went to Michigan to support the Ferguson cause. The success of many protests and marches was because of the high demand in social media. 

As a black male in society, these issues personally affect me in my everyday life. This is another reason I stay off of social media, because I don’t want to see the turmoil within my culture. I do believe those people who are tweeting and staying up to date with all the current news situations are helping establish a better tomorrow. 

Who do you think you are?

Humans, while naturally very social and therefore easily influenced, we also have a drive to show individuality. Lately this individuality and expression of not just one's views but expression of the person them-self has turned into a battle against corporations. Faceless and cold these corporations make it hard to imagine that behind it's company logo there are actual people working there, individuals like you and I. Even more difficult to imagine is that people are at the very roots of the company. While some companies such as Apple or Microsoft will play up where they came from by using their founders as spokespersons, the vast majority are faceless with their demos and public reveals being handled by various hired speakers.

These faceless corporations oppress who people truly are by slapping their logo and their brand on the products they manufacture. These corporations do not stop as manufacturing products, however; they also manufacture a need, desire or even an addiction to their product. By promising some grandeur life as a result of their product's consumption a company brings a customer to willingly give their identity up.

People have identified themselves by what they are surrounded by since the beginning of time. Whether it be by their tribe, country or nationality. Now however, in the melting pot of a America these lines are being broken down, people now instead of clinging to their heritage or a sense of national pride find themselves defending and identifying by products they have deemed as superior and worthy of their devotion.

This has changed the individual's identity away from their personality, their beliefs or even their face. We now embody corporations and the majority of society's opinions are just collections of the brand logos they collect and defend. I believe that an individual will be freed soon, now with the internet and computer's ability to allow a single person to pursue their own interests or careers online we are not only breaking down social, national and racial barriers but we are also breaking down corporate barriers.

Today, the world is more dominated by individuals and small groups than ever before. The interconnected world we live in today allows us to communicate in a way and method that I personally believe will free us from corporations. People are even building their own computers now as they become educated in the new technology. Companies are desperate to hold onto their control pushing out more and more products to continue people's dependence on them with tablets, smart watches, and other such products meant to capitalize on this. Even these though only minimally are capable of controlling us the individuality and expression will eventually overcome it. It is our duty to make sure we keep this newfound sanctuary for the individual as free of these corporations as possible.

The Ability to Be Me

    Samantha Garcia       

Each morning as I wait by the bus I take note of the people there. A majority are still and not entirely awake, some partially sleepy but even so, most of them are on their phones. They could be reading, listening to music, catching up on news or what ever else they like to do. It's just amazing how such a small device holds millions of apps, apps that give access to more involved media like Instagram, Twitter, Tumbler, Facebook, Snap Chat, and etc. It's a crazy world out there living in a hurricane of social media and I feel like I sit within the center, watching out from the eye of the storm. 

          My role in media consumption consist of music and information. I prefer to absorb what interest me and I know I am not the only one. Apps like Spur-lo and Etsy are good places to find pictures, quotes, ideas, and advice. I like learning about things like getting out of zip ties or how to light a fire using petroleum jelly and drier lint. Things that are not taught unless you find out by yourself. For that, I thank Pintrest.

          I've learned about stuff the same way everyone else does: through networking. There are many people who experience information first hand but nowadays information is shared digitally. A majority of what I see comes from the news and social media. Whether or not I agree with media, a lot of the actions I am expected to do are placed there by them. This generation is basically run by technology.

          However, though I believe that we all pick who we wish to be from the start, the shape of our character is based off what we are shown and media plays a large role in that: Movies, books, magazines, music, and music videos, the list is endless. So much goes on underneath what society gives us. It isn’t simple to say that you are unmarked in a world that has so vividly marked you. I am as marked as anyone else simply by the images I take in. I am a consumer because I do use apps such as snap chat, whats-up and Pinterest to communicate with people, be it through images, words or emoji’s. The mentioned “who” is always in question. No one really knows the other person, not unless they’ve had their soul dissected and observed since they were born. We show only what we want to show. 

A majority of our experiences are showed online or through verbal knowledge. That’s why some places have certain phrases or proverbs we don’t understand. We aren’t as close to them in phrases but even so, places like Britain and Australia still share the same information as us. They know what this side of the world knows even if it isn’t current at the same time. Each generation has grown up under the perception that they are what people make of them. I do not know how many people believe this but I'd say a good amount do. As children, we all experience similar anxieties to fit in. It's now that we are older that we would like to, in fact, fit out, if that is even a word. 
      As an individual I would like to say I created my person without the help of anyone or anything but I have to give some credit to media.  While I may not agree with the views society has created for the youth of this generation I admit it has played a role in advertising information around the world.

 

         It would be wishful thinking to perceive myself as something other than a consumer, but though I may be one I would like to believe that my inputs will one day be just as effective in shaping some one else's life. Who knows, maybe I'll be the one putting up news.   
          Go on this link to find out more about apps like pintrest, https://www.netdiggers.com/sites-like-pinterest-alternatives/

Who do you think you are ?

            In today's society social media, television, and other sources tend to give us false hope and false images to try and get us to buy products. Through many various social networks such as snapchat, Facebook, and Twitter products are pushed upon crowds of people who are not comfortable with their image and get hope from commercials and ads these companies use. The people making these commercials take regular people and measure them against people who are near flawless and use them for their brands claiming it will happen to you.

       When it comes to consumption of products going through your media sources and getting directly to the crowd is very important to do to thrive.
For myself and other consumers like me, our role in media consumption is to try and pick out the brands which really can help and to call out the brands which do not. Social media has especially made it so much easier for celebrities to impact the public to the point they can host pop up shops and within minutes of them tweeting an address, people are lined up.

       Social media has changed our lives, information about practically anything can be seen around the world in seconds. For example on many occasions they're has been protest on the topic of the African American community. One to note is the Ferguson riotshttp://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/08/13/us/ferguson-missouri-town-under-siege-after-police-shooting.html?_r=0.  The protest held on this are seen and heard about around the world solely on the fact that that it reaches social media. For one, the news channels will literally stream them live for the publicity.
        I feel like the relationship between social media and the community and world is bitter sweet. I feel like on one side the social media can be used to spread good news and on the other it can be used to spread drama and false stuff to the world. In our day in age social media plays a big roll in everything we do, it is the reason we change our fashion up and the reason we hear about world problems.

Who are we?

   When the internet and the media first started evolving, it was a treasure to have. Now, the media is so relied upon, there is no escaping it. As many times as I attempt to delete my social media apps, or ignore it, it always tends to come back to me in some form. I'm not necessarily against social media, because of course I do use it; however, I do believe that it has become like some sort of drug, so addicting there's no way to stop it. Everyday we feel somewhat obligated to instagram our food, tweet good morning, and snapchat everyone a video of us getting ready for the day, but the reality should be that no one should care about details like that.
From the moment this generation was sucked into the vortex that is social media, we were immediately set to some standard provided by the media. From celebrities with the perfect looks and style, to advertisements promoting products to essentially make us "look better." With something as insanely influential as the media, it shouldn't be that way. This powerful tool should be used towards more important aspects of the world, and not just influence people to focus on themselves. I'm not saying that the media is entirely created this way; however, it is how people perceive it. When someone hears "media", they automatically think about social media apps, and Youtube, Facebook, etc. Not many will hear "media" and think about newscasts that portray what is really happening in the world.
   Although there are many negative and unnecessary aspects of the media, there are of course many important areas it covers, especially when celebrities are involved. Currently, one of the biggest social movements is black lives matter. With respect to that, recently several Philadelphia Eagle football players used the national anthem as a moment to protest "social injustice." Instead of placing their hand on their heart, they raised their fists. A gesture popularly known by the Black Panther party, that is associated with black nationalism. When the media uses its power to support something as powerful as this, it makes a difference. With so many different celebrities such as football players, also fighting alongside other protestors, they are more influential towards their fans. So many other celebrities such as Kendrick Lamar, Justin Timberlake, John Legend, etc, also support the black lives matter movement. Celebrities contribute to a large part in the media, so when other people and fans see their opinion, it is more influential in a more positive way, rather than how we should dress and look. With twitter and instagram, information travels so quickly, and although it may have upsides and downsides to it, when it pertains something important a lot more people have a chance to hear about the situation that may be going on. Social media may not always have positive outcomes with it, but in the end media is how many people stay informed with what is going on in the world, and hopefully many more people are able to continue using social media for that reason.

Who do you think you are?

Our lives have changed so much in the past ten years. My life as a media consumption is everyday. One day we went from not even having the internet to always wanting to be on it. We went from looking at newspapers for sports events, concerts. and top news in the country. Nowadays, we are looking at TVs and our phones for all of that.

Media consumption is a every day part of my life. Whether it is looking at when a football game starts, or when we need to look up research for a paper for school. I have most of my information from the web. A lot of images that we have found, or have seen on the internet that they have shared on Facebook. Media is how I get most of the information.
For example, when the Pulse nightclub shootings happened. The first thing i saw was when someone posted on Instragram "Stay Strong Florida" as a hashtag. I then went and did some research on the internet to find out what the hashtag meant. Later to find out that there was a huge shooting in a nightclub in Florida.  From the very beginning, all the titles where "Pulse nightclub shooting" or "Mass shooting in Florida." The media put out that there was a lot of protest out about how the shooting happened, or why it happened.
When you think about the Pulse nightclub, you don't think of the beautiful club that once was. You think of the shooting that killed a lot of people a few months ago. Where the media covered the story for three days, and talked about why the shooter went and did such a horrible thing. The media went from saying the shooter was a terrorist, to being anti-gay, and finally that he was gay and was hiding it from his family. He thought he was acting in terrorism because he pledged to ISIS before shooting 49 victims, and himself. Here is the link to CNN talking about the shooter- http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/12/us/orlando-nightclub-shooting/

Who do you think you are?

We have an exciting or fulfilling life in our generation where the prestige of media is stronger than the power of love. For instance, social media has become a fundamental part of our day to day lives. Media is a substantial part of our lives now which correlate with scenarios in the world and notify us many things like news, entertainment etc. It has grasped to a point where us teenagers go on social media just to fit in. You don't want to sit somewhere,where people are talking about something and you got no interpretation.

 My consumption of media is watching movies.Movies play a big role in my life because I believe the producers and directors essentially write their stories on what is happening in the world or has happened or what is going to happen. Also, I believe movies brings out the emotions of how somebody actually feels in life. Looking at what I go through each and every day,I relate it to movies. The movies I watch influences me on the decisions I make.


There are some ways media covers activists,acts of resistance and protest. Media has some sort of power in cultural guidelines. Social media has changed how political and social activism is done. Nowadays people protest on social media instead of meeting up in a group to go to places and protest. For example,black lives matter. When you go on Facebook, you see that people are talking about more than seeing them outside. Anything we do now,we run to the media to get information.Politicians, celebrities, students, protestors etc. uses the media.


  I was in class when my professor was talking about an explosion in Manhattan and New Jersey. I had no clue about it so that with the help of media, I googled it and read the article and saw the picture of the victim.http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/20/nyregion/nyc-nj-explosions-ahmad-khan-rahami.html . Media is very obsessive but at the same time, it educates, advertises and help us to see the controversy that goes on in our community and also creates awareness. Just as it can ruin businesses and can also help build businesses and reputation.
 

 

Who do you think you are?

Rachel George

The media is a way of visually learning and understanding what is happening in the world . For example, Walter Cronkite, news anchor gain trust to the American people. Cronkite was able to publicize the Vietnam war. It changed the way Americans see war. This, at the time, "...jeopardize public support for the war effort."

Broadcasting images and videos allows you to become involve with events. If a person is a makeup artist, you use social media such as Facebook, Instagram, and etc. You are using social media to spread your business. Social media allows myself to post and share pictures with others. By doing this, people who I do not see on a daily basis can see that I am alright.

Most of the event, stories and images shared on social media, people can relate to. For example, one issue that occurred in May 2016 was the killing of Harambe, a gorilla who died from being shot after a young boy fell into his territory. Many people were outraged that the parents was not paying attention to their son.  There are many memes relating to the gorilla's death. Also people hare images people always have questions to in facetious ways. For example, pictures will compare and contrast the size of meals at a expensive restaurant versus a inexpensive restaurant.

There are various ways the media covers activists and protest. The 2016 Presidential Election includes many protesting. The two candidates, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump swarm in a tumultuous crowd on both sides. Many Clinton followers protest to get Trump to back down the race. The relationship between the media covering activists acts of resistance and protest shows how people choose to react to certain issues or topics, It can be either violent or peaceful. Media has affected many people in both positive and negative ways.
http://moneyramblings.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/burger-versus-salad-meme.png

Who do you think you are?

         I believe that in today’s society, any young adult is in some way forced into having a role in media consumption. We are living in a time full of technology where everything can be seen through the media. It is all around us, and it is quite hard to avoid. I don’t like to think that I am forced to be a part of something like the media, instead, I prefer to accept it as a part of my life. Music is one of the branches of media where I do view myself as a consumer. Not only do I listen to the radio occasionally, I also buy music and stream it every day. As a big fan of all kinds of music, I do consider myself somewhat of a critic. When it comes to new releases or discovering music, I do tend to follow news and trends about the music.

           

As mentioned before, it is hard not to become a part of the media without wanting to. Everything has become more commercial, and it will continue to if the technology is present. When it comes to my personal interests, I find it easy to follow my interest along with the media. Considering that technology is moving at a rapid rate, it is simultaneously dragging the media with it. A big example of how technology and the media are working together is by introducing new lines of smartphones. A famous brand of smartphone is the iPhone, which has made a huge impact on mobile technology along with the media. It has made such a big impact that it managed to produce a large number of consumers.

      When it comes to smartphones, as a young adult, social media has played a big role in my everyday life. For example, the use of applications like Twitter, Snapchat, and Instagram are just a few that have made a big impact. I believe it's fine to say that over the past few years, the media has changed my life in a positive way. I view my relationship with the media to be anything but a positive one. I also understand that there might be a few older people who think that the media is the cause of corruption in society, and I can’t say that their opinion is wrong. There have been moments when negative things were tied into social media, and it is something that should not be ignored. 
      
 There have also been many moments when the media has covered activism, acts of resistance, and protest. I believe that the ones who are a part of media, those being politicians and celebrities, have done many things to support different rights. I have been a whiteness of celebrities who use their power in the media to support those who are on the receiving side of the media. 

      Artist and celebrities such as Lady Gaga who is an activist for equality, or Ellen DeGeneres who supports animal rights are examples that it is possible to use the media for protest. I think if there are politicians or celebrities who use their fame within the media, we could start to view the media as a better place to cover activism and acts of protest. The relationship might seem odd to some, but if the message gets across then there is no need to worry about having to follow the media.

Syllabus

Acts of Resistance: Activists, Interlopers and Pranksters  FA 2016  

263:01 3312

Wednesdays 9:55am-12:35pm   

Prof. Doris Cacoilo                      

Course Description

This is a course about media subversives: people working outside of mainstream media institutions who nonetheless find creative and provocative ways to use the media for cultural, political, and/or economic critique and resistance. Over the course of the semester, we will examine a range of "alternative" media phenomena.

This is a general education course that is paired with the Tier 2 course, DIY + Making.

Activists + Interlopers + Pranksters will engage social analysis and cultural critique to examine and reflect on the media influences that effect (or distort) and inform (or misinform) our communities and culture. This course places value on being meta-aware of the relationship between culture and creative production within communities, as well as the necessity of being socially conscientious citizens.

This course uses culture studies and social analysis to investigate the myriad ways in which individuals, groups and subcultures use creative productions to perform and manifest ‘acts of resistance’ against the hegemony of western Eurocentric culture, dominant societal institutions, and class/power structures. The course will examine the American consumer culture and unpack the influence capitalism can have on communities and the production of culture and sub-culture.

The goal of this course will not be simply to romanticize "outlaws", nor will it merely condemn them as criminals or troublemakers. Instead, it will focus on how and why such figures struggle against the global "media monopoly" so that students might come to a richer understanding of the nature of the media's considerable political and cultural power, and the ways that ordinary people can engage with powerful cultural institutions as active participants, innovative creators, and powerful critics. 

This course encourages a broader consideration of citizenship by thinking critically about the relationship of images, values and ideals in a highly complex visual world. Conscientious citizenship is also honed by examining cultural forces and the effect they have on personal and social values and ideals. Students will think critically and complexly about issues of media, culture, politics, and how creative productions can influence these.

Course Requirements and Grading

Our class time will be split between discussion, lecture, and presentations.  While in discussion please be respectful of the opinions of others even if they stand diametrically opposed to your own. You must be in class ON TIME and prepared for class each week. Failure to do so will be reflected in your participation grade. Failure to do so consistently can lead to failure in the course.

READINGS Various weekly reading assignments will be assigned from your required texts and linked on the blog. The full reading schedule will be distributed on the class blog. Readings are due each week. All readings are REQUIRED unless otherwise stated.

CLASS PARTICIPATION Attendance and participation in the class discussion when appropriate and in critique and comments on the blog and twitter is part of your participation grade. For each week’s readings you must select two quotes or passages from the readings and write a brief description of one art project that strikes you from that week’s readings. You must briefly describe the project, the context and the artist/collective/collaboration that created the project or work and why you responded to it. I will often collect these. Please have them written or typed on a sheet of paper you can hand to me with your name on it each week. I will call on students each week during discussion to read and discuss these quotes. You must have these prepared for each reading. 

  TWITTER You must create a twitter account (if you do not have one already) we will share links and comments with each other using the class hashtag: #activistsofresistance

WRITING ASSIGNMENTS You must consult the class blog weekly (even several times per week) to check for announcements, readings and to post your writing assignments. The blog is crucial to the course and completion of the requirements. You MUST have access to the blog to complete assignments, readings, post work and comment on students’ posts. All writing assignments will be published to the blog.

CLASS PRESENTATIONS: Students will present in pairs the work of an artist from the Agitprop! exhibition, from the readings or students can choose to present an exhibition past or current that presents specifically activist artwork. Presentations must be between 10-15 minutes maximum and should include a short discussion with the class. Students will present once throughout the semester. This schedule will be determined in class on the second week of classes. Presentations will be entirely collaborative, all students must participate equally and will receive just one grade per group. 

SEMESTER PROJECT

Mapping Social/Cultural Hot Topics and Interventions: Art, Movements and Civic Action

The goal of this assignment is to get you to take a stand on a significant issue related to the course material and then to highlight and support a past or current act of resistance. In order to be a conscientious participant in community and society, one must attend the current events and important social/political struggles of current times. Race relations, gender equality, social justice, health care, reproductive rights, privacy, corporate regulation, marriage equality, religious tolerance, LGBT rights, etc. are all examples of issues citizens have engaged in acts of opposition and resistance, using any number of creative strategies.

From the database of current events and social issues that we have been discussing during the course, choose an issue, artist, movement or citizen action that exemplifies an act of resistance as we have outlined throughout the semester. Using one (or more) of the readings and resources we have used as a way to make a critical argument, create a writing project that encourages or supports the artist or movement and presents their work to a larger audience. Make a case for why this act of resistance is important, timely and worth engaging in and promoting. Be sure to research extensively and thoughtfully in choosing and supporting your artist or movement. Be sure that your project coincides with your own political motivations, ideas and your professional ambitions.

Consider and research extensively and thoughtfully the history and development of the issue you have chosen. The themes and topics of the course have had a recurring history of friction within America’s culture and institutions.You will need to describe and explain the strategies that have been used and are now being used to engage this issue currently and explain how the example you have chosen to highlight fits into the larger issue. The writing project can take the form of an online article, an essay, a blog, a website, tumblr, or even a podcast. Students can present ideas outside of this list if they would like to propose other ways of presenting their writing for this assignment. All students will propose their final projects at midterm and must have their project topic approved by the professor.

In addition to the writing project, each student will do an oral presentation, with visual support materials that summarizes your project. Be prepared to facilitate a discussion with your peers by preparing questions that will be topics of discussion.

Grading

Attendance is mandatory and all assignments must be finished and handed in on time to receive a passing grade for this course.

30% semester project 

30% 4 blog posts 

10% group presentation

30% attendance/participation (Contributions to class discussion, on the class blog + attendance)

Attendance

Attendance is, to put it simply, mandatory.

Attendance is taken at the beginning of each class, and will be considered when determining the final course grade. Absences affect your participation grade. More than four (4) unexcused absences will result in an 'F' (failure) for the class. No exceptions. Class begins on time, so you must be punctual. Lateness, leaving early or leaving class unexcused for an extended period of time will also be recorded. Two of these instances will count as one absence. You must bring documentation to class and hand in to me for any absences to be excused. 

You are required to make up any and all work that is missed if you are absent. Notify the professor if you will be absent. As work will not be accepted late, please contact the professor to hand in work on time. It is your responsibility to get any missed work or notes from other students in the class and to discuss any problems or questions you have with the professor.

NOTE: BACK-UP your work frequently, even as you are working on your writing assignments and on your projects. Write and edit your posts locally before uploading them to the web. No excuses.

Required Texts 

The Interventionists: Users’ Manual for the Creative Disruption of Everyday Lives edited by Nato Thomson and Gregory Sholette, MIT Press, Cambridge: 2004

Confessions of the Guerrilla Girls by the Guerrilla Girls, HarperCollins: New York 1995

On Blackboard http://blackboard.njcu.edu/ and linked online.

Course Objectives

Students will:

1. Develop an objective understanding of visual communication practices.

2. Value judging, appropriation, and cooperation as strategies for creative problem solving.

3. Correlate the role of information and visual design to cultural production as a means of mass influence.

4. Interpret the difference between cliché and archetype, cultural construct and stereotype, representation and signification.

5. Create alternative strategies for cultural interactions as a means to disrupt common interpretations.

6. Integrate social and empirical research into projects.

7. Consider creative problem solving as a way to invent solutions to real world problems.

8. Engage substantially with a significant social, cultural, and/or political issue.

Health and Safety 

You are not to risk the health or safety of yourself or any of the other people in the Art department. To ensure safety strictly follow all safety procedures explained to you as well as the New Jersey City University regulations. If you have any concerns or questions or are ever unclear about proper safety and health procedures, then ask the instructor or appropriate authority.  

If you feel you have any special concerns or problems that you would like to address please feel free to bring them to my attention. If there are any health concerns, either physical or psychological, that may affect your ability to fully participate in the class or complete assignments I am available to discuss possible solutions or address any of your concerns. If you have health or disability concerns that you would like to address but do not feel it is appropriate to discuss them with me there are services on campus available to address your concerns; contact Student/Health Services (Vodra Hall, Suite 107, 201-200-3456), the Art Department Office, or feel free to see me for contact info.

Class Schedule

ALL READINGS AND ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE SPECIFIED WEEKLY IN CLASS AND ON THE CLASS BLOG 

It is the student’s responsibility to check the blog each week for required readings and assignments. All readings can be found in the required texts, online (linked from the blog) or on Blackboard.

If you ever have questions or concerns about the schedule, due dates, changes or anything else please ask me after class or e-mail me: dcacoilo@njcu.edu

Students are required to read the appropriate readings for each class BEFORE class, complete all assignments on time and post 2 links to twitter each week.

Class Discussion Topic	Readings/Assignments due
9/7 Introduction to Acts of Resistance Introduction of the course syllabus, class blog and themes
9/14 Identity, Self and Media messages Visit SUNY Stony Brook exhibition of Guerilla Girls 3pm http://zuccairegallery.stonybrook.edu/2016/08/not-ready-to-make-nice-the-guerrilla-girls-in-the-artworld-and-beyond/	ON BLACKBOARD John Berger Ways of Seeing Ch7 and Susan Sontag excerpt from On Photography (linked from the blog)
9/21 Agitprop! Political art	Post 1 Due  Read through the website for the Agitprop! exhibition and two additional article linked from the blog
9/28 Collective - The Experimental University	Anarchy in the Ruins pg 143-146 and  Encyclopedia Entries pg 147-154 Interventionists *check the blog for additional readings
10/5 Collective - The Experimental University	Chapter 4 The Experimental University pg 111-132 Interventionists
10/12 Collective - The Experimental University	Semester project topics due See blog for readings due.
10/19 The Guerrilla Girls	Semester project topics due (1 page) Confessions of the Guerrilla Girls pgs 7-95 (the whole book)
10/26 Intervention - Nomads: rethinking individual space for public discourse	Chapter 1 Nomads pgs. 25-60 Interventionists Group 1 presents
11/2 Intervention - Nomads: rethinking individual space for public discourse	See blog for readings due. Post 2 Due  (art gallery assignment) Group 2 presents
11/9 Interlopers - Reclaiming the Streets	Full project proposal including resources due Chapter 2 Reclaiming the Streets pg. 63-94 Interventionists Group 3 presents
11/16 Interlopers - Reclaiming the Streets	See blog for readings due. Group 4 presents
11/23 Pranksters - Ready to Wear	Chapter 3 Ready to Wear pgs 97-108 Interventionists  *check the blog for additional readings Group 5 presents
11/30 Pranksters - The Yes Men	See blog for readings due. Post 3 Due
12/07 PRESENTATIONS OF FINAL PROJECTS	All projects must be posted to and linked from the class blog on 12/6 before 11:30pm.
12/14 NO CLASS