Activity Module 3:
Art As Resistance

There are so many ways to take action for change in your community. Storytelling, direct action, and mutual aid are all ways to build movements outside of legislative advocacy; but art is one of the most enduring protests we have at our disposal. Our communities have used art to draw attention to injustice, to celebrate in the face of oppression, and to reimagine a world that truly works for all of us. Political art drives social change and inspires movements. Whether it’s visual, performance, spoken word, or something we’ve never even seen before, your artistic contributions to social change spark our collective imagination and inform our work for a better world.

“We have to be visible. We have to show the world that we’re numerous.”

— Sylvia Rivera

“I am invested in illustrating the possible.”

— Theaster Gates

Political Art 101

What if everyone had a chance to tell their story? LeRon L. Barton is a writer and speaker from Kansas City who lives in San Francisco, Ca. LeRon believes that as a writer, one of his responsibilities is to create, be honest, and encourage others to do so. He is a story advocate who believes everyone’s story counts and we should all share them. (YouTube)

KQED created this video to engage students in Political Art. Boldness, accessibility, visibility and reproducibility are just a few of the qualities that help make political art stand out and reach new audiences. Take these five steps to create your own political art, and let your work shout a message from the rooftops! (YouTube)

25 Examples of American Protest Art (NYT)

(CW: mention of lynching, artistic depiction of war) In this New York Times piece, three artists, a writer and a curator came together to discuss the pieces of protest art that they believe best reflect the era. The article includes a conversation between the artists, as well as the important role these pieces played in the work for change.

Art As Resistance Canva Templates

These templates have been put together to show you the different options you can create around events, community planning, and creating art. These are free to use, and please explore other ways on Canva to express yourself!

You do have to have a Canva account, but it is free—you do not need premium to use these. Mobile app is available, but often Canva is easiest to use on tablet, laptop, or desktop computers.

The Power of Words

(CW: mention of 2SLGBTQ+ discrimination) Lauren Zuniga is a queer, feminist poet, facilitator & designer. In 2019, she co-founded OKC Pride Alliance to help build a more inclusive LGBTQ+ Pride movement in OKC. She is a three-time international poetry slam finalist & has toured over 200 colleges & venues in the US.

(CW: mention of derogatory word for mental health) Cited as a wordsmith and change maker, Amanda Gorman is the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history, as well as an award-winning writer and cum laude graduate of Harvard University, where she studied Sociology. She has written for the New York Times and has three books forthcoming with Penguin Random House. (Amanda Gorman)

 

Visual Poetry is just one of many ways to display your thoughts and passions. This video shows different artists’ poetry, ways to engage in visual poetry, and ways to build your own style.

 
 

I Am Poetry Prompt

This template may help in establishing what you see, feel, and hear as well as what you believe and what you support. This is a great activity to get the creativity going.

Writing Poems for Social Change Activity

Here is a template for activating your thoughts around a particular social justice issue and creating a structure for your poem. No matter the topic, this is a great way to cultivate your message.

Visual Storytelling: Film, Photo, and More

This video talks about the importance of filmmaking and its techniques, as well as a challenge on how to start constructing your own film.

Faith Ringgold is one of America's most gifted and generous visual storytellers. Ringgold is best known for the painted story quilts in which she draws on African American folklore tradition, often to dramatize—to humanize—institutional and national histories. (YouTube)

Girl Up is helping girl activists tell their stories. In their new #AmplifyHER series, get the tools and resources you need to amplify your voice and communicate effectively across different media, whether it be written, verbal, or visual! (YouTube)

San Francisco-based photographer Paccarik Orue carries out long-term documentary projects in various communities in the Bay Area and his home country of Peru. Orue photographs on the streets of Richmond, California making intimate portraits of people he encounters, especially those he feels reflects him and his reality. (YouTube)

 

Stephanie Montelongo

Stephanie Montelongo is a freelance filmmaker and photographer who believes that the act of storytelling is the inspiration for change. She is drawn to stories which reflect culture, community, and individual perspectives. This website has some amazing examples of both video and photography from political activism to documenting the important moments. Make sure to check out ‘Campaigns’ under Videos and ‘Events’ under Photography.

 

4 Square Story Board Template

Witness Video Doc Tip Sheet

The organization, Witness, created this tip sheet around what to film and how to do so ethically. Remember to take a look at this before engaging in political filmmaking that will include others’ stories.

 

WatchDocumentaries

(CW: These documentaries often cover difficult subject matters, and they often have a rating of PG-13 or R because of the regulation of 2SLGBTQ+ issues and bodies within our society and the oppression we face as marginalized people. Please research the content of a doc before viewing) This website has free access to several different documentaries as they relate to 2SLGBTQ+ issues. We encourage you to use the search bar and type in LGBT or gay as the content by category is broad.

21 Photography Tips All Beginners Should Know

This website goes over some of the important things to consider when first taking up photography. Remember that you decide what message you want to convey and how you want to convey it.

 

Lightworks

Lightworks is a website that allows you to do video editing. This service is best used for content that will go to YouTube or Vimeo.

This is a free website, but it does require an account. You can upgrade your account for a monthly fee, but that is only necessary if you will be uploading content to another source other than the ones listed above.

Pixlr

This is a website and app that can be used to edit photos as well as create graphic designs. Remember that Canva is also a tool for both of these things, but to varying degrees depending on your project.

Pixlr is free to use and also has a downloadable app version if internet cannot be easily accessed regularly. You can upgrade your account for more features for a fee. No account is required to use the free version, but you may have to sign up to save. Canva is also a free website, but it does require an account to use it.

Music of the Movement

Music has a huge impact on how we perceive a message. Songs for a cause or movement is just another effective way to bring about awareness. Music often brings us closer, and it gives us an opportunity to learn and grow at the same time. This video discusses some of the history of music as a political tool. Poetry activities can also help with the creative process of making lyrics to your music.

 

Soundtrap

This is a website that allows you to create your own music, podcasts, or sounds.

Soundtrap does require an account, but there is a free account option. If you like the style of it, you can upgrade to more options for an additional fee. You do not have to pay to do basic music/sound. This is an online resource.

Audacity

This is a free app that once downloaded will give you the capabilities to edit music/sounds. 

This app is available for all types of servers, but does require internet to download the app onto a phone, tablet, or computer. It does not require you to need internet to run the program once downloaded.

Zines for Social Change

This video talks about the history and how zines came to be popular. Zines were an important part of the queer movement, especially during the rise of the Riot Grrrl underground feminist punk movement of the 1990s.

This video shows you how you can make a zine from one piece of printer paper. Remember after you make the zine, before folding it back up, you can make copies to hand out to your friends or those you’d like to inform about an important issue.

 

Tulsa Intersectional Care Network Zine

Here is a local example of a zine and how it both reflects and casts light on pertinent issues in the community.

Queer Zine Archive

(CW: some subjects may be difficult to see. 2SLGBTQ+ people face oppression within our society as marginalized people, and because of this the content can be triggering. Please use care when accessing this page) This website works to preserve the zines that were part of the queer movement. These are great examples to see how messaging works and may even help with ideas on what you want from your zine.

Comics in Politics

Here is a tutorial video on how to make a comic strip.

This video will help you understand how to structure a comic that intersects art with politics/a cause.

 
 

Create Your Own Amazing Comic Strips Online with Canva

If you prefer to use digital templates for creating a comic, Canva has you covered. Here’s where to get started.

You do have to have a Canva account, but it is free- you do not need premium to use these. Mobile app is available, but often canva is easiest to use on tablet, laptop, or desktop computers.