The Art Of Activism In Art

The portrayal and the representation of the Chicano Art Movements are entrenched by the Mexican-American artist who institute artistic personalities and identities in the United States. The plenteous amount of the artist is massively influenced by the immense Chicano Movement (El Movimiento) which, was established in the 1960’s. The influence of Chicano Art was due to the Mexican- Revolution philosophy, art of Pre-Columbia and indubitably European techniques of painting, cultural, social, political issues. The movement took a stand to fight against stereotypes of Mexican- Americans conducive and to resist typical social norms. The movement to concentrate on awareness of collective history, equal opportunity, grants and social mobility. Chicanos have used the movement in pursuit of expressing their cultural values. Ever since it first appeared in America the art of Chicanos has matured to illustrate common struggle and social issues in conjunction with uniting the youth of the Chicano people to their culture and history. Chicano Art is not only Mexican- American artwork; it further emphasizes and accentuates the histories of the Chicano people in a superb and sublime way of American art.

In the featured pop art piece “Race Riot,” the artist, Andy Warhol, depicts racial tension that often occurred in the mid 20th century. During the 1960s, racism was on a high among the American people, with a particular focus on the African American race that was trying to pass the American Civil Rights Movement. The art piece addresses not only Warhol’s political views, but also the inequality people faced in a land that was meant to be “free”.

As an artistic movement, the Black Arts Movement rebelled against the Euro-American assumptions of art, and emphasized importance of community, ethics, and nationalism in art. The Western artist tends

The Chicano art movement rose during the civil rights era was based on three goals that included restoral of land, education reforms rights for farm workers. The three goals followed by the Chicano Art artists had long been coming. One of the first goals included rights for farm workers. Arguably, the Mexicans Americans fight to secure unionization for the farm workers was one of the key goals of the Chicano art. In order to Sway the grape farmers, Cesar Chavez launched a national boycott that aimed at the American Farm

My favorite era is the Contemporary Era. In history, the Contemporary Era is a time that had profound changes the modernized the identity of the development of many new cities. In the early modern era, people and cities grew through the spirit of modernism throughout all over the world. People were going away with cultural traditions and starting a new civilization future for the twentieth century. The founding on new discoveries cause new foundation trends to be expressed with a new understanding in believing and living.

The intersection of social movements and Art is one that can be observed throughout the civil right movements of America in the 1960’s and early 1970’s. The sixties in America saw a substantial cultural and social change through activism against the Vietnam war, women’s right and against the segregation of the African - American communities. Art became a prominent method of activism to advocate the civil rights movement. It was a way to express self-identity as well as the struggle that people went through and by means of visual imagery a way to show political ideals and forms of resistance. To examine how a specific movement can have a profound effects on the visual art, this essay will focus on the black art movement of the 1960s and

By becoming actively involved in the community and in politics, Chicano activist began to achieve community self-determination. By starting to speak up and act for the Chicano community, Chicano activist broke free of the chains which have tied them down since the white man came to their homelands and drove them from out of Atzlan. A great example of Chicanos involving themselves in their community came from the walkouts staged by the Chicano youth in East L.A. In Ian Lopez’s Racism on Trial, Lopez states, “the student strikes symbolized the awakening of Mexican youth to a political consciousness of themselves and of their ability to fight for equal treatment.” (Lopez 23). By organizing the walkout the students began the Chicano communities search for self-determination and pursuit of equality. Then there are movements such as the farm workers movement which brought to the public’s attention the dehumanization of the Chicanos field workers. People such as Cesar Chavez took the political approach to win the Chicano community equality (Chicano!).

The racial disparities against African Americans lies is shameful, but not surprising. Race matters in the United States. People of color do not receive the same benefits and equality as white people; whether it be in education, the workplace and in the judicial system. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the racial disparities to African Americans in what subsequently led to the Black lives Matter movement. I have chosen a series of photos that capture historical events of protests and movements including an analysis of one of my images.

     Public art conquers so much more than the simple task of making the street a little easier to look at. It involves those who created it, those who supplied the means to create it, and those whose lives it continues to impact. Wall paintings in particular take an important role in working for a greater good. Judith F. Baca, a Hispanic-American woman and artist- activist has contributed an unaccountable amount to the mural movement in Los Angeles. She has accomplished this by giving individuals the chance to create art and develop a sense of pride, she has taught younger generations a respect for their ethnic identity, and from the many walks of life that continue to view her

While there has been tangible progress made in race relations, inequalities still tarnish the country. In poor black communities across the nation, the lack of opportunity stifles potential and creates a cyclical chain of poverty and violence. Areas with high black populations struggling with violence and unequal policing, have prompted a modern civil right movement called “Black Lives Matter.” Critics of the movement often cite, the supposed inherent inequality in the idea. All lives matter, they argue, why should black lives matter specifically? The movement, however, does not argue that black lives matter more than lives of other races, the movement is saying that black lives matter just as much. Furthermore, it’s an exclamation, that calls for attention to be placed on communities ravaged by violence and poverty that are disproportion black. Similar to the movements of the 1960’s, the BLM movement is causing tension across the country. Like king argued, tension is the catalyst that inspires change and conversation. The nonviolent protests of BLM, seek to “dramatize the issue that it can no longer be ignored;” that is the “work of a nonviolent resister” (1310). Just as the march that was depicted in Selma, the BLM has sought to seek change without violence, but instead with protests and media campaigns. BLM methods parallel King’s use of non violent protest, in a

As part of the “movimiento” Chicano artist needed an outlet to portray and protest societal inequality. They wanted to advocate ethnic identity as well as wanting to express self-identification. Consequently, they began to convey their message through art in murals, posters, magazines, logos, etc., which is considered public art. These Chicano artists wanted to represent the facet of the battle for human rights. Let’s take

African Americans are no stranger to discrimination. Children across American are taught about the horrific times of slavery. Following slavery, we learn about the discrimination African Americans face in the light of their bittersweet freedom. Due to this unstability, many amazing young African American artist emerged with breathtaking stories to reveal; the stories weren’t easy to expose because publishing companies and the alike were very

Art is a catalyst of change. It can confront both social and political issues as well as providing people with a creative outlet in which they can express their innermost thoughts and feelings - but what effect can art have on our society as a whole? Artists today have the unique ability to connect with people in a creative, innovative way that they can understand and interpret themselves. With this ability, artists are able to express their own views as well as influencing the views of others. Art is an immense part of our world – so much so that we barely even consider its impact upon us – but just how significant is the work of artists in our modern day society?

Art is something that can only be achieved with the manipulation of the imagination. This is successful when using objects, sounds, and words. Richard Wright and Amira Baraka brought the power of art into the limelight. Wright’s perception of art was for it to be used as a means of guidance, one that could uplift the Negro towards bigger and better goals. Baraka’s perspective of art was for it to be used as an active agent, one that could kill and then imprint society permanently. Baraka and Wright both wanted the Negro to see that there was a much brighter future ahead of them. Both wanted art to leave a stain, a stain that could not be easily erased, washed, or bleached. Both believed that Black Art had no need to be silent but instead daring.

I will be doing a creative project about political art with the intention of creating a portfolio which will capture the current state of American politics. I chose this topic because throughout the presidential election, I observed the way candidates and their supporters used visual images to to support their causes. When I participated in the Women’s March On Washington, I was blown away by the creative, funny, and powerful signs I saw. Throughout this year, I found that the one thing almost everyone in my life agrees on is that it was the we are living in an extremely polarized country and time. I want to take senior exploration as an opportunity to convey this intense political climate. I chose to use art, as opposed to writing or music, because I really enjoy it and do not think I will have the opportunity to do much art after high school.