Art as Resistance

Art is inherently anti-fascist because it gives a voice to movements and is a powerful tool for social and political change. Behold: Artistic resistance.

Art is inherently anti-fascist because it gives a voice to movements and is a powerful tool for social and political change. Artists can challenge the status quo, give voice to marginalized groups, and promote awareness of social issues.

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Art done well can counter mainstream media narratives, as we’ve seen political cartoonists do and satire do in ways that political journalism cannot.

Art is resistance.

I give you an installation in Los Angeles of the Republican Party, aka, Guardian of Pedophiles:

This installation in Los Angeles is courtesy of vjaybombs:

vjaybombs

A post shared by @vjaybombs

They have this image on a t-shirt along with other merch, but scant details about who they are. They’re letting the art speak for itself, and boy does it sing.

Paris:

Costumes are resistance art, theater in action:

Leading to:

Jokes can be resistance art:

Memes can be art:

Film and music (though the point he’s making is that a lot of people miss the point — but that happens with art):

The Onion:

Because he can’t bear any public form of resistance, Donald Trump said “we took the freedom of speech away.”

Art is a powerful form of free speech. Art is an invitation to community, and by evoking emotional responses, protest art creates opportunities for dissent. It’s also the perfect response in these gaslighting times, when both establishment and social media have been taken over by the oligarchs destroying our country.

Art can make us feel less alone, inspire us with hope, make us laugh, point out hypocrisy and make a public mockery of people doing horrible things. It’s exceptionally powerful, and that’s why fascists hate it and try to control it. But art rises up no matter what, because it represents the indomitable human spirit.

Do you agree that art is resistance? Share your thoughts in the comments below.