" A great deal of activism and political art is directed towards criticizing what we don't like. Occasionally it suggests the steps we might need to take to change things. But sometimes, the best way to bring the world we want into being is to act "as if" it is already here" (Duncome & Lambert pg. 102)
This quote considers that people are protesting over present-day issues to solve a problem happening at that moment. However, they suggest protesting with the idea that the future will be greatly impacted if they don't solve this problem today. A good example of this kind of protest is with environmental activists because they are not only protesting to pass environmental regulations and save the earth, they will show the future consequences of global warming on their banners, signs, and postings.
"We are working within the very culture we are trying to change. But within even the most oppressive societies, there are pockets of counter culture and of resistance that provide a cultural foundation - stories, songs, and institutions upon which we can build." (pg. 104)
A good example of this can be found in Texas, where a bounty hunter' bill against drag is attempting to be passed. Due to the political climate in the south, LGBTQ performers and trans people are in the greatest danger in 2023. To protest this, individuals have gone out into the streets holding signs in solidarity with the movement. In other places, active counter-protests drown out the alt-right groups ( and the white supremacists that are undoubtedly there). The alt-right propaganda machine is attempting to ban and restrict the freedoms of LGBTQ performers by spreading lies and fear-mongering to their followers. Therefore groups have to band together and continue living their lives in opposition to the oppressors.
"Words we use, the images we employ, and the performances we stage will be made sense of in various contexts. Our opponents can consciously manipulate our symbols for their own ends, and we need to operate with the assumption that they will" (pg. 114)
Thinking back to the history of protesting, it is true that any image created in opposition is twisted and used against the movement. We see this during the Suffragette movement, where propaganda cartoons made fun of women advocating for their right to vote. In the case of the Black Panthers, as described in the book, the FBI COINTELPRO program was set to defame and kill the movement. The FBI viewed the BPP, free breakfast program, as a threat to America, as if feeding children in low-income neighborhoods would threaten national safety. They were really afraid of black children growing up to continue fighting for their rights in such an oppressive state. More recently, during the BLM movement, counter-protesters took the slogan of Black Lives Matter and printed out banners saying "All Lives Matter" to shut down the fact that black people are systematically targeted and twisting the message to make themselves the victims. Overall, the opposition is expected, and activists must be prepared for it.
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| Texas man holding up a sign on a freeway |
Intervention 2 idea.
For my second intervention, I want to make a performance all about gender. Gender performance is defined as something that is integrated into our daily practices, learned, and performed based on cultural and societal norms of feminity and masculinity. Take a second to remember what your childhood was like, what your parents dressed you in, and what toys you were allowed to play with. Girls play dress up while boys play with cars and nerf guns. When a child starts steering away from the norm, they could get punished. We see this in Bell Hooks' "Understanding Patriarchy." If you know LGBTQ history, you would know that gay people were outcasted from their families and left to fend for themselves, which brought about the emergence of "houses" and ballrooms. Therefore my intervention is not only about gender performance; it is about literal performance, celebrating drag queens, kings, trans people, vouge, and more. I also want to highlight historical love because LGBTQ people have existed since the beginning of time.
I am creating a blog to document historical photos, videos, and performances for my intervention. In addition, I am interviewing my friends who identify as non-binary and highlighting their definitions of gender along with how they feel about current political unrest. I would also like to dress in masculine clothing for this video to highlight how lesbians have historically cross-dressed to express themselves and stay safe. Overall, this project was inspired by the anti-trans bills coming up in the last few weeks and that nazis and alt-right Republicans are favored over freedom of individual expression. This is a multi-media online performance that not only celebrates LGBTQ performance art but comments on the dangerous politics happening today.
Here is the blog: Devine Rebis
I named it "Devine Rebis," as a Rebis is a personification of an alchemical magnum opus, combining opposite qualities to create something in perfect harmony, described as the divine hermaphrodite, a being of both male and female qualities. This comments on the work LGBTQ people put in to achieve their ideal gender identity, whether through simple clothes changes or HRT and surgery.
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