Attitudes And Activism

It's nearly unforgivable that I've disregarded the issue of activism especially in a blog called «visual attitudes» the way I did until today. Maybe I had to start with my more or less freely chosen thesis project this year to become aware of this important and very interesting aspect of visual communication.

When I say «activism» then I'm talking about «visual activism», the usage of the instruments of visual communication to broach a certain issue in view of the public. It's about starting discussions, questioning established perspectives and trying to disperse the seed of change. Ok, the first example we think of when we hear the word «change» is the Obama '08 campaign. It's not the worst example because the campaign specificly used strategies of visual activism and actively inspired people to become actvists. It's hardly suprising that the most famous icon of the campaign resulted from the personal commitment of a now well-known street artist named Shepard Fairey.

Often designers theirselves become activists as they start to express their own views, thoughts, doubts and questions using the instruments their profession provides. There is no client, no job, no brief but the own thought. Of course there's also no budget! But especially this aspect leads to exceptional and suprising results. Some designers publish their statements using guerilla tactics, availing themselves of public space. Others aim for the collaboration with social organizations to support them. The visual works on issues of society, health or rights often demonstrate the power of visual communication. They attract interest through irriation, shock or humor, through changing people's point of view for a moment. So as my blog's name holds a kind of obligation I'll keep my eyes open for impressive examples of visual activism this year. If you've done visual-activistic works yourself, feel free to mail me some images and informations about it!

As a small appetizer here is the video «Mankind Is No Island» I once found in my brothers blog last year. It's a short film by Jason van Genderen who shot it entirely using the camera of his mobile phone. The film won the award of the Tropfest 2008 in New York. (via /* basuiat's lovely winter riot */)