Creative Activism - Activism and Advocacy

Creativity is a viable medium in which people are able to ignite change and promote activism. There are many methods of doing this including photography, art, films, music, digital media, ambient media in public and, commonly, advertising.

It's important to remember how powerful a simple image can be. For example, Ai Weiwei is a Chinese artist who took a simple image of him 'flipping off' the White House.

A quick photo of someone performing a simple gesture can have many implication. The obvious one being derived from this image is about one man's opinion on American politics that many people can identify with and therefore spread awareness of the public opinion on politics.

Film Examples:

The Great Dictator  (Charles Chaplin, 1940) - A satire that is a parody of Adolf Hitler's life

Gandhi (Richard Attenborough, 1982) - A film that explores the life of Mahatma Gandhi

Milk (Gus Van Sant, 2008) - A biopic about Harvey Milk, California's first openly gay elected
official

The Interview (Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogan, 2014) - A satire about the current leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-Un

Link to my review of Milk: http://opinionmoviegoer.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/milk-gus-van-sant-2008-review.html

Music Examples:

John Lennon - Imagine (1971), Give Peace a Chance (1969), Happy Xmas (War is Over) (1971)

Bob Dylan - The Times They Are a-Changin' (1964), Chimes of Freedom (1964), Masters of War (1963)

Bono/U2 -  Sunday Bloody Sunday (1983), Bullet the Blue Sky (1987), Ordinary Love (2013)

Steve Knightley/Show of Hands - Roots (2006), Cousin Jack (1997), Country Life (2003)