Lily Christie -Beautiful Trouble- Week 4

Beautiful Trouble

1. Principles

Anyone Can Act -Yes Men

I really liked this principle as it reminded me of something a former acting teacher told me once. Talent means nothing, acting is a learned skill. As long as the person has a technique, is committed to its practice and is open to the training. Not only is this eye opening for acting, but as an entryway into activism. A lot of people can be made nervous by the spotlight, or having attention drawn to them. Having a technique, having something behind them (rehearsing), can free up a person as they feel prepared, they’re not winging it. Learning technique is like having a toolbox- whether it’s used for artivism or it’s used for acting (or whatever), it makes the job less daunting and more doable.

B) Tactics

“Détournement can be used to disrupt the flow of the media spectacle and, ultimately, to rob it of its power. Advertisements start to feel less like battering rams of consumerism and more like the raw materials for art and critical reflection. Advertising firms may still generate much of culture’s raw content, but through détournement and related culture jamming tactics, we can reclaim a bit of autonomy from the mass-mediated hall of mirrors that we live in, and find artful ways to talk back to the spectacle and use its artifacts to amplify our own voices.”

I particularly resonate with the concept of regaining autonomy by utilizing the format of advertisement for activism purposes. I find that disrupting visuals that people are familiar with helps narrate the contrast, and more deeply helps get the “point” across. The image that the website uses is an excellent example. This Beatles album cover is one of their most iconic, and they are a globally beloved group. Beloved enough to demonstrate “controversial” behavior. While their music itself was not the most political of the time, but they did drugs and would refuse to play to segregated audiences and were always advocated for peace. While seeing the image of students being sprayed with pepper spray may seem “normalized” to certain groups of people, seeing icons and art pieces with the pepper spray cop does not always sit as well. It bottoms out the impact of the original image that is circulated by the media and puts the spotlight on the people who are affected by it.    

C) Theories -Action Logic

Actions are our most powerful tool and one of the only things in our lives that we have control over. You can’t control your emotions, you can’t control what happens to you in the course of the day- but you can control how you handle it and how you treat others around you. Actions that are clear and concise communicate thoughts and ideas louder. Communicate wants louder.