The Activism of Art

The Activism of Art is a radical anthology shaking up the canonical narratives by bringing together perspectives on art and activism across different eras and cultures.

Thinkers, activists, and artists have long grappled with definitions of art, the role of activism, and their interconnected relationship. This anthology challenges and expands the canon by deliberately juxtaposing radically different conceptions of art and activism, gathering insights from various eras, cultures, and geographies.

Instead of presenting case studies or manifestos, the texts are organised thematically: Art Unsettles: Social Systems and Critique; Art Reveals: Making the Invisible Visible; Art Resists: Everyday Interventions; Art Acts: Activism as Art; Art (Re)Orders: Making Sense of the World; and Art Imagines: Envisioning New Worlds.

Through this thematic structure, the anthology seeks to expand and de-centre traditional canons. Each thematic section opens with a brief essay by the editors framing the central conceptual debates, inviting readers to engage with the tensions and possibilities at the intersection of art and politics.

Among the writers included are Gloria Anzaldúa, John Berger, Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, Octavia Butler, John Dewey, W.E.B. Du Bois, Frantz Fanon, Safdar Hashmi, bell hooks, Juan López Intzín, Audre Lorde, Herbert Marcuse, Jacques Rancière, and Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o.