Art to Counter Authoritarianism

Called by: Michael Garner

Attendees:

Beccy Owen
Ben Harrison

Scarlet Turner
Sophia Wild

Poppy Wild
Danny Braverman
Michael Preston
Michael Garner
Amaya Stella




SUMMARY:



Art Cry https://www.artcry.co.uk/ 
Supports fast response political artworks in public space

Red Ladder Theatre Company. https://www.redladder.co.uk
A radical theatre company with over 50 years history

“The Day The Nazi Died” - song by Chumbawamba recently recorded and posted online by Beccy Owen (gone viral!). Beccy is also currently in UNRULY by Little Cog about anti-authoritarianism, disability, punk and friendship.

Amaya - runs LIFE (London International Festival of Theatre)

Wants to programme urgent, radical, topical work



GRID IRON - makes work in unusual venues, activism. Show ‘Bethlehem Calling’ - Palestinian pipers. Visa issues meaning only 2 out of 9 (?) made it. 



Sly Lives doc, recommended. Explores how artists can provide forward movement.

More connectivity needed, more safer spaces to share.

Disability experience is a useful lens to view this issue through.

It might take time and it might be happening now in more ways than we know

Pandemic gave home-based community a moment in the sun. How can we still do mischief from this context?



“Sick women syndrome”. 

Real severity to this whole topic, difficult to align self publicly with very serious consequences.

Preaching to choir is an issues. 

Important when we make theatre it’s entertaining first

Realistically gotta think about general audience. Can put ideas in that can embed and sprinkle

David Graham/Jack Thorne as examples

Hard on small scale as already competing - try find ways to make art first politics second?



Laurie Anderson - weaves in politics to what she’s saying, as does Meredith Monk (operas on climate change, etc.)

Ani Defranco - Learn to be shy before you can sing


Sesame Street - accessible and message is universal

Gotta think about audience not being alienated. Comms thing? Content thing?

We need encouragement form allies artists but if invitation is good can make something special

Hadestown - very real message with rich art behind it

Republicanism - very good at making things simple and accessible. 

Chumbawamba - great at this too



How do we make this in the context of suppression whilst earning money? Do we NEED to take money from the state to make it happen? Can happen in the street. The Turks are already there. 



Community arts in the 80’s - “Community Arts and the State”

Cultural revolution funded by the state a contradiction in terms



Trade union movement - subs to fund radicalism. Organise away form state, like a TU

We think there is community, but much is on social media.

5B movement in China - women not marrying, stepping outside patriarchy

There are marches e.g. Gaza, Congest continuous protest



We are more individualistic now. People fight more for their own survival (especially the young)

We fight a system that pushes us towards individualism

The right is better at long term relationship

‘Bowling Alone’ - the left. The toxic community IS a community

Joyful march in NYC - using humour

Queer circus in NYC. Importance of humour and joy.



Slaves in Ancient Rome were not given uniforms so no on could see how many there were!



Obama roasting Trump at the White House, correspondents dinner. MAGA is 22%. Uniformity of wearing safety pin.



What do we actually stand for? Rather than what do we stand against?

Protest to save Lewisham Hospital - police very supportive. Women’s movement in N. Ireland



In order to make change everybody has to change their mind

Belfast - Sheriban (?) - 3 mothers watching kids drive away - inspirational - women in northern ireland. Lack of information, women’s roles in the NI troubles are forgotten/not told. 


We should start with how people can learn about themselves in the world



The greater system encases people against counter-authoritarian systems.

Art spreads a message and creates community



Social media continues to engage after protests - broader communities - building communities of mutual support

Demonstrations over protests - language? Manifest - reveal ourselves to each other and the world. Ricochet. 

Allow others to carry on your ideas



Punished for being a racist city - Portsmouth - band would not play for audience.