University of Kent
Politics, Art and Resistance
Explore how art movements have inspired political activism| Length | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Effort | 4 hours per week |
| Price | Free |
| Subject | Art, Society |
| Level | Beginner |
| Languages | English |
| Video Transcripts | English |
What’s the link between art and activism?
This course introduces ideas and practices of resistance, and the relationship between art and politics.
You’ll explore:
the socially engaged practices of artists, and how art movements have inspired ordinary people
art manifestos, and how to develop your own manifesto
how creative practices connect with social and political issues
And you’ll have the chance to contribute an image of resistance to a photo mosaic that will be presented as part of Tate Exchange at Tate Modern
What you'll learn
By the end of the course, you'll be able to...
Discuss the relationship between creative practices and resistant acts
Develop, as an artist, a manifesto
Reflect on the role of the artist and the idea of life as a work of art
Describe violent and non-violent styles of resistance
Explore the concept of Utopia as it relates to art and resistance
Course syllabus
- What is ‘resistance’?
- The relationship between art and politics
- Writing to resist: The art of the manifesto
- Life as a work of art
- Styles of resistance
- Resistance and Utopia
Meet the instructors
Stefan Rossbach
Specialist in social & political theory; interested in the ‘spiritual dimension of politics’, including the possibility of a ‘critical knowledge of order’ outside politics and its use within politics.
Iain MacKenzie
Co-director of the interdisciplinary Centre for Critical Thought (https://www.kent.ac.uk/cct/); interested in how political thought provides rich critical material for social and political life.