Resistance through Art

Introduction

Over the course of human history, there have been various forms through which humans have resisted against discrimination and injustice. Generally, resistance has taken the form of warfare with opponents fighting to stake their claim over their rights. However, not all of the forms of resistance are based on violence. There have been movements that have been peaceful yet sophisticated in motivating and making claim for equality. The Black Arts Movement was one such example. Du Bois, an African-American scholar, believed that art can be used to fight against inequality, discrimination and injustice. This was evident in the movement in America that was started to provide African-Americans justice. They chose to use art in various forms such as theatre, music, literature and paintings to voice their claims.

Similarly, in today's modern society, there are a number of proponents that believe art can still be employed to resist and fight against inequality. Armenia is one example of modern day usage of art in the fight against tyranny. In the decade of the nineties, Armenian society, with all its sectors, was optimistic about its revolution for democracy. The liberation of Soviet states and the United States' rise as the sole superpower was the reason behind the loss of belief and pride in the citizenship in Armenia (Garoian, pp. 30).

Modern-day Perspective

In the modern world, globalization has brought together the world and the attitudes of citizens of different countries have become contagious. Artists have also benefitted from the elimination of boundaries. As we are aware of the perils associated with globalization, there is also a motivation to resist change and exploitation. Art, in such a situation, has become more relevant than it has ever been is resisting and protecting one's heritage or culture. However, the choice of using art as a weapon against exploitation rests with the artists themselves. Adorno stated that affirmativeness can prevent the worst, protects from barbarism. It can also preserve nature by suppression it.

In the Armenian movement, artists involving in the “Resistance through Art” played highly active roles in the cause in the events that transpired in the nineties in Armenia. These activities were such that fell outside the scope of institutions that the country had inherited from the Soviet Union.

NPAK or the Armenian Center for Contemporary Experimental Art became the focal point for artists to gather and create pieces of works that served as motivation to resist against oppression and tyranny. It was at this center that the artists were free to portray and exhibit ideas and concepts that would have led to serious consequences outside the premises due to psychological and socio-cultural conflicts. Of significant importance were works such as Crisis, Civic Commotion, Collapse of Illusions, Politics under 180 Degrees and Anoush. These were reflective of the sentiments that were found among the masses, which often bordered on being hysterical and craziness (Fine, pp. 59).

These artists in the resistance employed aesthetic and psychological contradiction to manifest the conflict between materialism and spirituality, bringing ...