[brookestouffer]

Art has existed alongside activism to express discontent with a state of affairs and fight to transform oppressive structures that act upon us in our society. From picket signs that outwardly express discontent to those in charge of changing an oppressive structure, to more hidden accounts of activism like in the Chilean arpilleras, art has been used to emphasize what words cannot and to give a voice to those who are voiceless.

In the classroom, we can encourage our students to use art as a way to express something they feel discontent with, whether in their own personal lives or a societal issue at large. When we teach art history to our students, we can include lessons on how art has been used in our history to make an impact for change. During these instructions we can ask students to make art similar to that fashion reflecting an act of unfairness or a change they would like to make. This can be done in a variety of mediums, from drawing to photography depending on the materials available in the classroom. After, we can have either a group or singular discussion about the topics that the students chose and why they’re passionate about them.

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