Modules

"I have yet to see a serious act of violence that was not provoked by the experience of feeling shamed and humiliated, disrespected and ridiculed, and that did not represent the attempt to prevent or undo this ‘loss of face’—no matter how severe the punishment, even if it includes death."
James Gilligan
American psychiatrist and author
"Artistic activism is aimed at hearts and minds, not bodies or buildings. The goal is not to force compliance, which art can never do, but to persuade by creating moving experiences that prompt people to question the world as it is, imagine a world as it could be, and join together to make that new world real. Artistic activism is Æffective power."
Center for Artistic Activism
"Why Artistic Activism"

Resistance as an approach

Through critical thinking, artistic expression and media literacy, we aim to bring challenging topics related to violence into the classroom. Our goal is not only to talk about them, but to also engage in resisting them. Like many individuals and movements currently building resistance to cultural forms of violence by using art and web-based media with a critical lens, we believe an educational platform can be a great place to explore and engage in these strategies. Below are a few modules that we have created. Please check back for more in the coming months as we work with a wider reaching community of practice.

"OTHERING"

It is important to recognize that “othering” comes all too easily to us. We are hard-fired to fear the stranger and even our use of language by its very essence compartmentalizes and divides. But dividing between peoples does not necessarily lead to the devaluing and dehumanizing of others; the latter is learned behavior, and as such, can be unlearned. Our module on "othering" is full of interesting testimonials, and interdisciplinary perspectives.

RAPE Culture

Rape culture is a sociological concept for a setting in which rape and other forms of sexual aggression is pervasive and normalized due to societal attitudes about gender and sexuality. We strongly believe rape culture is best addressed through a commitment to understanding how it exists on a continuum of violence and that many in a classroom may be unknowingly subjected to it. We encourage you to become familiar with the ways in which #metoo has changed the way rape culture is being perceived.


Media Violence

Despite the overwhelming volume of brutal violence represented in our media, discussions of its impact generate much resistance. This is understandable: most of us have watched our share of media violence, while very few of us engage in extreme acts of violence. But, this response of course minimizes the complexities of the issue. Check out this module for resources regarding media silencing and examples of glorification of violence through entertainment industries.

Archive

Our archive of student work may help fill your classroom with critical thoughts about nonviolent action. We encourage you to consult it.

NEWs

Consult our blog for more information regarding current publications, events and community of practice updates.

Modules

Our module homepage can provide a foundation for navigating through our resources and ideas for the classroom.

Contact Us

Please feel free to contact us and we will respond in a timely manner.

Foundational Resources

We've compiled a few key resources that can help you explore some concepts related to violence and nonviolence.

Subscribe

* indicates required