The Art(s) of Non-violent Activism

Abstract

The arts played a prominent role in the February 2003 peace marches. A unique feature in Australia was the number of puppets of Bush and Howard, and the media focus on these. A theme taken up by many artists was that Howard is a mere lackey of Bush, who in turn is heavily influenced by the oil multinationals. Making puppets of them seemed a logical satirical step, although Sydney puppeteers took it one step further and made Howard into Bush's dog, with his nose in frequent proximity with Bush's rear. In Armidale a similar device had Howard looking in the same region for Colon Bowel. The puppets were immensely popular with children and the media seemed enthralled by them, featuring them in TV coverage, front-page newspaper photos, and interviews with the puppeteers. They were thus a media focus showing something creative and humorous, and redirecting media away from 'freaks', police clashes or other sensational images that encourage a stereotypical view of protestors. Banners featured prominently: they were clever, poignant or funny, like 'Axis of Evil? Access to Diesel' or 'There is no Path to Peace. Peace IS the Path.' or even 'Bush is a servant of Sauron. We hates him!" Some of the best were emailed from overseas and adapted; others, like 'NO hoWARd' originated here. ... The most telling sign of the power of the arts is the effort that has gone into censoring it. A poetry reading at the White House was cancelled because poets intended to use it as a forum to protest. And Picasso's anti-war painting Guernica, at the UN in New York, was covered up. This however has caused international outrage, and marchers in Barcelona carried a full-sized replica of the painting. Protest art will never be silenced.