Beautiful Trouble ~Inobe

~Inobe

All three Direct Actions, Balanced Art, and Alienation Effect all connects to my political stance and desires for my art. This is the reason I decided to focus on these three from the Beautiful Trouble blog posts.

Tactic:

 “Direct action gets the goods.”

Industrial Workers of the World

Passage below from: http://beautifultrouble.org/tactic/direct-action/

One-way of thinking about power is that there are two kinds: organized money and organized people. We don’t have billions of dollars to buy politicians and governments, but with direct action organized people spend a different currency: we leverage risk. We leverage our freedom, our comfort, our privilege or our safety.

~As Frederick Douglass said, “power concedes nothing without a demand.” Malcolm X elaborated, “Power never takes a step back, except in the face of more power.”

This is passage is powerful and true. My family and me are protesting NFL football right because Colin Kaepernick was not signed this year. We feel his decision not to stand, but kneel during the national anthem for the deaths surrounding black bodies, and unnecessary police brutality with no repercussion was a needed cry out for change. NFL has all the money and power, but collectively as fans and, by standers if we took a stand for Kaepernick and this movement, and stopped watching and attending NFL games we would be the more power mentioned above.  The Presidents remarks, cities across the nation, conversations and so many other things would change over night. As people we forget the dollar can be used to make a very powerful statement that says “no more!” This passage states my sentiments exactly “one way of thinking about power is that there are two kinds: organized money and organized people.”
I hope to bridge my art and feelings about organized money and people and it's power in way that contributes to current movements. Underserved schools and communities, high prison rates and so many other serious issues can be addressed if we rallied around  this concept for change. We could boycott where money holds the power keeping us silent.

Principle:

Balanced Art and Message

“Political art.” Easily said, harder to do.

This is easier said than done. Striking a balance is always hard. As artist we are so passionate about art we create, it can be very one sided. Choosing the vehicle for delivering the message can be just as complicated. Both of these things are important and we all should sit with our creations and be honest about our intentions before releasing our art in the world. This passage under principles spoke about balanced art, being able to get people to think instead of telling them what to think. This is very important. It spoke about the right message through our art can move hearts and minds. It asked us as artist to sit with a series of questions about what we are hoping to accomplish. What actions or response are we looking for from the audience?

Art should always serve the greater good in this complex world. We have enough negativity surrounding us, so art that provokes an honest dialogue personally and collectively should always be welcomed. As I create songs, and working on another personal piece. I have this conversation with myself consistently. I love to provoke emotion with my art and compassion. I desire for people to see their connectivity to all human beings in some capacity, or atleast have empathy. This could help us all be an agent for change.

 Theory:

“Sometimes it’s more important to be human than to have good taste.”

Bertolt Brecht

I’m totally interested in exploring more ways to connect my messages and stories with my audience when performing. This post on Bertolt’s technique was interesting and his quote mentioned above breaks it down clearly. When we encounter one another and have authentic human moments it’s memorable, and sometimes we’re forever changed in the process. I agree and will continue to study other concepts on theatrical techniques that helps us think outside the box.