November 2 - Community Art Practices in the 1970's

Suzanne Lacy and Leslie Labowitz developed Feminist Media Strategies for Political Performances in Amelia Jones' The Feminism and Visual Culture Reader (2003). Feminist media art was developed as a response to the violence displayed in the media and in society. Feminists and activist groups protested against the glamorized violence, which often depicted women being victimized by sexual violence. Media strategies were devloped for performance artists to develop public performance events dealing with the media. There was a collaborative effort to develop combined ideas about performance, conceptual art, feminist theory, community orgainizing techniques, media analysis, and activist strategies. For artists who wanted media coverage, the feminist media strategies may be the appropriate avenue to express their work for social change.

Lacy and Labowitz suggest several useful methods in producing a planned media performance. They suggest that an artist review their goals and consider whether or not attracting media attention is appropriate because there may be other ways in which may be more useful to a particular goal. Media can also serve as a useful tool to network with other groups who have a shared concern. Also, media can provide awareness about opression to larger audiences. It is also important that a media performance can provide a voice for 'politically powerless people'. Lacy and Labowitz also suggest that artists collaborate with other organizations that may have experience and knowledge about the same issues.

This reading was very interesting and perhaps even useful for individuals who are unaware of media strategies. Lacy and Labowitz provide simple suggestions about understanding the media and how to use media strategies for social change. It was interesting to read that artists should be aware of how they are affected by the media and to pay attention to how this is done. This is an good suggestion for all people to be aware of how we consume or process images. Images in the media whether it be television, newspaper, magazines, or advertising impose ideological messages that are designed to entice the viewer. Artists can use these same strategies in generating emotional responses for the purpose of social change. The artists can facilitate education among a performance participants. Imagery is important for viewrs to particpate with it and information. Lacy and Labowitz seem to emphasize that the viewer becomes involved with the material presented to them as oppose to commanded or preached like commerical advertisements.

In Suzanne Lacy's “ The Roof is on Fire” (c. 1990) was a performance piece which was broadcasted by NBC and CNN. This project gathered around 200 innner city teenagers at the roof top of a parking garage in Oakland, California. They engaged in dialogues regarding issues that effected them. Along with the media, families, the public and the local police were invited to see and hear what the youth of Oakland youth discussed. This performance pieced provided an opportunity for the nation to be aware of issues that youth of colour were facing. This seemed to be a successful media performance, which provided awareness to the youth participating, the observers of the performance at the roof top, the media audience. This performance gave voice to youth of colour, which may have been misrepresented in the media. This also gave a chance for the youth to represent themselves.


http://www.suzannelacy.com/1990soakland.htm