MOD 9
Goals for the Assignment
This activity provides an opportunity for you to try one of the activist techniques you learned about in the module.
Overview
Activism is a critical part of a functioning democracy. All semester we’ve looked at issues of social power, domination and subordination, and agency. In our final module we focused on strategies that are available to all of us to bring about the kind of change we want to see in the world around whatever issues are important to us. As demonstrated by Module 9, there are many ways to be an activist. The important thing is for all of us to see getting involved in our communities as part of role as good citizens, and this involvement may necessitate efforts at making change around particular issues.
Prompt
This assignment is going to be a bit different from the other assignments. You are going to do a creative project to try out one of the activist strategies in Module 9. You are going to share your project with the class. We are doing this creative assignment in lieu of an essay, so there is no Short Essay for Module 9.
You have a choice of which of the following activist strategies you can try. You want to pick one and then follow the instructions for that option. Then, read the general instructions at the bottom.
Option 1: Create a Social Justice Playlist. Music can be a very effective form of activism. Here’s an opportunity to research activist music or help spread the word about music that you already listen to that you think speaks to particular activist issues. If you choose this option follow the instructions on pg. 526 of your textbook (except disregard step #5 because you will be sharing it electronically so you don’t have to make copies). You can submit a .doc file or a .pdf or a .jpeg. Feel free to use text, imagery, drawings — anything you want. Make sure to communicate why you think the music you list is activist music.
Option 2: Create a Two-Page Zine. Your textbook explains zines on pgs. 511. Pick an issue you care about. It could be an issue we discussed in class (like the Black Lives Matter movement, Islamaphobia, disability rights, etc.), or any other activist issue you care about. It could be an issue in the national news (like health care, or transgender rights) or one that’s local. Make a two-page zine (or longer, if you want) focused on that topic. Zines can contain artwork, personal stories, poetry, fiction, letters, or any other genre. You can submit a .doc file or a .pdf or a .jpeg. Feel free to use text, imagery, drawings — anything you want. If you want to make it in paper format you can submit pictures of it. Make sure to communicate why you are interested in this issue and what change you would like to see.
Option 3: Write an Essay. Your textbook explains how knowledge production can be used to raise awareness, and there are a number of examples of knowledge production included in your reading (e.g. the book Our Bodies, Ourselves). Pick an issue that you care about and write an essay (minimum 500 words) where you educate your reader about the topic.
Option 4: Create Art. Your textbook provides a number of examples of how art can be used in activist ways. You readings discussed examples of visual art and music, but any artistic medium can be used to make change, inspire action, and/or raise awareness. For this option you can create visual art (like Allison Bechdel’s comic, for example), or write a song, or write a poem, or produce any other type of art. In addition to the art piece itself, you should submit a short artist statement (minimum 150 words) that explains how your art works as activism.
Option 5: Create Your Own Activist Project. This is a open option where you can create your own activist strategy. You might use one of the other strategies discussed in the readings, or you could use a strategy not included in the readings. Thinking through all the activist strategies discussed in Module 9, consider producing y individualized activist project. For example, if you like writing jokes, you might use the discussion of humor (pgs. 519-521) as inspiration and write a short stand-up routine. If you like social media, you might use the discussion of digital activism as inspiration and create a Facebook post designed to raise awareness and incite action around a particular issue. This option is intentionally open-ended. It is an opportunity for you to try something that would be meaningful to you. You can send me a message in Canvas if you want help thinking through an idea or brainstorming.
General Instructions for All Options:
Regardless of which option you choose, you will upload your creative project to the submission box. You can use the text box to insert your project into the submission box, or you can attach it using the attachment option.
Cite Your Sources
When using quotes or paraphrases from any of the readings, be sure to include a citation. You should have in-text citations and a Works Cited. All of the materials you need to complete this assignment are in the module. You should not use any sources outside of this module.
