The Political is Personal: The Arts as a Vehicle for Contemporary Political Discourse

Ella C. Youmans
Dr. Bridget Thomas and Dr. Victoria Mayer, Faculty Mentors

Political dialogue in the U.S. today is rife with polarization. In mainstream media, allegations of partisan bias, corporation-produced statistics, and “fake news” can be found at all points along the political spectrum. In what has been termed a “post-truth” society, what role do the arts play in the struggle to create persuasive, bipartisan rhetoric? My creative work is informed by artists, activists, and academics that have championed art as a tool for change, including poets Audre Lorde and Adrienne Rich as well as contemporary communication scholars such as Cameron Shelley and Valerie Smith. I also draw from historical evidence of cultural influence as a significant factor in the success or failure of social movements. For this presentation, I have created a small body of visual, musical, and literary work that addresses issues in contemporary politics through the lens of my research and lived experience.

Keywords: politics, rhetoric, art, activism, poetry, music

Topic(s):Art
Communication
Interdisciplinary Studies

Presentation Type: Special Request

Session: TBA
Location: TBA
Time: TBA