Apathy & Political Engagement

According to Dave Meslin, in order to overcome apathy as it relates to the governmental process, we need to dismantle the current systems that sustain political disengagement.  Although Meslin is speaking about Canada, his analysis is transferable to the American political system and citizen participation in governance structures:

Gloria Steinem on Rape in War, Its Causes, and How to Stop It

"Conflict is not the only or even the primary normalizer of the extremes of "masculine" and "feminine." Those roles at home are the normalizers of conflict." - Gloria Steinem


This article is possibly the best analysis I've read thus far regarding gendered socialization in regards to rape, war, and political policy.  This article is an absolute must-read:  The Atlantic - "Rape in War, Its Causes, and How to Stop It"

Art, Activism, and Political Discourse

"We have to make sure that art is not a platform for activism. It’s a platform for discussing, for questioning, for putting doubts, for ideas. It’s not a place to make a revolution. If there’s a revolution, it’s revolution against myself, to provoke myself" - Rabih Mroué

Rabih Mroué is a Lebanese actor, director, playwright and artist.  As an artist, he continuously questions the role of art and society: from the relationship between performers and the audience to art's use as a revolutionary platform for activism.  

The Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, MN will present Rabih Mroué’s Looking for a Missing Employee January 12–14, as part of Out There 2012. His Pixelated Revolution will be performed on January 14.