Acts of Resistance : The Power of Art to Create a Better World

A wide-ranging exploration of art as a form of political activism

<p><b>'A fascinating, passionate and political case for art's world-changing power, by a fizzingly good writer' </b><b>- Robert Macfarlane</b><br><br><br><b>'</b><b>A rich and broad overview of socially purposeful art. Everyone interested in social change should read it' - Brian Eno</b><br><br>In <i>Acts of Resistance</i>, Amber Massie-Blomfield writes about the artists who have treated the protest site as their canvas and contributed to movements that have transformed history - from the musicians in Auschwitz to the four-year Siege of Sarajevo, from the to ACT UP's 1989 invasion of the New York Stock Exchange, to the Niger Delta and indigenous communities in Bolivia.<br><br>Including stories and artists from across the globe, including Susan Sontag, Ken Saro-Wiwa, and Claude Cahun - alongside collectives, communities, amateurs and anonymous creators who have used their art as an expression of resistance - this fascinating book asks what is the purpose of art in a world on fire? Why are artists compelled to paint, write, dance and make music, even when the odds are stacked against them? And how can artistic creation be a genuine form of political resistance?<br><br>Combining cultural criticism, history and memoir, <i>Acts of Resistance</i> is an urgent reminder that art can make a human life more bearable, and can be a means of building the things that a person needs to survive the bleakest circumstances. It is a testament to that idea, and to the people who have risked their lives to prove it is so. While their stories are remarkable, they are also a reminder that each of us can use creativity in defense of our humanity.</p>