Introduction
Art is an important aspect that helps in communication in the society. Art, therefore, can work to ensure that there is activism against oppression in the society. The society suffers from cases of oppression that cannot be solved through just word of mouth communication. In some cases, free speech is limited and fear is instilled among people who try to express their opinion to the oppressors. The fact that there is limited freedom and increased oppression, the society cannot develop beyond a certain level. However, through art, there can be expression about the way people feel about the society and about the leadership. Expression through art has been can be traced back to the early civilization when people were not allowed to express their opinions freely.
The paper looks at the way art is used to express oppressive and dominant powers among us today. In the paper, three questions are answered with regards to how his art portray the occupy movement and liberal views, how Shepard’s artwork has made an impact on society and the common theme among his artworks. The paper uses the work of Frank Shepard Fairy to illustrate the thesis of the paper and analyze in relation to the society today and in the past.
Analysis
Shepard’s artwork is important in the society due to its impact through the themes that are portrayed by the work. His artwork portrays the occupy movement and liberal views in the US society in many ways. The art work introduces the occupy movement through the protests displayed in his artwork that are against economic and social inequality. The inequality in the United States is high since there is a huge gap between the rich and the poor. The art work displays the message of “We are 99%” which is a slogan used politically by the occupy movement which refers to the 1% wealthy people in the society and the rest are 99%. In this, Shephard displays that the presence of the wage gap continues to increase the gap between the rich and the poor (Arwa Aburawa 30).
Liberal views displayed by Shephard’s art work are with regards to the message of hope that the people are given. The poster displayed about the President of the United States, Barack Obama had a message of hope displayed. However, the art work displayed more than the message of hope. The art work message reads “Mister President, we HOPE you’re on our side” which literally looks at whether the president is with the movement or not and also the presence of hope in the society. The message thus displayed the liberal views of the American people. The people still have hope with regards to having a society build on equality and fairness (Artsy Editorial 23).
Shepard’s humanitarian and activism role has brought a lot of influence to the society due to the way the message is displayed to the people. The leadership in the society has to be careful on every aspect that they take with regards to leadership roles since there is always an outside party at look. Depiction of corruption, imbalance of power, democracy shortage, and impunity in the leadership leads to improvements in the government policies.
On the other hand, the art works of Shepard gives the people the message of hope in their future now that they are aware of people who provide them with the support they need. Shepard stands with the people who are marginalized and oppressed by the governments. The government provides the people with low wages yet the cost of living keeps increasing from time to time. Frank Shepard Fairey has worked at ensuring that the rights of the people are displayed in art and the communication is made to be passed to the leadership in the country.
The main common theme of Shepard’s artworks is on liberation of the United States. In his artworks, Shepard explains that there is need for liberation of the country in many ways. Liberation against oppression regimes, corruption, imbalance of power and the short comings of our democracy to represent and service all Americans is displayed by the messages on his art work. Liberation is shown through the messages such as “OBEY 95” and “HOPE” displayed on the artwork which clearly looks at explaining the theme to the people. Fairey’s work on “Guns and Roses” also brings about the explanation with regards to the theme of liberation to the people.
Conclusion
Shepard has therefore played an important role in social activism through his work since he has brought about the important topics that the people suffer from in the country. The paper has illustrated important growth and development of art in relation to communicating about the rights of the people and ensuring that there is equality among the people. Art is, thus, shown as an important aspect in communicating to the people in the society (Melissa Lilley 44). The paper has depicted art as a powerful tool in fighting for the civil rights of the people and developing a society.
Works Cited;
Aburawa, Arwa. “Veiled Threat: The Guerrilla Graffiti of Princess Hijab.” Emerging. Ed. Barclay Barrios. Boston: Belford/St. Martin’s, 2013. 28-32. Print.
Editorial, Artsy. “How Shepard Fairey is Debunking Art World Elitism, One Print at a Time.” Artsy. n.p. 30 Jan. 2014. Web. 11 Apr. 2016.
Johnson, Ken. “Can a Rebel Stay a Rebel Without the Claws?”. The New York Times. The New York Times Company. 17 Mar. 2009. Web. 11 Apr. 2016.
Lilley, Melissa. “Graffiti Artists and Radical Media.” Yur Topci. n.p. 5 Mar. 2013. Web. 13 Apr. 2016.
Popova, Maria. “Shepard Fairey on Capitalism, Freedom, Selling Out, and What Makes Great Art.” Brainpickings. n.p. n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2016.
