Alia, this piece really spoke to me. I use Jane Elliott's experiment/experience in teaching my freshman comp classes and have included her for years when I explore with my students the topic of racism. So I really loved seeing you resurrect her again here, which was entirely relevant. The other art you discussed was something I hadn't heard before, the performance piece entitled "Rhythm O," which kind of shocked me, but not until I remembered another experiment done in the 80s I think, also about power. A group of college students were told to deliver electric shocks to people they didn't know and had unfettered power to deliver higher and higher levels of shock. They did this, apparently, because they believed they were part of an experiment and would experience no legal repercussions for doing so. Where am I going with this? Just that, when people are offered unconditional power, when they believe they are not culpable for their cruelty, they will express it. This is something I have never ever understood. I would have so flunked that trial. But it shines light on where we are as a country today. I'm thinking people feel more powerless now than ever before to create any kind of change, so they have latched on to someone who represents unconditional power/anger/frustration with the social order. And here we are. Thank you for bringing this to the forefront. A very important conversation. We seem to be insatiable in our quests for dominion over anything and everything, which is preventing us from achieving unity. And in that process, we are incapable of truly "seeing" another human being as a human being.
Oh I can't stand electric shocks. How terrible. I'm glad you would have flunked that trial, Nancy :)
I had similar thoughts as you in regard to the participants in Rhythm 0 perhaps feeling that they were expected to use the objects as part of the artwork - a sense that they were in some sort of role play - and therefore had an excuse for their behavior. But on deeper reflection, I think prejudice and racism are also role plays of sorts, even if the person playing the part isn't consciously aware of it.
I agree with you on people feeling powerless right now. It's why I wrote this piece. I feel this wave of disaffect causes people to become protective and insular, which by its very nature dissolves any connection to all of humanity.
Alia, I wanted to clarify something after I did some research -- that electric shock trial was called the Milgram Experiment, and it was done in 1961, earlier than I'd stated up above. But the bottom line is that you are providing a fantastic perspective on powerlessness right now and how it's impacting people's ability to make decisions (such as voting). I'm currently reading the memoir or diary of Alexei Navalny, and he's highlighting this very topic in his book. What is unbelievable to me is how similar to Russia the United States is looking right now. Thank you for putting this out to the world. You are helping to ease this sense of powerlessness by (hopefully) waking people up.
I love this piece, Alia -- I'll circle back to read parts 1 & 2. For now, my mind is firing with the obverse to your discussion of art that changes the world by inspiring (and by being) positive social activism.
In the book I'm slowly developing, I'm following the ways today's far right (especially white ethno-nationalists) are using and creating "art" (mainly literature and other texts) to inspire their own forms of dark activism. I look at a range of texts and topics, and a through-line is Kipling's rotten imperialist poem from 1899, "The White Man's Burden." This poem may have been as influential as Uncle Tom's Cabin--white Stowe encouraged American abolitionists, Kipling encouraged American imperialists/expansionists half a century later. Much of the "bad influence / terrible politics literature" fades from memory because most people don't want it anymore, but the negative power of art can be so strong in its day (propaganda). Just thinking out loud!
You're absolutely right, Laura. The arts are equally as effective at creating negative change. Your research sounds fascinating. It's interesting you make that point because, in my research, I came across 'The Turner Diaries' and its link to the Oklahoma Bombing, although I decided to leave the likes of those works out and keep the tone of the piece positive because I feel a lot of people need a pep-me-up right now. But yes, gosh, propaganda is dangerously effective.
I agree we need this positive content! I will be pretty glad when I can complete this book project on such dark content. (I am lightly referring to The Turner Diaries in my book, but not doing much with that bc it's already been written about a fair amount.)
Thank you, Alia, also for the recommendation. Every few years or so, I stumble on the Marina Abramović story, and every time, I'm shocked again at the thin layer of humanity that so often seems to wash away as soon as there is the option to feel empowered to live without the rules and mores that make society work.
Thanks Alexander. It is frightening, isn't it. I find it reassuring though that some formed a group to defend her. You are one of those defenders for the world. Keep up the great work 🙂
An insightful, eloquently stated and beautifully presented series on 'How to Change the World'. An excellent example of Mind Flexing! Thank you, @aliaparker :)
Yes Alia, a powerful conclusion to your series. Your emphasis on individual action is the necessary step to a connectedness with humanity. Sometimes it seems that there is only art to remind us of that kind of hope. But that feeling too is only an individual act of imagination.
As you have explained so thoughtfully , you don't need to meet the 'other' to understand prejudice. Read and you are connected. Ta-Nehisi Coates superbly expresses the bone deep hurt caused by racism. It may seem a very cruel world ( I went to the genocide in Cambodia, Guatemala and Rwanda)) that we cannot shake loose the powerful, predatory shade of our human nature.. But even amidst terror and despair I have seen love, kindness and human beings desperately connecting. Seeing 'enemies' listen to one another and conciliate inspired many writers and film-makers to offer paths of hope. Your writing and art are a great antidote to amnesia. Peace, hope and joy to all.
Thank you, Jeff. Gosh, genocides and civil wars are such disturbing traits of human nature. The ease at which a neighbour can turn on another is frightening. Just as frightening is that there always seems to be at least one (or more) taking place in the world at any given time. But, we do what we can to draw humanity closer. Peace, hope and joy to all, indeed :)
It's been a great pleasure to follow you on Substack this year, Alia, after our chance meeting on Facebook. This article is truly an excellent end to a year of your thought-provoking, nuanced essay writing. Wishing you a peaceful festive season and a productive 2025!
Thanks Steve! I'm glad to have found you too. I've really enjoyed your storytelling over the past year and look forward to following your stories into the future. And I appreciate your support of my work and your thoughtful comments. It's always reassuring to know there is somebody at the other end of the screen beyond a mysterious email open statistics 🙂 All the best for the New Year!
Alia, this piece really spoke to me. I use Jane Elliott's experiment/experience in teaching my freshman comp classes and have included her for years when I explore with my students the topic of racism. So I really loved seeing you resurrect her again here, which was entirely relevant. The other art you discussed was something I hadn't heard before, the performance piece entitled "Rhythm O," which kind of shocked me, but not until I remembered another experiment done in the 80s I think, also about power. A group of college students were told to deliver electric shocks to people they didn't know and had unfettered power to deliver higher and higher levels of shock. They did this, apparently, because they believed they were part of an experiment and would experience no legal repercussions for doing so. Where am I going with this? Just that, when people are offered unconditional power, when they believe they are not culpable for their cruelty, they will express it. This is something I have never ever understood. I would have so flunked that trial. But it shines light on where we are as a country today. I'm thinking people feel more powerless now than ever before to create any kind of change, so they have latched on to someone who represents unconditional power/anger/frustration with the social order. And here we are. Thank you for bringing this to the forefront. A very important conversation. We seem to be insatiable in our quests for dominion over anything and everything, which is preventing us from achieving unity. And in that process, we are incapable of truly "seeing" another human being as a human being.
Oh I can't stand electric shocks. How terrible. I'm glad you would have flunked that trial, Nancy :)
I had similar thoughts as you in regard to the participants in Rhythm 0 perhaps feeling that they were expected to use the objects as part of the artwork - a sense that they were in some sort of role play - and therefore had an excuse for their behavior. But on deeper reflection, I think prejudice and racism are also role plays of sorts, even if the person playing the part isn't consciously aware of it.
I agree with you on people feeling powerless right now. It's why I wrote this piece. I feel this wave of disaffect causes people to become protective and insular, which by its very nature dissolves any connection to all of humanity.
Alia, I wanted to clarify something after I did some research -- that electric shock trial was called the Milgram Experiment, and it was done in 1961, earlier than I'd stated up above. But the bottom line is that you are providing a fantastic perspective on powerlessness right now and how it's impacting people's ability to make decisions (such as voting). I'm currently reading the memoir or diary of Alexei Navalny, and he's highlighting this very topic in his book. What is unbelievable to me is how similar to Russia the United States is looking right now. Thank you for putting this out to the world. You are helping to ease this sense of powerlessness by (hopefully) waking people up.
Thanks for the details, Nancy. I'll look that one up.
I'm sure Alexei Navalny's book would be very insightful. I think my to-read stack just grew another inch!
I love this piece, Alia -- I'll circle back to read parts 1 & 2. For now, my mind is firing with the obverse to your discussion of art that changes the world by inspiring (and by being) positive social activism.
In the book I'm slowly developing, I'm following the ways today's far right (especially white ethno-nationalists) are using and creating "art" (mainly literature and other texts) to inspire their own forms of dark activism. I look at a range of texts and topics, and a through-line is Kipling's rotten imperialist poem from 1899, "The White Man's Burden." This poem may have been as influential as Uncle Tom's Cabin--white Stowe encouraged American abolitionists, Kipling encouraged American imperialists/expansionists half a century later. Much of the "bad influence / terrible politics literature" fades from memory because most people don't want it anymore, but the negative power of art can be so strong in its day (propaganda). Just thinking out loud!
You're absolutely right, Laura. The arts are equally as effective at creating negative change. Your research sounds fascinating. It's interesting you make that point because, in my research, I came across 'The Turner Diaries' and its link to the Oklahoma Bombing, although I decided to leave the likes of those works out and keep the tone of the piece positive because I feel a lot of people need a pep-me-up right now. But yes, gosh, propaganda is dangerously effective.
I agree we need this positive content! I will be pretty glad when I can complete this book project on such dark content. (I am lightly referring to The Turner Diaries in my book, but not doing much with that bc it's already been written about a fair amount.)
Thank you, Alia, also for the recommendation. Every few years or so, I stumble on the Marina Abramović story, and every time, I'm shocked again at the thin layer of humanity that so often seems to wash away as soon as there is the option to feel empowered to live without the rules and mores that make society work.
Thanks Alexander. It is frightening, isn't it. I find it reassuring though that some formed a group to defend her. You are one of those defenders for the world. Keep up the great work 🙂
An insightful, eloquently stated and beautifully presented series on 'How to Change the World'. An excellent example of Mind Flexing! Thank you, @aliaparker :)
Thank you, James. I'm glad you enjoyed the series :)
Yes Alia, a powerful conclusion to your series. Your emphasis on individual action is the necessary step to a connectedness with humanity. Sometimes it seems that there is only art to remind us of that kind of hope. But that feeling too is only an individual act of imagination.
As you have explained so thoughtfully , you don't need to meet the 'other' to understand prejudice. Read and you are connected. Ta-Nehisi Coates superbly expresses the bone deep hurt caused by racism. It may seem a very cruel world ( I went to the genocide in Cambodia, Guatemala and Rwanda)) that we cannot shake loose the powerful, predatory shade of our human nature.. But even amidst terror and despair I have seen love, kindness and human beings desperately connecting. Seeing 'enemies' listen to one another and conciliate inspired many writers and film-makers to offer paths of hope. Your writing and art are a great antidote to amnesia. Peace, hope and joy to all.
Thank you, Jeff. Gosh, genocides and civil wars are such disturbing traits of human nature. The ease at which a neighbour can turn on another is frightening. Just as frightening is that there always seems to be at least one (or more) taking place in the world at any given time. But, we do what we can to draw humanity closer. Peace, hope and joy to all, indeed :)
It's been a great pleasure to follow you on Substack this year, Alia, after our chance meeting on Facebook. This article is truly an excellent end to a year of your thought-provoking, nuanced essay writing. Wishing you a peaceful festive season and a productive 2025!
Thanks Steve! I'm glad to have found you too. I've really enjoyed your storytelling over the past year and look forward to following your stories into the future. And I appreciate your support of my work and your thoughtful comments. It's always reassuring to know there is somebody at the other end of the screen beyond a mysterious email open statistics 🙂 All the best for the New Year!