When discussing digital storytelling, it feels redundant to remind "the reader" that things can be done real quick because of this here Internet. Technology allows for immediate reactions from a massive audience, you guys. If you were not aware of this, I hope the cave you reside in is well-furnished and clean. Activism and civic participation have changed significantly because of the super-cyber-speed (Internet talk, keep up sweetheart) that is now taken for granted. Awareness of issues is spread instantly, through social media, news alerts, and deeply concerned text messages. Petitions are signed more easily, money is donated with greater speed, and protests are organized in minutes! That last bit was hubris. But you get the picture. Creating works that support a cause, whether it be through a video raising awareness (seen a lot for SOPA and PIPA, good points of discussion there), a song, a podcast, or a photograph. Pieces such as these can be seen and absorbed by the intended audience pretty durn fast in this digital age. Artists are taking advantage of these readily-accessible tools, and are contributing to various causes and facilitating discussion on issues they care about. That is some civic participation! Right there!
This link is to a song about the Occupy Wall Street movement. It was recorded during a session that wasn't specifically intended for that purpose, and was soon after released online for free. I think the reading pretty clearly showed that an artist should often give a voice to the voiceless. A picture or a film or an album can convey certain ideas, problems, and desires more effectively than a group of people could do otherwise. This song, by the punk band Andrew Jackson Jihad, isn't a sneering cry of defamation, or even an aggressive call to action. It encourages understanding on both sides of an issue that is difficult to observe without bias. It is written and sung with a hopeful and positive attitude, and it comes from a band that isn't always so optimistic. The idea that it could be made available in such a manner is obviously only possible because of the times we live in. What an awesome thing.
No comments:
Post a Comment