issue 22: Art of Resistance
issue 22: Art of Resistance
Creative rebellion with a cause…
It is art that resists not through aggression but through creative expression, not by fighting but by inviting the viewer, the listener, the reader into an honest reflection on one's own participation within the architecture of authoritarian control.
The art of resistance is not hostile but it is provocative as it confronts lies and contradictions, challenges dogma and questions the status quo. It does this while making an appeal to our higher sensibilities and offering new ways of seeing our world, not only for its tragic flaws but as a realm of potentiality, one in which new possibilities must first be imagined then collectively shaped into being.
Because… if we don't shape our future, someone else will.
What must we resist?
complicity in our own subjugation and the abuses of others,
complacency in the face of eroding rights and freedoms,
cynicism that creeps in when we begin to feel that things may never change for the better,
resignation in our passive acceptance of 'how things just are',
apathy that threatens to overcome us when we're too exhausted or overwhelmed to care,
forgetting where we came from, what we value, our languages and traditions along with the wisdom encoded within…
we must also resist the subtle tactics of skilled manipulators,
blind acceptance of what is presented to us by authority figures,
corruption of our beliefs and opinions that cause us to act out of accord with our own higher values and deeper truths,
prioritizing of self-preservation and self-promotion over that which we know to be right and true,
denial of basic human rights and dignity to others when we're made to believe they are 'the enemy'...
Are these just tendencies of a flawed human nature or are they signs and symptoms that arise when under the influence of authoritarian manipulation and control?
We live in a world in which authoritarianism, in its many facets and manifestations—along with the consequential corruption of basic human values—permeates the fabric of our daily lives. Every nation, corporation, organization, workplace, family, friend group and neighborhood HOA is susceptible. Unsettling as it may seem, having a basic awareness of this reality is key to resisting its power of influence.
How do we identify it? Authoritarianism may seem an abstract concept to many, like something that exists only in other countries or other times in history. After all, if it's not a real and present danger, there's nothing we need to do about it, right?This is what authoritarianism looks like in our here-and-now day-to-day experience:
those in leadership positions and/or socially dominant figures with low to no empathy nor tolerance for diverse ideas and opinions,
emotional tyranny: highly reactive individuals that are extremely sensitive to criticism while demonstrating a total disregard for serious harms they do to others are 'running the show',
those of lowest character seeking and securing the highest positions of power for personal gain and at any cost to others,
leadership allowing cooperation under their authority though highly averse to true collaboration,
soliciting adulation and expecting accolades that are not truly earned,
one or select few commandeering a particular social/political sphere and channels of communication,
the active suppression of other 'outsider' voices (particularly those of 'truth-tellers' and those who might challenge their narratives),
punishment of dissenters as policy: those who do have the audacity to speak up for truth / out against lies are swiftly subjected to public abuse and humiliation tactics to be made an example of; both to punish and to signal to others what will not be tolerated and what will happen to them also should they have the gumption to try,
the use of social propaganda (incl. gossip and smear campaigns) to manipulate public perceptions against targeted individuals or groups,
flattening complex or nuanced situations into polarizing issues thus fostering division while preventing intelligible and respectful conversations that could lead to balanced solutions,
distorting, perverting, manipulating facts to achieve the effects of the version of "truth” they prefer (a lie) without it technically being a total lie,
carefully crafted and consistently reaffirmed narratives that foment polarization and division (aka the ol’ divide and conquer/rule technique),
implementation of rules and regulations that reinforce the power of a ruling individual or few while being loosely applied and selectively enforced for others,
elitist and contradictory 'rules for me but not for thee' attitude,
rewards for the unquestioningly loyal and compliant; punishment for free-thinking "dissenters",
cultivation of loyal inner circles (enablers, cheerleaders, public defenders, henchman, handmaidens, mindless drones and flying monkeys),
employing debased actions (lying, cheating, stealing, threats, harassment, false accusations, DARVO…) to undermine even perceived threats,
flagrant self-contradiction and blatant inversions of truth,
belligerent public displays of dominance or ‘power flexing',
transactional kindness and generosity (often publicly displayed),
habit of taking credit for all successes and displacing blame for all failures,
specific maneuvers such as hijacking another's initiative or appropriating intellectual property then inverting its original intention in order to secure greater control and influence over the larger group is an all-too-common tactic used wherever authoritarian character traits are present.
The many tactics of authoritarianism and the latticework of control they support are at play nearly everywhere in some form and to some degree. They are not new, they are not removed and yet, they tend to catch us off guard, especially when they show up so close to home. Chances are, if you're not infected, you're likely affected in some way. By its nature, authoritarian control requires a constellation of participation. Anyone who does not play their assigned or approved role will be deemed a problem, a troublemaker, a "dissident” targeted for eradication (alienated or excommunication from the group, removal/blocking of social and/or financial support, subjected to methods of discrediting, cut off from group communications…).
Now for the good news. What holds the entire system of control and oppression together is also its greatest weakness and our greatest strength. That is US, standing in our true humanity, divinely endowed with the power to create and bring life into this world! Our truth and authenticity, our love and compassion for one another, our curiosity and imagination, our willingness and joy in working together even when it's challenging… Our consent and participation has kept the great beast running as it has for so long, but we can unplug ourselves, bit by bit. We can choose to shift our precious resources of time, energy and attention towards that which supports and nurtures life rather than that which inhibits growth and consumes solely for its own gain.
What does everyday resistance look like? It looks like:
taking an inventory of what our time, energy and other resources are really going toward; ask ourselves: what seeds are we planting for our future, what needs to be weeded and what seeds that blow in are we allowing to grow (issue 21: The Sowers),
spending more time in and with nature and among the wild ones, observing, appreciating, connecting, healing and being curious (issue 20: Sovereign Heart, Wild & Free),
seek more balance in our minds, bodies and habits (issue 19: Balance)
getting more into our "right minds", that is the right brain hemisphere that is holistic in its orientation and collaborative in spirit (see issue 18: Bridging the Rift),
using our imagination more and seeing how it can help us to build new possibilities and new futures we actually want to step into (issue 16: Land of (re)Enchantment),
holding every thought captive to better discern Truth that liberates from lies that bind (issue 15: The Sovereign Power of Truth),
adopt a posture of brave curiosity to confront our own Shadows so the energy that subtly undermines us may be brought to the light of conscious awareness and serve to empower us instead (issue 13: Shadowlands)
allowing a sense of awe & wonder (issue 11: Celestial Awe & Wonder) to touch and enliven us regularly,
committing ourselves to a path of personal integrity (issue 10: To Walk in Beauty)
seeking the wisdom of elders if only in their legacies of life stories and works they've left behind for us (issue 9: Embrace for Impact).
be more open to receiving from those who see and experience the world differently (issue 7: Neurodiversity is our Superpower)
get out into the world more, explore, be curious, try new things (issue 2: Wander, Wonderment and (re)Wilding)
The Art of Resistance is not just works of art, it is the artistry of how we each and all show up for our lives, how we resist corruption at al levels, and how we creatively confront that which oppresses the human spirit.
May this assortment of inspiring pieces incite a bit of creative rebellion within us all!
In Truth, Beauty and Goodness,
B. Monique
Find the full issue 22: Art of Resistance here.
