Questioning Artists: Contributing Societal Critique and Alternative Visions in Dark Times

In this article, I explore the concept of the questioning individual through life history research with two female artists from (post)war contexts. Afghan theater producer Monirah Hashemi's story illustrates how self-expression in contexts of violence is not only politically but also socially r...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Conflict and society 2022-01, Vol.8 (1), p.212-226
Main Author: Horst, Cindy
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Actors
Arendt, Hannah
Artists
Censorship
Creative ability
Life history
Marginality
Oppression
Political activism
Resistance
Self expression
Social aspects
Theater directors & producers
Violence
Visual artists
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Summary:In this article, I explore the concept of the questioning individual through life history research with two female artists from (post)war contexts. Afghan theater producer Monirah Hashemi's story illustrates how self-expression in contexts of violence is not only politically but also socially repressed, and illustrates the role that marginalized outsiders can play in questioning. Diala Brisly, a visual artist from Syria, talks of public expression after the suspension of censorship and shows the power of creative self-expression to support resistance to repression. This article explores their contributions of both societal critique and alternative visions of (post)war societies from their positions in exile. I argue that creative processes and cultural expressions can play crucial roles as sources of resistance and ways of creating alternative societal visions.
ISSN:2164-4543
2164-4551
DOI:10.3167/arcs.2022.080113