Performance and politics intertwine in powerful ways. Performances can communicate political messages, build collective identities, and influence public opinion. From protest chants to satirical sketches, political performances use emotional appeals and symbolism to persuade and mobilize audiences.

Performance also reflects and shapes power structures in society. It can reinforce dominant ideologies or challenge them, serving as a tool for both those in power and marginalized groups. The effectiveness of performance activism depends on factors like audience resonance, media coverage, and broader social context.

Performance as Political Tool

Communicating Political Messages

• Performances serve as powerful mediums for communicating political messages, ideologies, and calls to action to large audiences
• Political performances employ persuasive rhetorical strategies to influence public opinion and mobilize support for specific causes or agendas
  • Emotional appeals (pathos) evoke strong feelings in the audience to create a connection with the message
  • Repetition reinforces key ideas and slogans, making them more memorable and impactful (chanting "No justice, no peace" at protests)
  • Symbolism uses visual and metaphorical elements to represent abstract concepts or ideals (raised fist as a symbol of resistance and solidarity)
• Satirical performances critique and subvert dominant power structures, expose hypocrisy, and challenge the status quo
  • Political sketches on television shows (Saturday Night Live) use humor to highlight absurdities and contradictions in political discourse
  • Parodies imitate and exaggerate the style and content of political figures or institutions to undermine their authority and credibility

Building Collective Identity and Solidarity

• Performances create shared experiences and collective identities among audiences, fostering a sense of solidarity and shared purpose around political issues
  • Participatory performances (singing protest songs together) create a sense of unity and common cause among participants
  • Collective rituals and gestures (kneeling during the national anthem) express shared values and commitments
• Performance as a political tool extends beyond traditional theatrical settings to include public demonstrations, rallies, and protests
  • Participants engage in symbolic actions and performances to draw attention to their cause (lying down in a "die-in" to protest gun violence)
  • Public spaces are transformed into stages for political expression and resistance (occupying public squares during the Arab Spring uprisings)

Factors Influencing Effectiveness

• The effectiveness of performance as a political tool depends on various factors:
  • Skill of the performers in delivering compelling and convincing performances
  • Resonance of the message with the target audience's experiences, values, and concerns
  • Broader social and political context, including the level of public support for the cause and the response of those in power
• Access to resources, media representation, and institutional support can enable or constrain the ability of different groups to use performance for political purposes
  • Well-funded and well-connected groups may have greater opportunities to stage high-profile performances and reach wider audiences
  • Marginalized groups may face barriers in accessing mainstream media platforms or securing permits for public performances

Performance and Power Structures

Reflecting, Reinforcing, or Challenging Power

• Performances can reflect, reinforce, or challenge existing power structures and hierarchies within a society, depending on their content, form, and context
  • Performances that celebrate national pride and military strength (parades) often reinforce dominant power structures and ideologies
  • Performances that critique social inequalities and advocate for marginalized groups (protest theater) challenge dominant power structures and propose alternative visions of society
• Dominant power structures use performances to assert their authority, legitimacy, and control over the population
  • State-sponsored events (inaugurations) and official ceremonies (medal ceremonies) project an image of power, stability, and national unity
  • Military parades display the strength and discipline of the armed forces as a symbol of state power and security

Resistance and Empowerment

• Marginalized or oppressed groups use performance as a means of resistance, subversion, and empowerment
  • Creating alternative narratives and identities that challenge dominant stereotypes and assumptions (queer performance art)
  • Reclaiming public spaces and asserting their presence and visibility (Indigenous land acknowledgments)
• The relationship between performance and power is mediated by factors such as access to resources, media representation, and institutional support
  • Groups with greater resources and institutional support may have more opportunities to stage influential performances and reach wider audiences
  • Groups with less power and visibility may face challenges in securing funding, venues, and media coverage for their performances

Negotiation and Contestation

• Performances serve as sites of negotiation and contestation between different power structures
  • Different groups compete for visibility, legitimacy, and influence within the public sphere through performance
  • Performances can spark debates, controversies, and counter-performances that reflect broader social and political struggles (Confederate monument protests and counter-protests)
• The outcomes of these negotiations and contestations can shape public opinion, policy decisions, and the distribution of power in society
  • Successful performances can shift public attitudes, build coalitions, and pressure those in power to respond to demands for change
  • Unsuccessful performances may be ignored, suppressed, or co-opted by dominant power structures, limiting their transformative potential

Effectiveness of Performance as Activism

Assessing Impact and Outcomes

• The effectiveness of performance as a means of political expression and activism can be assessed in terms of its ability to:
  • Raise awareness about social and political issues among a wider public
  • Mobilize support and participation in campaigns, movements, and organizations
  • Effect concrete social or political changes, such as policy reforms or shifts in public opinion
• Successful political performances often have:
  • A clear and compelling message that articulates the problem, the solution, and the call to action
  • A strong emotional resonance with the target audience, tapping into their experiences, values, and aspirations (personal storytelling in the #MeToo movement)
  • A strategic use of media and public space to amplify their impact and reach (viral videos of police brutality during Black Lives Matter protests)

Contextual Factors and Limitations

• The effectiveness of performance activism depends on the broader social and political context
  • The level of public support for the cause and the willingness of people to take action
  • The response of dominant power structures, including efforts to suppress, discredit, or co-opt the performance (arrests of activists)
  • The ability of activists to sustain momentum, build coalitions, and adapt to changing circumstances over time
• Case studies of specific political performances provide insights into the strengths and limitations of performance as activism
  • The Women's March demonstrated the power of mass mobilization and solidarity, but faced challenges in sustaining long-term organizing and impact
  • The Black Lives Matter movement used performance tactics to galvanize public attention and pressure for police reform, but also faced backlash and resistance from law enforcement and political opponents

Critiques and Defenses

• Critics of performance activism argue that it can be:
  • Superficial and ephemeral, lacking the depth and durability of other forms of political action
  • Co-opted by dominant power structures, who may use performances to project an image of tolerance or progress without substantive change (corporate "rainbow-washing" during Pride Month)
  • Limited in its ability to effect lasting political change without broader organizational and institutional support
• Proponents of performance activism argue that it can be:
  • A powerful tool for raising consciousness, sparking dialogue, and building solidarity among marginalized groups
  • A way to challenge the status quo and imagine alternative possibilities for social and political life
  • A complement to other forms of political action, such as lobbying, voting, and community organizing, rather than a replacement for them
• The debate over the effectiveness of performance activism reflects broader questions about the role of art, culture, and symbolic action in social and political change
  • How do performances interact with other forms of power, such as economic, military, or institutional power?
  • What are the ethical and strategic considerations involved in using performance for political ends, particularly for marginalized or vulnerable groups?
  • How can the impact and effectiveness of political performances be measured and evaluated over time, beyond immediate reactions and media attention?