SS17 and insta-activism

Activism is key for a society to adapt to the new things it discovers. Science never stops, neither does technology so we will never stop running around like headless chickens trying to keep up with these type of trends. Like how it's difficult for perhaps our grandmas, to understand mental illness as it simply wasn't a thing back in their day, or how our parents still might not always be accepting of a change in faith, gender or sexuality. Or like how I personally, feel that everyone is surely a feminist. Or at least share a few of it's values. But this blog will be short but sweet, refraining myself from ranting and just letting this selection of original artwork do the talking.

I'm naturally a fan of all things quirky. But social media has opened up even more new doors for those who want to challenge the way in which society functions. What many people don't realise is that we are the change we want to see in the world. We have the bigger numbers. There will always be way more people without significant power, than those with it. That's why I often count my lucky stars that I live in some form of democracy, even though this system does tend to fail me most of the time.

Recently I attended a The 1975 gig in which a v v drunk (but overly beautiful) Matty Healy gave a very lovely speech about equality. About how we need to harness the want to be heard and the need to listen. To support each other and our young voices that are often drowned out. To take that extra step and stand up for what we believe in no matter who or what pushes us back down. Taking action is probably what society was lacking all along. Granted there will always be someone, somewhere, who wants more and doesn't care what they have to do to get there. There are also the very disturbed people who end up in our prisons: there will always be a hierarchy, that's simply how the world works. But in terms of liberating those who are caged, by the likes of dictators or even simply circumstance, alls it could take is a rise up of those who believe in freedom.

There are countless things wrong with our world, we're all very aware. But these graphics are bringing fun and flavour to tackling issues that are brought to our attention by the most simplest of questions: Why can't we all just get along?

Well, why can't we?

In a world where we are so connected so easily and literally by devices that live in our jeans pocket all day, why is it that we still find reasons to fight? In a world that populates over 7.4 billion people, how is it that we still have room for wars? In a world where the colour of ones skin has proved to have no effect on the actual person is there still police brutality or work place racism? It's so bizarre I could have this discussion for days.

The art works featured in this blog post ranges from handwritten messages, felt-tip statements, fake magazine covers that evoke a teenage girl's bedroom but speak about deeper more important messages. Embroidered slogans making for perfect fashion pins and patches on jersey staples. This movement is led by the likes of Glacier Girl, giving a sense of empowerment and self love.

The environment is also a very big concern of many online activists. Ironically, I guess. We are obviously using a lot more resources and using them a lot more intensely. Many people's questions end when they are informed about e-receipts and how soon, there will be very little need for paper documents. But this doesn't translate very well, if at all, into how much we use the likes of electricity and gas, to fuel those things that are in place of paper. At the minute we are unwilling to sacrifice either of them. So in turn we are doubling up on all the things that are barely even necessary. Paper will still run out of printers relentlessly and the computers used to send them will always be turned on. How is it nearly 2017 and this is happening?

We are definitely still in this weird mucky stage, where generation is pinned on generation, struggling to adapt to change or to give in to a way of life that they're not familiar with.

As much as I love these forms of artwork and graphics, insta activism definitely lives of impulsive popularity. It's effect only being short lived. With our generation has come the tendency to skim across information, to look for things aesthetically pleasing but not necessarily digest a piece of text. Pretty pictures like these may initially tract attention, but unless you know what you're looking for, an individual may barely realise it's worth.