Jose Antonio Vargas
Presentations from Facing Race 2016
Presentations from Facing Race 2012
Culture Trumps Politics: Or Does It?
When political times get hard, creative people turn to influencing the way race is lived instead of the way it is legislated. This session will focus on the relationship between cultural and political change, from the perspective of the nation's leading artists.
Speakers: Jeff Chang, Lolis Eric Elie, Negin Farsad, Rinku Sen, Jose Antonio VargasArt & Agitation: On the Power of Cultural Strategy
Culture is the realm of ideas, images and stories; it is where people make sense of the world and where they find meaning and forge community. History shows that when the culture changes, politics follows. Culture can reach audiences beyond the bounds of what community organizing and policy-based organizing can do. While the media is laced with myths, stereotypes and misrepresentation of grassroots movements, cultural interventions can play a key role in pushing forward stories that help shift the public debate. A growing movement of artists around the country are using cultural tools to fight economic inequality, corporations, banks and anti-migrant hate. In this session, artist-activists, writers, cultural leaders and creative institutions will discuss models for connecting artists to movements for social change.
Speakers: Favianna Rodriguez, Julio Salgado, Jose Antonio Vargas, Kalima Young