Week 2: Q&A Discussion

QUESTIONS regarding Claudia Zapata's Chicanx Graphics in the Digital Age in "The Rise and Impact of Chicano Graphics, 1965 to Now"

Reading about how much technology has influenced art distribution, artists' message impact, and art itself made me question whether the use of social media to spread art and bring awareness to important social issues is beneficial for Chicanx artists who are also activists (artivists).

1. Since the internet and especially social media has become a way in which to spend leisure time, just how impactful is online artivism? 

2. Also, how can Chicanx artists prevent themselves from being pushed out of people's timelines? 

3. (my own psychological standpoint/input) Algorithms created by social media outlets such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, etc. have the ability to influence people's behaviors and beliefs. People have become addicted to social media as a result of curated content meant to keep people engaged for as long as possible. If such algorithms were not in place and big tech companies abided by ethical standards, I wonder if online artivism would be as popular as it is today? Is online artivism a trend?

Answer for Q#1. Scrolling through one's timeline is a passive action and so is liking a photo, commenting on a post, etc. Unfortunately, it appears that this is what activism has come to for some people. As was mentioned in the reading, Chicanx artists benefit from online social media platforms that "allow them to promote socially conscious art that creates a shareable database for the political zeitgeist, speaks to immiadiate and contemporary moments, and acts as a form of advocacy and pedagogy," however there can be some disadvantages. Chicanx artists could be said to have offset the downside to passive activism by allowing for their artwork to be downloadable and accessible for many such as Jesus Barraza's I am Alex Nieto and My Life Matters. 

Answer for Q#2. In combatting algorithmic oppression (how research engines reinforce racism by filtering what information people have access to), Chicanx artists who have a following in social media such as Instagram can better their chances of popping up on people's timelines by utilizing hashtags to the best of their advantage. As was mentioned in the reading, the Black Lives Matter Movement, which began in 2013, made use of online platforms and hashtag #blacklivesmatter to spread awareness about police brutality and the wrongful deaths of black individuals. Similarly, I believe Chicanx artists can make use of various hashtags to make their artwork known. That way, artivists can also spread awareness to social issues pertinent to their artistic creations. 

Answer for Q#3. Algorithms created by online social media platforms have created a trap for users by keeping them glued to their phones. With such influential power, big tech companies have failed to abide by ethical standards and creating addictions to social media. As a result, they have the power to set trends such that using social media more has become the norm for many. If big tech companies eliminated alogorithms, perhaps that could help lower social media usage and ultimately lead artists to not rely on the internet and social media platforms to share their art. Artivist would then be led to find different ways in which to spread awareness about both social issues and their art. This can be viewed as either an advantage or disadvantage for Chicanx artists.