Art for Revolutionary propaganda -Use Art to our Advantage

[Revolutionary_Student]

[Moyamba]

i made this one was for mother's day this year

[advanced]

The purpose of Art should be to instruct and uplift. A real attempt at showing meaning and an intent on behalf of the artist to communicate a positive content of great vitality. In other words to show how to create something not destroy. This should be done with an intensity not to be ignored.

[Baba Ahmed]

"An artist, if he is truly an artist, is only interested in one thing, and that is to wake up the minds of men."

-Marvin Gaye

What's your definition of SOCIAL REVOLUTION

Just asking bcause this is what this site, imo, is based in and dedicated to our Sista Assata Shakur, who's been living in Cuba away from her mother and family for too damn long.

Lets see u create something to get her home, safely. Please!

And then our honored ancestor Dr. John Henrik Clarke told us, paraphrased, that our educations should be aimed at TAKING and USING POWER for Black people. Stop trip'n this ain't no class room of intellectuals who seek personalized individualistic goals.

Come on my brutha, your input is appreciated. I suggest u chill a minute scan this site, say from about 3 yrs back, then return and attempt to teach us. Maybe even u'll have plenty experience under your belt with those nearest to you.

U're among many veterans of Struggle. Sistas and bruthas. Try asking a question now and then. And remember if there's no negative there'll be no positive... except in utopia!!!

A motto to consider is [size]NEVER AGAIN[/size] said by Maroons whose shoulders we stand on and are indebted to. Knowledge without practice is null and void. It is not knowledge; it is information at best, hopefully that can be useful!!!

Are you an Artist? Of what type?

Aluta Continua (the struggle continues)!

[Sun Ship]

Originally Posted by advanced

The purpose of Art should be to instruct and uplift. A real attempt at showing meaning and an intent on behalf of the artist to communicate a positive content of great vitality. In other words to show how to create something not destroy. This should be done with an intensity not to be ignored.

Originally Posted by Baba Ahmed

"An artist, if he is truly an artist, is only interested in one thing, and that is to wake up the minds of men."

-Marvin Gaye

Aluta Continua (the struggle continues)!

That was powerful statement by Brother Marvin Gaye…

Peace Baba Ahmed,

You know I was taught once that, there should never be, “art for art sake” or “music for music sake”. And that art and music should reflect the needs of the people be it to amplify, articulate, or feed those needs. Also it should reveal or communicate the actual machinations of the oppressors.

Sure I think art and music can be possibly viewed or used as a propaganda tool, but it was many times very useful to encrypt messages that were deciphered by the adept, let alone to stimulate the consciousness of a particular group. Many times these messages could relate direct actions (as in African drumming directing escape plans during slavery).

Now I'm sure many see "stimulating the conscious mind" as the use of propaganda, but I think art has the ability to do this beyond where propaganda stops.

Feel good and aesthetically attractive Black art is at an all-time high, while Black art that radicalizes and addresses the intrinsic needs of the community is at an all-time LOW! (this includes visual art, music, and dance) Some of this is the communities fault and some of this is the fault of the artist.

I think many Black artist today are not well-grounded in the activism and revolutionary history of Black art and music, or they shy away from it to be more popular, more accepted, and to be more commercially viable…be they see themselves as fine artist or not. The revolutionary Black artist equates a starving Black artist…no food, no shelter (or studio) and possibly no woman…LOL!

Art and music today, be it diasporic or traditional African has been so marginalized as entertainment or romanticized for its stylization and mere artistry that it has become very ineffective. In typing this, I was just thinking about the passing over of Max Roach and an album he released titled Freedom Now! Just the title alone made you want to dig a little deeper into the music.

[advanced]

Originally Posted by Baba Ahmed

"An artist, if he is truly an artist, is only interested in one thing, and that is to wake up the minds of men."

-Marvin Gaye

What's your definition of SOCIAL REVOLUTION

Just asking bcause this is what this site, imo, is based in and dedicated to our Sista Assata Shakur, who's been living in Cuba away from her mother and family for too damn long.

Lets see u create something to get her home, safely. Please!

And then our honored ancestor Dr. John Henrik Clarke told us, paraphrased, that our educations should be aimed at TAKING and USING POWER for Black people. Stop trip'n this ain't no class room of intellectuals who seek personalized individualistic goals.

Come on my brutha, your input is appreciated. I suggest u chill a minute scan this site, say from about 3 yrs back, then return and attempt to teach us. Maybe even u'll have plenty experience under your belt with those nearest to you.

U're among many veterans of Struggle. Sistas and bruthas. Try asking a question now and then. And remember if there's no negative there'll be no positive... except in utopia!!!

A motto to consider is [size]NEVER AGAIN[/size] said by Maroons whose shoulders we stand on and are indebted to. Knowledge without practice is null and void. It is not knowledge; it is information at best, hopefully that can be useful!!!

Are you an Artist? Of what type?

Aluta Continua (the struggle continues)!

I don't know if this was directed towards me. If so, thank you for your feed back. I am not hear to teach. My wish is to learn, I am a student. The only thing on my mind is to learn how to do the things we want. I do this by making statements among people I respect, if I am corrected I stand humble and readjust my mind and restate. Here I do not think I have been corrected your quote from Marvin Gaye is exactly what I meant.
I am an art student. I study all types of art but my goal is our goal I am not an individualist. However, I will refrain form making statements if it offends.

[Baba Ahmed]

Elder Sun Ship - greetings, again, filled with hopes for our free(d)domes and med ase pa for your clear and enlightening contribution. And namaste!!!

Yes, lets pause to commerate a master: Max Roach in any form we know and those who've not felt and heard his presence in music and life generally ask some old timer 'bout'im. In life he's known to have initiated a miraculous transformation of a "Black Marilyn Monroe" into an Afrikan woman; i.e., from Abby Lincoln into Aminata.

Musically, as I heard Amiri Baraka in a praise "poem" name almost every drummer I've ever heard drum & not heard of at least 100 names.

A drumming activist kwk kwk kwk, etc. Its said that he'll live as long as we call his name via emulating his works & artist attitude.

Just wanted to acknowledge your presence Sun Ship; will return later...

[josteele]

Originally Posted by advanced

However, I will refrain form making statements if it offends.

Most of em just playin or testin you the other ones dont know what the hell they talkin bout...Just keep spittin dat game, and caint nobody complain!

One Luv!!!

[Elisa Keisha]

Originally Posted by Kentake

I REALLY FEEL LIKE CRYING LOOKING AT SEKOU TOURE AND OSAGEYFO KWAME NKRUMAH EMBRACING EACH OTHER!!....LOOK AT THE WAY SEKOU TOURE IS HOLDING HM WITH HIS HANDS! BABA MARCUS GARVEY ALWAYS BRINGS A SMILE 2 MY FACE!!....DAT IS WHY I HAVE A LARGE LAMINATED POSTER OF HIM IN MY ROOM!!...LOL....THE DIVINE MESSENGER OF TRUTH, HARMONY AND RIGHTEOUSNESS!=MAAT- I WOULD LOOOOOVVVVVEEE TO SEE A PHOTO OF HIM WITH HIS WIFE, AMY JACQUES GARVEY!! ANY1 EVER SEEN 1 YET? KWAME TURE....REST IN UHURU KING-WARRIOR! LOL@CHOP OFF ERYKAH BADU...AFTER HER SPEECH AT DA MMM I AM SURE SISTAH-GURL AIN'T IN HER RIGHT MIND! THESE PHOTOS SEND EXHILIRATINGLY POWERFUL EMOTIONS CURSING THRU MY BODY! AMANDLA!


SANKOFA!,
Sistah Kentake.

Mama Amy Jacques Garvey and Baba Marcus Garvey

[Baba Ahmed]

Originally Posted by Sun Ship

That was powerful statement by Brother Marvin Gaye…

Peace Baba Ahmed,

You know I was taught once that, there should never be, “art for art sake” or “music for music sake”. And that art and music should reflect the needs of the people be it to amplify, articulate, or feed those needs. Also it should reveal or communicate the actual machinations of the oppressors.

Sure I think art and music can be possibly viewed or used as a propaganda tool, but it was many times very useful to encrypt messages that were deciphered by the adept, let alone to stimulate the consciousness of a particular group. Many times these messages could relate direct actions (as in African drumming directing escape plans during slavery).

Now I'm sure many see "stimulating the conscious mind" as the use of propaganda, but I think art has the ability to do this beyond where propaganda stops.

Peace and power, Sun Ship! For our causes, it must outstrip the constancy of mainstream, major media's engulfments. I'm now hearing Public Enemy's NEW WHIRL ODOR lend a listen, when u've time.

Feel good and aesthetically attractive Black art is at an all-time high, while Black art that radicalizes and addresses the intrinsic needs of the community is at an all-time LOW! (this includes visual art, music, and dance) Some of this is the communities fault and some of this is the fault of the artist.

Tru dat; a shared responsibility.

I think many Black artist today are not well-grounded in the activism and revolutionary history of Black art and music, or they shy away from it to be more popular, more accepted, and to be more commercially viable…be they see themselves as fine artist or not. The revolutionary Black artist equates a starving Black artist…no food, no shelter (or studio) and possibly no woman…LOL!

Art and music today, be it diasporic or traditional African has been so marginalized as entertainment or romanticized for its stylization and mere artistry that it has become very ineffective. In typing this, I was just thinking about the passing over of Max Roach and an album he released titled Freedom Now! Just the title alone made you want to dig a little deeper into the music.

Yeah my brutha in any lesson if there's no soundly based reference to "how" & "why," e.g. w/o historical base - there's no comparative vision. Bilal Sunni 'Ali's wife and crew did a number: "What good is a song...if it ain't got no message...if it can't take u highya..." etc. And as u've said PLAINLY they're well and deeply grounded generally in OurStories and active revolutionary lives.

Fine art is a code word for European based arts. Intended for their elites. And taught in schools, including colleges, to MAKE our people to be well rounded...meaning well grounded in their views generally. To be manifested in their lives as carbon copies of euro lives.

And so in today's "class," conducted by u I hope our brutha recognizes your operative phrasing re being well grounded. It comes much more pleasant than earlier Black musicians would say it.

[Baba Ahmed]

Originally Posted by advanced

The purpose of Art should be to instruct and uplift. A real attempt at showing meaning and an intent on behalf of the artist to communicate a positive content of great vitality. In other words to show how to create something not destroy. This should be done with an intensity not to be ignored.

The historical destroyer must be destroyed. For its aim is to destroy everything natural. Peace and love ain't gon do it. To create w/o destroying much of what exists is to bcome forgetful of the terrifying destructions heaped upon our ancestors - destructions that persists today. We didn't start this mess and no one else can stop it but us. Our minds must be clearly based in our people FIRST. Lets work together to restore our ART in its rightful place as from our people for our people per our views of life.

[Baba Ahmed]

Originally Posted by advanced

I am an art student. I study all types of art but my goal is our goal I am not an individualist. However, I will refrain form making statements if it offends.

advanced - life can be offensive; do u propose to "refrain" from that when it is? Or can u just be cool in b n observant for awhile? That's essence of what I'm speaking to. Isn't part in being an artist (u still've not said what art u practice) to choose an audience? And to do so, doesn't one have to know something about the selected one, besides knowing its name?

When new folk join us that's what they know a name: assatashakur.org. Do u agree?

OK u promise to not make statements. Well begin asking questions.

[advanced]

Originally Posted by Baba Ahmed

advanced - life can be offensive; do u propose to "refrain" from that when it is? Or can u just be cool in b n observant for awhile? That's essence of what I'm speaking to. Isn't part in being an artist (u still've not said what art u practice) to choose an audience? And to do so, doesn't one have to know something about the selected one, besides knowing its name?

When new folk join us that's what they know a name: assatashakur.org. Do u agree?

OK u promise to not make statements. Well begin asking questions.

Baba Ahmed - I just wanted to acknowledge what you said and i have decided to take your advise. I do know a little more than just a name. All the same, we can gain great advantage by me asking questions. I do not refrain form life but i do stop to think. As to what type of art do i practice. My disciplines are oil painting and sculpture although i work in ink as well. My classification in my mind is high art with the purpose of Afrikan Cultural restoration You may call