Acts of resistance The power of art to create a better world

Art not only has the potential to change the world, but "it has, over and over again," according to this captivating debut. Surveying politically motivated art that has had a real-world impact, Massie-Blomfield, an arts director and theater producer, argues that art is inherently political because resistance to power, which permeates and shapes daily life, must always begin as an act of imagination; only art can persuade people that a different kind of life is possible. Examples cited include Billie Holiday's "unnerving" 1939 rendition of "Strange Fruit," which catalyzed a nascent civil rights movement; the foundational role Edward Abbey played in the eco-activist movement with his 1975 novel The Monkey-Wrench Gang, which imagined into existence the kind of industrial sabotage that has since become integral to the movement's goals; and the writings of Nigerian anti-oil activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, who was executed after spearheading opposition to drilling by Shell in the Niger Delta, and whose work--including his famous 1995 trial speech ("Some have already cast themselves in the role of villains, some are tragic victims, some still have a chance to redeem themselves")--continues to inspire climate change activists. Massie-Blomfield infuses these riveting histories with galvanizing appeals to the reader ("You, and your creativity, are most urgently needed"). The result is a powerful rejoinder to the notion of art for art's sake. (Nov.)

Delving into political art across genres, places, and periods. People have been making art since they lived in caves, but the reason why has always been hard to pin down. To Massie-Blomfield, a writer and theater director, art is a crucial part of political action, and in the essays ofActs of Resistance she pulls together a number of examples. She covers some notable cases, from Susan Sontag producingWaiting for Godot in war-torn Sarejevo to authors exposing oil pollution in Nigeria. She also documents alternative communities that have sprung up at protest sites, and she is particularly impressed by the ZAD community established to prevent the building of a new airport in France (ZAD stands for Zone à Défendre, or Zone to Defend). Some readers might find the author's occasional drumbeating, sensationalist style to be wearisome. Massie-Blomfield maintains that the sense of hope inherent in producing resistance art is necessary for continued human existence, and readers who agree with that sentiment will like this book. Others might find thatActs of Resistance raises more questions than it can answer. Interesting cases of resistance art, sometimes hindered by ideological views. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.