Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Poems for Palestine: Art is not a mirror to reflect reality but a hammer with which to shape it


Dear friends,

Bertolt Brecht once said: "Art is not a mirror to reflect reality, but a hammer with which to shape it".  Despite the claims by some, art and culture are not neutral or value free, they are infused with politics and ideology whether we realise it or want to admit it. 

For those of us who recognise this, we also recognise that art and culture can and should be used to shape our world, to help transform it, to challenge those in power and to challenge the power structures that exist in our society in order to support and advocate for ordinary people, for the oppressed and those in struggle.  

This is why it is important to not only support the Palestinian campaign for the academic and cultural boycott of Israel, but also to support resistance art.

Please find below three of my favourite Palestinian poets with some of their most powerful and passionate spoken word pieces.

in solidarity,
Kim


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Remi Kanazi - Normalize This

Rafeef Ziadah -  We Teach Life, Sir.


SUHEIR HAMMAD'S GAZA SUITE
Suheir Hammad - Gaza Suite: 1. Gaza

Suheir Hammad - Gaza Suite: 2. Rafah

 
Suheir Hammad - Gaza Suite: 3.Tel al-hawa

Suheir Hammad - Gaza Suite: 4.Jabalya

 
Suheir Hammad - Gaza Suite: 5. Zaytoun


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