The Art of activism and Activism of Art
Author : Gregory Sholette
Publisher : Lund Humphries, 2022
In The Art of Activism and the Activism of Art, Gregory Sholette examines how artists have increasingly merged creative practice with political activism since the 2008 financial crash. Challenging capitalism, authoritarianism, and systemic injustices—including within the art world itself—artists now engage in protest both through and within their work. Sholette, both scholar and activist artist, offers a unique dual perspective as he maps, critiques, and historicises this movement. He explores the distinction between activist art and artistic protest, arguing that contemporary art activism signals a broader cultural shift—one that dissolves boundaries between aesthetics and utility, and reflects the crises of capitalism.
Beauty is in the Street
Editiors: Johan Kugelberg and Philip Vermes
Publisher: Four Corners Books, 2011
‘Beauty Is in the Street’ documents the politically charged poster art of May 1968, when mass strikes and protests in Paris nearly toppled de Gaulle’s government. Students at the Ecole des Beaux Arts formed the Atelier Populaire, a collective that produced hundreds of bold, Situationist-inspired posters to support the uprising. The book features over 200 posters, archival photographs, and newly translated firsthand accounts, capturing a pivotal moment in political art and graphic design.
Bomb Culture
Author: Jeff Nuttall
Edited by Douglas Field and Jay Jeff Jones
Foreword by Iain Sinclair
Afterword by Maria Fusco
Publisher MIT Press 2019
Out of print for fifty years, Jeff Nuttall’s Bomb Culture remains a seminal exploration of 1960s counterculture, radical art, music, and protest. Nuttall examines the era’s agitators and argues that the pervasive fear of nuclear holocaust shaped both high and low culture, much like World War I influenced Dadaism. This anniversary edition features a foreword by Iain Sinclair, an afterword by Maria Fusco, and archival materials, offering fresh insights into Nuttall’s influential work and the turbulent underground scene he documented.
Committing Photography
Author: Su Braden
Publisher: Pluto Press, 1983
In “Committing Photography”, Su Braden presents a compelling case for photography as a tool for social commitment, examining Britain’s recent radical photography and poster-making. She traces the historical dedication of socially engaged photographers and critiques government-imposed social reforms. Braden’s argument is enriched by a striking selection of illustrations, showcasing work from figures like John Heartfield and W. Eugene Smith to contemporary photographer Jo Spence, highlighting the enduring power of visual activism in challenging injustice.
Community Music
In Theory and In Practice
Author: Lee Higgins
Publisher: Oxford University Press, 2012
In “Community Music: In Theory and In Practice”, Lee Higgins explores the philosophy and practice of community music across diverse settings—from schools to prisons—emphasising participation, inclusion, and contextual sensitivity. He presents an interventional approach to music-making beyond formal education, integrating listening, improvisation, and performance. Tracing its historical roots and key traits, Higgins situates community music within the contemporary musical landscape and reflects on its future. This is the first comprehensive study of the field, essential for educators, therapists, and cultural practitioners.
Cultural Democracy Now
Author: Owen Kelly
Published by Routledge, 2022
“Cultural Democracy Now” by Owen Kelly delves into the historical roots and contemporary relevance of cultural democracy, exploring its intersection with movements like the creative commons, open source, and maker movements. The book revisits foundational concepts, examining the meaning of personhood in the twenty-first century, the essence of cultural democracy, and why it is worth pursuing. Kelly untangles the historical evolution of the term, addressing its co-option and suggesting a renewed examination to revitalize its strength. Situating cultural democracy within broader progressive political and social movements, the book also considers the impact of digital technologies. Aimed at students, scholars, practitioners, and policymakers in the arts, the book offers a theoretical perspective, fostering both contemplation and action in the realm of cultural democracy.
DEschooling Society
Author: Ivan Illich
Publisher: Penguin 1971
“Deschooling Society” by Ivan Illich is a provocative critique of institutionalised education in modern economies, arguing that formal schooling often stifles genuine learning. Published in 1973, the book calls for self-directed education supported by informal, intentional social networks. Illich questions the assumption that schooling equals education, urging a rethinking of how knowledge is acquired. Still relevant in today’s Internet age, his ideas challenge readers to consider alternative, decentralised models of learning beyond the traditional classroom.
Leaving the 20th Century
Editor : Chris Grey
Publisher : Rebel Press, 1998
First published in the UK in 1974, “Leaving the 20th Century” was the first Situationist text released in English. Compiled by Chris Gray and the English Situationists, it aimed to convey the radical anti-art, anti-capitalist spirit of the original Situationist International (1957–74). Through loose translations and irreverent commentary, the book attempts to capture the “terrorism, wit and general megalomania” of the original publications, whilst faithfully reprinting the “photographs of girls, soldiers, bombings, comic-strip frames, maps of cities and diagrams of labyrinths, cathedrals and gardens. It remains a seminal English-language introduction to Situationist thought..
Left Shift
Author: John A.Walker
Publisher: I.B.Tauris & Co Ltd, 2002
In “Left Shift: Radical Art in 1970s Britain”, John A. Walker challenges the notion that the 1970s were a culturally stagnant decade, arguing instead that it marked a vital period of politicisation and feminisation in British visual art. Focusing on socially engaged, progressive movements, the book documents how artists responded to contemporary economic, political, and ideological forces. Through critical analysis, Walker reveals the era’s dynamic struggles—between traditionalists and radicals, abstractionists and figurative artists—and asserts the 1970s as a pivotal moment of transformation in British art history.
REmembering Colin Ward
Authors: Ross Bradshaw, Ben Ward, Harriet Ward), Ken Warpole
Publisher: Five Leaves Publications. 2013
This commemorative booklet celebrates the life and work of Colin Ward—an influential anarchist, writer, educator, and environmentalist. Known for “Anarchy in Action” and his contributions to social history, housing, childhood, and urban planning, Ward’s practical, pluralist anarchism was grounded in everyday life. He edited Anarchy and the Bulletin of Environmental Education, and contributed regularly to Freedom. Featuring tributes from family, colleagues, and fellow thinkers, the booklet reflects on Ward’s enduring legacy as a radical yet accessible voice for social change.
Theatre of the Oppressed
Author: Augusto Boal
Publisher : Theatre Communications Group, 1993
The Theatre of the Oppressed (TO), developed by Brazilian practitioner Augusto Boal in the 1970s, uses theatre to inspire social and political change. Influenced by Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed, TO encourages audience participation, turning spectators into “spect-actors” who actively engage with and challenge their lived realities. Initially rooted in radical-left politics, the approach later aligned more broadly with centre-left ideology and gained traction in Europe.
The Citizen Artist
Editors: Linda Frye Burnham, Steven Durland
Publisher: Critical Pr Inc, 1998
The Citizen Artist explores key debates from the late 20th century around public art—its purpose, meaning, and the role of the artist in society. Drawing on articles from High Performance magazine, it captures a shift from conceptual experiments of the 1970s to community-focused practices of the 1990s. The collection highlights evolving perspectives on public engagement, responsibility, and the political and humanist underpinnings of art beyond traditional spaces.
The Trinidad Carnival
Author : Errol Hill
Publisher : New Beacon Books, 1997
The Trinidad Carnival: Mandate for a National Theatre by Errol Hill, first published in 1972, remains the definitive study of the origins and evolution of Trinidad Carnival. It explores how French colonists introduced their version of Carnival in the late 18th century, which was later mimicked and transformed by African slaves and freed people into a vibrant street festival. Hill traces the emergence of masquerade rituals, calypso music and tents, the steelband, and theatrical competitions. The book highlights how these elements continue to shape Carnival today, with clear distinctions still visible between European and African influences.