The Value of Artivism: Finding a Voice When Words Fail

Why use art and performance in a GBVF campaign? Because artivism offers a safe yet potent way to confront trauma and challenge norms. Unlike posters or emails, performance demands engagement, making the abstract reality of GBVF immediate and felt.

For those who fear speaking out, art provides an essential shield. This was powerfully illustrated when an anonymous student submitted a written paragraph about a traumatic experience. The student chose not to show their face or use their name. By taking that raw, painful text and pairing it with a beautiful, carefully chosen photograph for the campaign, the team turned a deeply traumatic experience into a public statement, while keeping the person anonymous. Art gave this individual a voice in a context where literal speech felt too dangerous.

The Not My Size Experience: Challenging Apathy with Confrontation

Art’s ability to provoke is essential, especially when people are experiencing message fatigue or “apathy” from continuous campaigning. The performance Not My Size served as a powerful antidote to this.

The work, created by faculty members, focused on the ubiquitous experience of street harassment and cat-calling. The female cast performed an embodied response to a soundtrack of actual verbal violations – the names, whistles, and aggressive comments said to them on the streets. It explored how this intrusive language affects their bodies and their emotional health.

The performance led to a deeply polarizing response from the audience. Some male students reacted with anger and defensiveness, stating that women should be “flattered” by the attention. This reaction immediately unveiled the massive gap in understanding and perspective. However, the true impact emerged as others began to reflect critically. Some men in the audience acknowledged their own past behaviour, the cat-calling and whistling, and reconsidered whether that was an appropriate way to speak to someone. The art forced them to step into another person’s experience and question their actions. This uncomfortable confrontation was the first step toward potential sensitisation and change.

The Transformative Power of Telling One’s Own Story

Perhaps the most profound story of personal shift came from the performance Gender, presented at the GBVF symposium. The piece, featuring a male dance student, explored the violent, exclusionary language directed at homosexual individuals.

The performance told his own story of navigating the world as a gay man. Through his body and dance, he translated his painful experiences into art. He experienced a cathartic release. The act of being proud and brave enough to tell his story on stage was fundamentally transformative for his acceptance and sense of self.

He moved from carrying trauma to celebrating his truth. It was a moment of deep acceptance and pride, witnessed by his choreographers and the audience. This single narrative validates the entire campaign: art gives people the courage to heal, own their identity, and inspire change in others. The stage becomes a sacred space where personal suffering is transformed into collective strength.

Beyond Numbers: Personal and Cultural Shifts

Faculty leaders confirm a palpable shift in campus culture. Issues of GBVF, once confined to whispers, are now openly discussed and explored by students. This cultural bravery is vital; it directly confronts the most stubborn obstacle: the pervasive silence and underreporting of harmful behaviour. The arts campus actively supports this new openness with dedicated resources: a specialized Gender Desk, Counseling Services, and a Wellness Center.