Art and culture have changed the landscape of conflict zones in Africa over the past fifteen years. With wars over resources in the Congo, and violence in Zimbabwe, what was once originally on the outskirts of problem solving techniques in places where power is shown primarily through acts of violence, art and culture have moved into the forefront of mediation and expressionist techniques. Although art is not a governmental, vertical structure for reconciliation or problem solving, it is by all means a necessary horizontal, cultural structure. Through art comes the reinforcement of peaceful and collaborative ambient norms and code of conduct in times of conflict and chaos. The new and inventive reception of art by the people of Liberia, the
…show more content…
With women often being collateral in war, Eclipsed, a play written by Danai Gurira in the early 2000s, “tells the story of five Liberian women and their tale of survival near the end of the Second Liberian Civil War” (“Eclipsed”). Throughout the play, the Liberian women use the struggles and hardships they had faced during war to unite themselves and empower others in their situation to vouch for peace and speak out for change; hoping to ultimately reduce conflict. While the cultural differences tended to push people apart in Pamposh Rainaand’s “Out of India”, this is often the case with warring tribes in Africa. However, the Liberian women of Eclipsed, were brought together by their shared culture of struggle regardless of their tribe affiliation, and their strong call for peace via theater should be seen as a template for conflict reduction throughout Africa. Eclipsed was not only theatrical art, “but functioned as a tool that unearthed the poignant narratives of African women during war, a group that is adversely affected, but often overlooked” (Amadeo-Luyt); giving a much needed platform for not only women in Africa who have been historically disenfranchised, but a message of …show more content…
The growth of the digital space has offered new opportunities and fields for women despite always falling in the shadows of their male counterparts. Digital artist, Jepchumba, the founder and artistic director of African Digital Art, says that “many women have been pioneers in using digital media as their artistic tools and means of expression, and succeeded in creating their own artistic space” (“The Courage to Create”), which only spurs the increasing number of African women flocking to digital art platforms. These women aim to express their opinions through animation, interactive projects, web, film, graphic art and design. Through the project of African Digital Art, not only is it a platform for these disenfranchised women, it is also a tool to distribute their messages of struggle and strength to the masses within Africa, which peacefully fights back against conflict. The project has very recently built a new school in Africa to train young women around the subject of digital art with hopes to inspire women across Africa to stand up for themselves and their rights amidst conflict and violence throughout the region. While there is still very traditional African art throughout the continent, the evolution of digital art and new media has given historically disempowered women in Africa a new, and less traditional role in African
With women often being collateral in war, Eclipsed, a play written by Danai Gurira in the early 2000s, “tells the story of five Liberian women and their tale of survival near the end of the Second Liberian Civil War” (“Eclipsed”). Throughout the play, the Liberian women use the struggles and hardships they had faced during war to unite themselves and empower others in their situation to vouch for peace and speak out for change; hoping to ultimately reduce conflict. While the cultural differences tended to push people apart in Pamposh Rainaand’s “Out of India”, this is often the case with warring tribes in Africa. However, the Liberian women of Eclipsed, were brought together by their shared culture of struggle regardless of their tribe affiliation, and their strong call for peace via theater should be seen as a template for conflict reduction throughout Africa. Eclipsed was not only theatrical art, “but functioned as a tool that unearthed the poignant narratives of African women during war, a group that is adversely affected, but often overlooked” (Amadeo-Luyt); giving a much needed platform for not only women in Africa who have been historically disenfranchised, but a message of …show more content…
The growth of the digital space has offered new opportunities and fields for women despite always falling in the shadows of their male counterparts. Digital artist, Jepchumba, the founder and artistic director of African Digital Art, says that “many women have been pioneers in using digital media as their artistic tools and means of expression, and succeeded in creating their own artistic space” (“The Courage to Create”), which only spurs the increasing number of African women flocking to digital art platforms. These women aim to express their opinions through animation, interactive projects, web, film, graphic art and design. Through the project of African Digital Art, not only is it a platform for these disenfranchised women, it is also a tool to distribute their messages of struggle and strength to the masses within Africa, which peacefully fights back against conflict. The project has very recently built a new school in Africa to train young women around the subject of digital art with hopes to inspire women across Africa to stand up for themselves and their rights amidst conflict and violence throughout the region. While there is still very traditional African art throughout the continent, the evolution of digital art and new media has given historically disempowered women in Africa a new, and less traditional role in African