Foreign policy
This term, coined by Joseph Nye, describes a nation’s ability to gain influence through culture rather than force.
What is Soft Power?
Tanya Lukin Linklater’s work features these items, once held in museum storage, as a form of cultural reclamation.
What are Alutiiq sewing pouches?
This is a form of discrimination that is embedded into a system or laws.
What is systemic racism
If an artwork can be interpreted as both supporting and opposing the same issue, what challenge does this pose for activists who use art for social change?
What is MISREPRESENTATION?
Who started the Fridays for Future (FFF) movement in Sweden in 2018?
Greta Thunberg
Carlos Motta’s Narrative Shifter focuses on this group affected by U.S. immigration policies.
Who are undocumented immigrants?
The silent video The treaty is in the body captures discussions on the history of agreements between Indigenous people and this entity.
What is the North American government?
Artist behind the piece They’re All Afraid, All Of Them, That’s It! They’re All Southern! The Whole United States Is Southern! (2019)
Many artists use their work to highlight inequality and injustice, but if the message is open to multiple interpretations, what risk does this pose to its political impact?
What is DILUTION?
Which Korean boy band won the Order of Cultural Merit award in 2018?
BTS
Pratchaya Phinthong’s artwork Spoon repurposes metal from bombs dropped by the U.S. on this country.
What is Laos?
This concept describes the passing down of cultural knowledge through spoken stories rather than written records.
What is oral tradition?
Past American system of laws supporting racial segregation and the discrimination against African Americans
What is Jim Crow
Community-led art projects often focus on real social struggles, but without institutional backing, what major challenge do they face in reaching a wide audience?
What is VISIBILITY?
What Indian activist has inspired other activists to use nonviolent protests across the world?
Mahatma Gandhi
This U.S. policy, phased out under Donald Trump, protected undocumented youth.
What is DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals)?
The exhibition suggests that change can happen through two approaches: from institutional power or from this grassroots level.
What is grassroots activism?
A style of journalism that covers systemic racism
What is If it bleeds it leads
If museums and galleries display political art while remaining neutral on the issues it presents, are they truly supporting social movements or just doing this?
What is PROFITING?
What percentage of the NBA's social media followers are from outside the U.S.?
75%
The SOFT POWER exhibition critiques this aspect of U.S. global strategy, which aims to influence through values rather than coercion.
What is cultural influence?
This art form, referenced in the exhibition, played a role in the Velvet Revolution, reinforcing the connection between culture and activism.
What is music?
Can soft power be seen in systemic racism
What is yes
When institutions or governments fund political art, they may also influence its message. Does this mean art is still a tool of resistance, or has it become a tool of this?
What is PROPAGANDA?