All art is political: a workshop lecture with Sebastien Labelle & Prof. Shannon Brownlee

“All art is political in the sense that it serves someone’s politics.” – August Wilson

How do we determine the ‘politics’ of art? Who is served and who is left out? The study of ideology allows us to answer these questions and critically examine the role of art in shaping, bolstering or subverting social norms and conventions. Culture both weaves and reflects the understanding we have of the world around us, and what we say or (more importantly) don’t say tells us a lot about how we believe our world is or should be. By looking at examples from popular culture we can determine what some of those norms and beliefs might be… and who they serve.

NOTE: The bar will be open on this evening.

Facilitators:

Sébastien Labelle is an actor, trade unionist, community organizer and the Executive Director of the Bus Stop Theatre Cooperative. He is also the Festival Director of the Mayworks Halifax Festival, an annual arts festival celebrating workers and struggles for justice. Sébastien is a former apprentice of the Bread & Puppet Theatre in Vermont and is currently helping in the development of the River Clyde Pageant in PEI using traditional forms of street theatre.

Prof. Shannon Brownlee teaches film studies in the Fountain School of Performing Arts at Dalhousie University. Her research interests include film theory, film adaptation, experimental film, animated film, and feminist and queer cinemas and theories.

REGISTRATION:

Registration is free to coop members, and $5 for the general public.

Please register by filling out the form available HERE