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Evaluating Creative Arts for Social Commentary

By Sarah Baker
Description (Describe)
Name of Art Work
Artist
Issue
Medium
Date Created
Historical Context
Cultural Context

Method of Diffusion
Segmented Audience
Target Intended

Name of Social Movement


Stage of Social Movement
Emergent
Coalescing
Organizing
(bureaucratizing)

Declining
Result of Movement and
Arts (Describe)
Success
Failure
Cooptation
Repression
Mainstreaming

Los Intocables/ The Untouchables


http://erikravelo.info/los-intocables/
Erik Ravelo
Violence against children
Photography
2013
Contemporary
Ravelo was born in Cuba but escaped to
Argentina when he was 18 to pursue art.
Used to government censorship, Ravelo
seeks to make images that are jarring
and controversial in order to elicit a
strong reaction from the public
(Huffington Post).
YouTube, Facebook
I dont think Ravelo had a specific target
audience in mind. He was not selective
about how he has diffused this specific
piece, which makes me think he wants
as wide of an audience as possible.
UNHATE movement

The UNHATE movement has partnered


with the United Nations to distribute
donations to worldwide projects that
combat violence against women and
children. Because this movement has
several important partner relationships
with prestigious organizations and
businesses, it is in its organizing stage.

The UNHATE campaign was founded by


United Colors of Benetton, a popular

British apparel company. It is an


interesting model because at its
inception, this social movement was
coopted by a mainstream clothing
company. In this sense, I do not think it
went through the normal life cycle of
social movements. It started out as a
mainstream movement.
Type of Social Movement
(Describe)
Alternative
Reformative

Redemptive
Revolutionary
Content (Describebased
on world view analysis)
Emotional Appeal (Emotions
Evoked)

Primary Value Targeted


Belief Statements Implied or
Stated

Broader Result (Describe)


Ideological

Ravelo created this photo series to


challenge the violence that children
endure at the hand of powerful people
and corporations. I believe that his
purpose is a reformative one. He wants
people to open their eyes to this injustice
and uses visceral images jolt people into
action.

The images produced by Ravelo are very


extremely controversial. I would
describe them as prophetic. He uses
visceral images to elicit a strong
response from his audience. When I first
looked at his photo series, I felt sick,
angry,
Non-violence, interconnectedness of all
humans
There are several implied beliefs in this
artwork:
1. The structures we live in are broken
and corrupt
2. Children are often the victims of
violence and aggression. Companies
whose main goal is to make money, even
at the cost of childhood innocence,
exploit them.
3. Art is a powerful tool to reveal
injustice and solicit change.

(hegemonic)
Normative
(culturally, politically)
Resistant (protest)
Creative Intent
Reflective
(commentary only)
Reactive (protest)

Proactive
(instructive)
Artistic Analysis
Symbols (including text)
used

The response to Ravelos photos series


has been varied. The artist explains that
he actually received death threats as a
result of his work and that Facebook
censored his online posts regarding the
project. Because the creation of these
images were funded by the United Colors
of Benettons UNHATE foundation, it
seems like the intention is to solicit
donations from a wide audience. These
donations support projects that combat
violence against women and children
worldwide.

The most recognized symbol that Ravelo


uses is the cross. Its a strong symbol
that shows the horrors that children face
around the world. By using human
figures posed as a cross, Ravelo is
showing that adult greed and vice is
often at the core of these atrocities.

Costumes are also used to highlight the


different players that are perpetuating
violence against children. A man in
scrubs, for example, is used to show how
pharmaceutical companies exploit
children around the world by giving them
experimental drugs.
Style
The style of the piece reflects the
modern and contemporary appeal of
United Colors of Benetton. Ravelo uses
this style to speak to the consumers of
the apparel company.
Refinement
Ravelos photo series is flawless.
Basic Artifactual Information:

The clown suit is used to symbolize McDonalds. The child in front is


clearly obese. By juxtaposing these two images, Ravelo implies that
fast food corporations are contributing to childhood obesity. The symbol
of the crucifix is especially visceral and implies that fast food chains are
killing kids in a horrific way. This image definitely speaks to culpability.
Discussion: Ravelos purpose is to reveal the companies that perpetuate violence against
children. He targets pharmaceutical companies, religious institutions, fast food companies,
as well as the tourism industry. The interesting thing is that both perpetrator and victim are
faceless. I think Ravelo did this intentionally to reveal that the systems and structures we
create are dehumanizing. Who is the victim in each scenario? By calling this into
question, Ravelo blurs the line between oppressed and oppressor. We are all products of a
system that feeds on violence and injustice.
References
Huffington Post (2013). Controversial Art Project Addressing Violence against
Children is Censored by Facebook. Retrieved from
www.huffingtonpost.com

Reed, T. V. (2005). The Art of Protest: Culture and activism from the civil
rights movement to the streets of Seattle. Minneapolis, MI: University
of Minnesota Press.

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