ART MUST not only be used to express oneself or entertain other people but also to advance advocacies and effect social change, writers told Artlets in a forum on millennials’ political discourse held Wednesday.
Award-winning writer and director Baby Nebrida said film is a powerful medium that can raise awareness on social issues.
“Maybe in a subtle way, these films with a cause can change the way we perceive certain realities by drawing us to characters, making us empathize with their stories in a way that ultimately may still result in changing our attitudes towards the subject matter,” she said.
Nebrida added that she has always been a proponent of advocacy cinema, which are films that aim to move the audience to take action on social issues.
“A good advocacy film includes a strategic outreach and audience engagement plan that encourages viewers to create solutions for the needs the film addresses,” Nebrida said. “Advocacy filmmakers create a meaningful partnership with like-minded communities, creating a village of leaders working together for change.”
Spoken word artist Juan Miguel Severo echoed Nebrida and encouraged students to create art that will spark social discourse and eventually initiate social change.
“If we choose not to talk about politics, we are making a political stand. We are showcasing our privilege,” Severo said.
“Kung social change talaga ‘yung nais nating ma-achieve, kailangan matuto tayong tumingin sa labas ng ating mga sarili,” he added.
The spoken word artist told students to step outside their personal bubbles to create art for society, reminding that artists have an obligation to reflect reality.
“[K]ung doon ka na lang titira [sa] kung ano ang mga personal sa’yo at hindi ka lalabas sa sarili mong mga isyu, I don’t think na magiging ganun kabigat ang sining mo. [K]ung ang realidad mo ay tungkol lamang sayo, ang ibig sabihin noon ay hindi ka nagpa-participate enough sa lipunan.”
The seminar titled “POLitikan: Diskurso sa Politika ng Henerasyong Milenyal” was organized by The Political Science Forum and was held at the CME Auditorium. F
