With the #Resistence and #Resit zeitgeist in the United States, due to the election of the 45th president, embracing propaganda as means of promoting the right to secure food fits. I knew I had a strong and inspiring concept, and of course, I had to expand it. I'm including propaganda posters for local heirloom food varieties, and I plan on creating propaganda posters for the activist included in the storytelling project.
I've gotten some pushback from people who have expressed their concern about my use of the word propaganda. In this time of fake news, which is propaganda used for a nefarious reason, they thought I might be detracting from work and my movement. First, it's not my responsibility that people don't know the actual definition of words. Propaganda can be good or bad. Second, I don't buy into the fear that's being sold by mainstream corporate media, self-appointed social media influencers and their Twitter chambers. Finally, and what I think is most important, the function of art is to challenge the notions of society without apology or explanation.
Photo credit Kelly Bedusa