Resistance from Aristotle to Star Wars

CONTENTS OF CURRICULUM UNIT 26.04.08

  1. Unit Guide
  1. Introduction
  2. Teaching Situation & Rationale
  3. Teaching Strategies
  4. Classroom Activities
  5. Appendix On Implementing District Standards
  6. Resources
  7. Notes

Beyond Protest: Reimagining Art as Resistance

Jenna Eiker

Published September 2026

Tools for this Unit:

Notes

  1. “Paul Robeson Quotes on Art and Protest | American Masters | PBS.” American Masters, March 30, 2022. https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/paul-robeson-quotes-on-art-and-protest/21208/.
  2. S. News. “Pittsburgh Langley K-8 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - U.S. News Education.” U.S. News: A World Report- Education K-12. Accessed July 12, 2026. https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/pennsylvania/pittsburgh-langley-k-8-233470.
  3. Mirzoeff, Nicholas. “Introduction: How to See the World.” Essay. In How to See the World, 6–20. London, N/A: PELICAN, 2015.6.
  4. Freedman, Kerry J. Teaching Visual Culture: Curriculum, Aesthetics, and the Social Life of Art. New York, New York: Teachers College Press, 2025.
  5. Mirzoeff, Nicholas. “Introduction: How to See the World.”11.
  6. Boylan, Alexis L. Visual Culture. of Essential Knowledge Series. Cambridge, Massachusetts: The MIT Press, 2020.
  8. Berger, John. Ways of Seeing. London, N/A: Pelican, 1972.
  9. Boylan, Alexis L. Visual Culture. XXVI-41.
  10. Brown, Nicole E, Kaila Bussert, Denise Hattwig, and Ann Medaille. “Keeping up with...Visual Literacy | Association of College and Research Libraries.” American Library Association. Accessed July 13, 2026. https://www.ala.org/acrl/publications/keeping_up_with/visual_literacy.
  12. James, C.L.R. Toussaint Louverture: The Story of the Only Successful Slave Revolt in History; A Play in Three Acts. Edited by Christian Hogsbjerg. Durham, North Carolina: Duke University Press, 2012.
  13. Massie-Blomfield, Amber. Acts of Resistance: The Power of Art to Create a Better World. New York, New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc, 2025.
  14. Massie-Blomfield, Amber. Acts of Resistance: The Power of Art to Create a Better World.12.
  15. 11.
  16. 51.
  17. 11.
  18. 4.
  19. “Paul Robeson Quotes on Art and Protest | American Masters | PBS.”
  20. Munro, André. “Power | Definition, Social Dynamics, Authority, Weber, Foucault, & Facts | Britannica.” Britannica, July 11, 2026. https://www.britannica.com/topic/power-political-and-social-science.
  21. Gutting, Gary, and Johanna Oksala. “Michel Foucault.” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, April 2, 2003. https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/foucault/.
  24. Munro, André. “Power | Definition, Social Dynamics, Authority, Weber, Foucault, & Facts
  25. Berger, John. Ways of Seeing. 8.
  26. hooks, bell. “Introduction, Chapter 1: Art On My Mind.” Essay. In Art On My Mind: Visual Politics, XV–4. New York, New York: The New Press, 1995.
  27. xv.
  28. Freedberg, David. The Power of Images: Studies in the History and Theory of Response. Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago Pr, 2007.
  29. Plessis, Alicia du. “‘Napoleon Crossing the Alps’ by Jacques-Louis David - Analysis.” Art in Context, February 23, 2023. https://artincontext.org/napoleon-crossing-the-alps-by-jacques-louis-david/.
  30. “Tania Bruguera.” The Guggenheim Museums and Foundation. Accessed July 25, 2026. https://www.guggenheim.org/map/tania-bruguera.
  31. Camara, Esperança. “Smarthistory – Michelangelo, Last Judgment, Sistine Chapel.” Smart History, November 28, 2015. https://smarthistory.org/michelangelo-last-judgment/.
  32. Dabrowski, Magdalena, ed. “Kandinsky: Compositions.” MOMA: Museum of Modern Art. Accessed July 25, 2026. https://www.moma.org/calendar/exhibitions/448.
  34. Zygmont, Bryan. “Smarthistory – Emanuel Leutze, Washington Crossing the Delaware.” Smart History, August 9, 2015. https://smarthistory.org/leutze-washington-crossing-the-delaware/.
  35. Flattley, Megan. “The History of Mexico: Diego Rivera’s Murals at the National Palace – Smarthistory.” Smart History, September 22, 2020. https://smarthistory.org/mexico-diego-rivera-murals-national-palace/.
  36. Byrd, Cathy. “Concerning a Cultural Dilemma.” Essay. In Potentially Harmful: The Art of American Censorship, 6–14. Atlanta, Georgia: The Ernest G. Welch School of Art & Design Gallery, 2006.
  37. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, ed. “‘Degenerate’ Art | Holocaust Encyclopedia.” United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, June 8, 2020. https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/degenerate-art-1.
  38. Hawks, Shelley Drake. “Introduction.” Essay. In The Art of Resistance: Painting By Candlelight in Mao’s China, 4. Seattle, Washington: University of Washington Press, 2017.
  39. Jacobo, Julia. “Threat to Destroy Heritage Sites Akin to ‘cultural Genocide,’ Experts Say in Response to Trump’s Initial Warning - ABC News.” ABC News, January 9, 2020. https://abcnews.com/International/threat-destroy-heritage-sites-akin-cultural-genocide-experts/story?id=68144819.
  40. Ai, Weiwei. On Censorship. London, UK: Thames & Hudson, 2026.
  41. Scott, Dread. About the Visual Artist - Dread Scott
  42. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, ed. “‘Degenerate’ Art | Holocaust Encyclopedia.”
  44. Braunschweig, Beatrice von. “Ghent Museum Refuses Return of Nazi-Looted Painting.” Deutsche Welle, December 23, 2025. https://www.dw.com/en/ghent-museum-refuses-return-of-nazi-looted-painting/video-75276542.
  45. Hawks, Shelley Drake. “Introduction.” Essay. In The Art of Resistance: Painting By Candlelight in Mao’s China, 4.
  46. 4.
  47. Jacobo, Julia. “Threat to Destroy Heritage Sites Akin to ‘cultural Genocide.’
  48. Curry, Andrew. “Here Are the Ancient Sites Isis Has Damaged and Destroyed | National Geographic.” National Geographic, September 1, 2015. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/150901-isis-destruction-looting-ancient-sites-iraq-syria-archaeology.
  49. Jacobo, Julia. “Threat to Destroy Heritage Sites Akin to ‘cultural Genocide.’
  50. Ai, Weiwei. On Censorship. 17.
  51. Ai, Weiwei. “Biography.” Essay. In Later Works, 142–43. Pistoia, Italy: Gli Ori, 2023.
  52. Schulze, Martin. “Ai Weiwei: The Sichuan Earthquake & 9000 Children’s Backpacks.” Public Delivery, August 14, 2013. https://publicdelivery.org/ai-weiwei-remembering-haus-der-kunst-muenchen-2009/.
  53. Scott, Dread. “About the Visual Artist - Dread Scott.” Dread Scott. Accessed July 12, 2026. https://www.dreadscott.net/about/.
  54. Scott, Dread. “What Is the Proper Way to Display a US Flag? .” Dread Scott. Accessed July 12, 2026. https://www.dreadscott.net/portfolio_page/what-is-the-proper-way-to-display-a-us-flag/.
  55. brown, adrienne maree. “Epigraph.” Essay. In Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good, 1–1. Chico, California, 2019.
  56. “Paul Robeson Quotes on Art and Protest | American Masters | PBS.”
  57. Jacobo, Julia. “Threat to Destroy Heritage Sites Akin to ‘cultural Genocide.’
  58. Fischer, Patrick. “When the Arts Are Attacked, Democracy Is at Risk.” Web log. Arts Blog (blog). Pittsburgh Arts Council, April 14, 2025. https://www.pittsburghartscouncil.org/blog/when-arts-are-attacked-democracy-risk.
  60. Jacobo, Julia. “Threat to Destroy Heritage Sites Akin to ‘cultural Genocide.’
  61. National Museum of Women in the Arts. “Jaune Quick-to-See Smith | Artist Profile.” National Museum of Women in the Arts. Accessed July 11, 2026. https://nmwa.org/art/artists/jaune-quick-see-smith/.
  62. Dunbar-Ortiz, Roxanne. An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States. Toronto, Ontario: CELA, 2025. 133-161.
  63. National Museum of Women in the Arts. “Jaune Quick-to-See Smith | Artist Profile.”
  64. Dunbar-Ortiz, Roxanne. An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States.147-155.
  65. National Museum of Women in the Arts. “Jaune Quick-to-See Smith | Artist Profile.”
  66. Phipps, Laura. “‘My Roots Extend’: Jaune Quick-to-See Smith and the Landscape of Memory .” Whitney Museum of American Art. Accessed July 11, 2026. https://whitney.org/essays/jaune-quick-to-see-smith.
  67. Dunbar-Ortiz, Roxanne. An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States.1-14, 197-218.
  68. National Museum of Women in the Arts. “Jaune Quick-to-See Smith | Artist Profile.”
  69. Azoulay, Audrey. “UNESCO’s Action in the Gaza Strip / Palestine.” UNESCO, January 15, 2024. https://www.unesco.org/en/gaza.
  70. Wilson-Goldie, Kaelen. “Influences: Emily Jacir.” Frieze, October 15, 2021. https://www.frieze.com/article/influences-emily-jacir.
  71. Jones, Kellie. “Civil/Rights/Act.” Essay. In Witness: Art and Civil Rights in the Sixties, 11–46. New York, New York: The Monacelli Press, 2014.
  72. Carbone, Teresa A. “Exhibit A: Evidence and the Art Object.” Essay. In Witness: Art and Civil Rights in the Sixties, 93–93. New York, New York: The Monacelli Press, 2014.
  73. Jones, Kellie. “Civil/Rights/Act.” 13.
  74. Choi, Connie H. “Documentary Activism: Photography and the Civil Rights Movement.” Essay. In Witness: Art and Civil Rights in the Sixties, 57–57. New York, New York: The Monacelli Press, 2014.
  75. Jones, Kellie. “Civil/Rights/Act.” 41.
  76. 11.
  77. Seale, Bobby. “Foreword.” Essay. In Black Panther: The Revolutionary Art of Emory Douglas, 12–14. New York, New York: Rizzoli International Publications, 2007.
  78. Bourne, St. Clair. “An Artist for the People: An Interview with Emory Douglas.” Essay. In Black Panther: The Revolutionary Art of Emory Douglas, 199–199. New York, New York: Rizzoli International Publications, 2007.
  79. Bourne, St. Clair. An Artist for the People: An Interview with Emory Douglas, 199.
  80. 199.
  81. Seale, Bobby. “Foreword.” Essay. In Black Panther: The Revolutionary Art of Emory Douglas. 13.
  82. 14.
  83. Durant, Sam. “Introduction.” Essay. In Black Panther: The Revolutionary Art of Emory Douglas, 19–24. New York, New York: Rizzoli International Publications, 2007.
  84. 21.
  85. Glover, Danny. “Preface.” Essay. In Black Panther: The Revolutionary Art of Emory Douglas, 10–11. New York, New York: Rizzoli International Publications, 2007.
  86. 10.
  87. Marchart, Oliver. Conflictual Aesthetics: Artistic Activism and the Public Sphere. Berlin, N/A: Sternberg Press, 2019.
  88. Chernick, Karen. “How a New Generation of Native American Street Artists Is Leaving Its Mark Across the United States.” artnet, June 30, 2020. https://news.artnet.com/art-world/native-american-street-art-1757085.
  89. Smith, Matthew Ryan. “Indigenous Graffiti and Street Art as Resistance.” Essay. In Street Art of Resistance, edited by Sarah H. Awad and Brady Wagoner, 251–74. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing AG, 2017.
  90. 255.
  91. Chernick, Karen. “How a New Generation of Native American Street Artists Is Leaving Its Mark Across the United States.”
  92. Smithsonian, ed. “Basquiat × Banksy - Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden | Smithsonian.” Hirshhorn Museum. Accessed July 16, 2026. https://hirshhorn.si.edu/exhibitions/basquiat-x-banksy/.
  93. “Love Is in the Bin, October 2018.” Banksy Explained. Accessed July 11, 2026. https://banksyexplained.com/love-is-in-the-bin-2018/.
  94. Greer, Betsy. “Knitting Craftivism: From My Sofa to Yours.” Essay. In Craftivism: The Art of Craft and Activism, 7–8. Vancouver, British Columbia: Arsenal Pulp Press, 2014.
  95. Lothian, Sayraphim. Guerrilla Kindness & Other Acts of Creative Resistance: Making a Better World Through Craftivism. Coral Gables, Florida: Mango Publishing Group, 2018.
  96. Strycharz, Heather. “Sewing Voice: The Aprilleristas and the Women of the Adithi Collective.” Essay. In Craftivism: The Art of Craft and Activism, 133–40. Vancouver, British Columbia: Arsenal Pulp Press, 2014.
  97. 133.
  98. 134.
  99. 134.
  100. 134.

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