Time to Act: Can Writing be Activism

This workshop, held with a group 20 students at ONA ETH Zurich, asked the crucial question, “can writing be activism?” Our starting point is that no, it can’t, unless it is activated within a social situation. After a short reflection on what the mechanisms for activation might be – from placards and body painting in demonstrations to the ideologies perpetuated through singing hymns in a church or performing poems at a slam, and, indeed, publishing, the workshop unfolded through two consecutive activities: an encounter and a collective statement followed by discussion and recording for dissemination.

Joining us were Alicia Yerebakan (Madame ETH), Barbara Thüler (architect), Geraldine Tedder (curator) and Tine Milz (theatre director)

We started with three texts:

Verónica Gago, “Eight Theses on the Feminist Revolution” from How to Change Everything (2020)

Ursula le Guin, The Carrier Bag Theory of Fiction (1986)

Mierle Laderman Ukeles, Manifesto for Maintenance Art (Proposal for an Exhibition) (1969)