I have spent a week learning about the art of craftivism, and finally I felt as if an article had directly addressed the question we probably all asked at the start of this course. The author of “A stitch in time: how craftivists found their radical voice” asked, “How can something like craftwork – ‘laborious, small-scale, delicate’ – make any significant difference in the world of activism?” The more and more articles I read about craftivism, the more I realize a prominent reason it has been so successful—the contrast between the peaceful act of crafting and the harshness of protesting. This contrast catches people’s attention and gets them talking and once the conversation starts, it doesn’t stop. Whether it be the artwork itself or the act of putting so much time and energy into a single piece, the uniqueness of this type of activism in undeniable. The diversity of those who engage in this activity can also create a conversation. Even back in 2002, the article “Revolutionary Knitting Circle call for global knit-ins to protest G-8,” discusses breaking gender norms through men contributing to the movement. I found it very surprising that the first Revolutionary Knitting Circle was even founded by a young male. I do think it will be interesting to see in the future if it becomes more normalized for males to knit or crochet.
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