Rhyme, Rhythm, and Resistance: Affect and the Art of Dissent
Art has always been an integral part of protest and resistance. Poetry, music, and other written and performed arts have long been used to express distaste for political movements, displeasure with working conditions, and disdain for the status quo, among other issues. This exhibition, drawn from the Schlesinger Library’s extensive collections, explores the people behind protest songs, poetry and spoken word, musicals and plays, and the movements that made them. Rhyme, Rhythm, and Resistance follows a centuries-long effort in the United States to reconcile a poor regard for women’s experiences with a lack of care from parties in power. Using affect theory as a framework, we aim to provide space to take women’s words as seriously as their actions and a critical feminist lens through which to view motivations for speaking up.
The Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study gratefully acknowledges the Helen Blumen and Jan Acton Fund for Schlesinger Library Exhibitions, which is supporting this exhibition.
Exhibition curated by Patrice Green, curator for African American and African diasporic collections
Schlesinger Library Exhibition Committee Members:
- John Jayo, executive assistant
- Emily Mathay, archivist
- Jen Weintraub, head of digital collections and services
Visit
Free and open to the public.
Registration is recommended. Each reservation grants entry for the individual named in the confirmation only. Please make a separate booking for each member of your party.
To place a request for a group or class tour of the exhibition, submit this form at least two weeks before the desired date of your visit. Please understand that it can be difficult for us to accept short-notice requests. We will do our best to fulfill every request, but owing to scheduling or staffing constraints, some requests cannot be accommodated.
