Scenes from the Frontlines of Activism

Mass protests and direct action have been familiar tactics against the many crises of the 21st century. Though methods vary, there’s a collective longing for meaningful and transformative action. Some are deemed too weak, others too disruptive: from Instagram tiles to cans of soup thrown on famous paintings.

Through conversations with activists and organisers, Sam Gonçalves recounts stories of protest and the fight for change, from a community of landless workers in Southern Brazil, to chefs unionising their workplace in Glasgow, Scotland. These narratives reveal the opportunities and challenges that are part of the difficult work of creating change, a wrestling with the question: how does change happen?

Having a ‘positive impact’ in the world is often relegated to the ‘personal’, an individual endeavour. Gonçalves investigates that assumption and explores ways communities have resisted collectively, and fought against the individualising forces surrounding them.