[artinfo] Resistance, Agency, and Cultural Production

[Art&Education]

Assuming Boycott: Resistance, Agency, and Cultural Production

Assuming Boycott defiantly holds the best 
arguments regarding boycott. It shows that 
boycott is not only a form of sanctions but also 
an invitation to dialogue. This collection of 
essays offers a historical perspective with 
comparative case studies, making it the ultimate 
resource to help decide where to draw the ethical 
line.
-Galit Eilat, writer and curator, co-curator of 31st São Paulo Biennial

The brilliant writers and debaters assembled here 
come at the issue from different angles, all from 
the central belief that art is never not 
political. In the end, they are less interested 
in arguing for or against tactics than they are 
in advocating an art of political thinking.
-Holland Cotter, co-chief art critic, The New York Times

The refusal to participate in an oppressive 
system has long been one of the most powerful 
tools in the organizer's arsenal. 
<http://http://www.veralistcenter.org/engage/events/2035/assuming-boycott-resistance-agency-and-cultural-production-/>Assuming 
Boycott: Resistance, Agency, and Cultural 
Production is the essential reader for today's 
creative leaders and cultural practitioners, and 
includes original contributions by artists, 
scholars, activists, critics, curators, and 
writers who examine the historical precedent of 
South Africa; the current cultural boycott of 
Israel; freedom of speech and self-censorship; 
and long-distance activism. Far from representing 
withdrawal or cynicism, boycott emerges as a 
special condition for discourse, artmaking and 
political engagement.

As U.S. cultural and academic organizations are 
increasingly subjects of boycotts-in response to 
the ban on immigration from majority Muslim 
countries issued by the current U.S. 
administration-the question of boycott attains 
additional urgency. This May Day Book Launch 
features the three editors, Kareem Estefan, Carin 
Kuoni and Laura Raicovich, in a lively exchange 
with book contributors artist Mariam Ghani and 
art historian Chelsea Haines, joined by Claire 
Potter, Professor of History, The New School, and 
investigates the potential of boycott as a tool 
for organizing and art making.

A festive reception with DJs ConVex and DJD 
(Salome Asega and Derek Schultz) follows, in 
celebration of the book and other May Day 
assemblies in the city. Co-sponsored by 
<http://interferencearchive.org/sowing-resistance-propaganda-party/>Interference 
Archive, on occasion of Sowing Resistance, 
Propaganda Party no. 5.

<http://www.veralistcenter.org/engage/publications/2053/assuming-boycott-resistance-agency-and-cultural-production/>Assuming 
Boycott features twelve newly commissioned essays 
and six contributions by Nasser Abourahme, 
Ariella Azoulay, Tania Bruguera, Noura Erakat, 
Kareem Estefan, Mariam Ghani with Haig Aivazian, 
Nathan Gray and Ahmet Ög˜üt, Chelsea Haines, Sean 
Jacobs, Yazan Khalili, Carin Kuoni and Laura 
Raicovich, Svetlana Mintcheva, Naeem Mohaiemen, 
Hlonipha Mokoena, John Peffer, Joshua Simon, Ann 
Laura Stoler, Radhika Subramaniam, Eyal Weizman 
and Kareem Estefan, and Frank B. Wilderson III.

It is published by 
<http://www.orbooks.com/catalog/assuming-boycott/>OR 
Books, in association with the 
<http://www.veralistcenter.org/engage/events/2035/assuming-boycott-resistance-agency-and-cultural-production-/>Vera 
List Center for Art and Politics.

For pre-orders-at a discount!-please visit 
<http://www.orbooks.com/catalog/assuming-boycott/>OR 
Books.

<https://www.veralistcenter.org>www.veralistcenter.org
<https://www.facebook.com/events/411238442572097/>