to resist is to exist

8/9/2019 To Resist is to Exist

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Aurnee Rahman

March 21st, 2014

Honors 211 B

Final Paper

To Exist is to Resist

Art has alwas !een in"icati#e o$ the social an" moral tensions o$ the times% &hether

su!tle, !lunt, un"erstate", ostentatious, serious, or humorous, art can "ispla the ima'es we are

too a$rai" or too politicall correct to spea( a!out% Thou'h not alwas seen as such, art acts as a

means o$ resistance, o$ peace$ul protest% &e can tal( a!out the mis$ortunes in the worl" all we

want, an" as a societ we "o, !ut it is when we are con$ronte" with ima'es o$ the #er thin's we

passi#el "iscuss that we must process the in$ormation in a new wa% The resistance art

"isplae" ! the Palestinian people an" opponents o$ the )sraeli settlements represent this #er

shi$t in thou'ht%

*ot surprisin'l, the Palestinian+)sraeli con$lict continues to capture the attentions o$

millions aroun" the worl"% &hile this (een interest can ran'e $rom secular to reli'ious, there

appears to !e a little piece o$ e#erone who cares in#este" in the con$lict% &ith erusalem, a cit

hol an" re#ere" to all three A!rahamic $aiths, on the line, much o$ the con$lict $eels personal%

But reli'ion asi"e, the con$lict stirs trou!le morall% Accor"in' to international law, the securit

wall erecte" ! the )sraeli 'o#ernment is ille'al on multiple $ronts% The wall itsel$ is ille'al, an"

the securit !arrier cuts throu'h the internationall reco'ni-e" 'reen line, ta(in' Palestinian lan"

awa $rom Palestinians% The encroachment has seeme" .uiet to the outsi"e worl", !ut the

resistance is lou"% The wall ser#es as a can#as o$ sorts, $ille" with art protestin' the wall an" the

su$$ocation o$ the Palestinian people% There are hun"re"s o$ pieces o$ artwor(, ran'in' $rom

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cru"e "rawin's .uic(l "one in spra paint to true wor(s o$ ela!orate art hi'hli'htin' the mria"

o$ perspecti#es a!out the wall% The 'reat expanse o$ the wall allows $or so man interpretations%

But what "oes it all mean/ An" who is watchin'/

The separation !arrier acts to !loc(a"e a prison, in a sense% The Palestinians are loc(e"

into their lan", constantl !ein' monitore" an" tol" where the can an" cannot 'o% The sanctions

a'ainst them are harsh% E#en simple mo#ement throu'h the lan" is "i$$icult, an" $or some,

outri'ht unsa$e% The ina!ilit to mo#e $reel has !ecome a part o$ the oppression Palestinians

$ace $rom settlers an" the )sraeli 'o#ernment% The rami$ications o$ this "e#astatin'l a$$ect the

chil"ren o$ Palestine% The ha#e !een cut o$$ $rom normal aspects o$ chil"hoo", inclu"in' a

sense o$ sa$et an" securit an" access to a li$e outsi"e the home% The maorit o$ those a$$ecte"

! )sraeli anta'onism an" settlements are innocent, !ut chil"ren har!or a special innocence%

Perhaps as a result, man o$ the protestin' artwor(s that occup the wall exhi!it chil"ren as

central ima'es% As )ma'e 1 shows, chil"ren, an" in this case a little !o, are o$ten the most

a"#ersel altere" ! the pli'hts o$ their en#ironment% Their stories 'o untol" as their worl"s an"

pla$ul nai#et are rippe" awa $rom them% This $i'ure "epicts a little !o wearin' the tra"itional

Palestinian scar$, a (e$$ieh% His i"entit is unmista(a!le, as are the tears streamin' "own his

$ace% His hunche" posture an" thin lim!s ser#e to illustrate an" remin" us o$ the thin's that ha#e

!een ta(en $rom these chil"ren, li(e their sense o$ com$ort% &ith a 'un pointe" at his hea", the

!os seemin'l hopeless situation !ecomes star(er an" more heart!rea(in'% This !o is onl

one o$ man chil"ren splattere" across the !arrier%

A similar !o, in )ma'e 2, is seen peerin' !ehin" a wall at the securit !arrier an" a "ea"

!o" painte" on the "i#i"e% This !o is similar to the one painte" in )ma'e 1 with the same

hunche" posture an" innocent appeal% The uxtaposition o$ the !o a'ainst the !ro(en, 're

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concrete a""s a col"ness% The !os chee(s are $lushe", ma!e ! an'uish% Here is this small

chil", cowerin' out o$ $ear in a lan" he shoul" !e a!le to call his own% But the chil"ren are not

alwas shown as such% )n contrast, )ma'e shows a 'roup o$ chil"ren rea"il awaitin' #ictor

$or the Palestinian people with the Palestinian $la' hoiste" a!o#e them% The ha#e their

triumphant little $ists raise" a!o#e them% 3omethin' a!out the wor( emits the potential $or

happiness, a little !it o$ hope% There lies a chance $or peace, as the !o with the peace si'n

pre"icts, an" the chance $or li!ert% But $or now, these !os are stuc( !ehin" a wall, waitin' $or

$ree"om%

The sentiment o$ entrapment !ehin" the securit wall echoes throu'h other wor(s as well%

)n $act, the theme is .uite common% )ma'e 4 shows the creation o$ the $amous Palestinian

political cartoonist *ai Al Ali% His character, Hanthala, is seen loo(in' out across the lan" to a

$ree Palestine un"er the li'ht o$ a 'lorious sunset Parr 20115% There are cries $or a $ree

Palestine, an" the a"amant !elie$ that 6the wall must $all%7 For now, the Palestinians are trappe"

!ehin" a wall, cut o$$ $rom the lan"% But there ma !e a "a when the will !e reunite" with their

homelan"%

The pictures o$ loo(in' !eon" the wall crop up et a'ain in art contri!ute" ! $amous

street artist Ban(s% Ban(s #isite" the securit !arrier as part o$ a proect he un"ertoo( with

other street artists% He has, with his $ame, !een a!le to "raw international attention to the securit

!arrier an" the trans'ressions o$ ci#il li!erties in$licte" upon the Palestinians% )n an inter#iew,

Ban(s points out, 6The se're'ation wall is a "is'race8 The possi!ilit ) $in" excitin' is ou

coul" turn the worl"s most in#asi#e an" "e'ra"in' structure into the worl"s lon'est 'aller o$

$ree speech an" !a" art7 Ban(s 20095% :isperse" alon' the wall are his in"epen"ent proects,

ran'in' in si-e an" messa'e% ;i(e the ima'e o$ Hanthala loo(in' !eon" the wall, Ban(s has

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multiple murals also loo(in' !eon" the wall, as i$ a hole has !een torn throu'h an" one simpl

nee"s to step throu'h to 'et to a lan" o$ peace an" para"ise% Ban(s also uses chil"ren, similar to

other artists, to "ispla his messa'e in opposition to the securit !arrier% As !oth )ma'es 9 an" , has

also !een altere" with an a""e" ima'e o$ a crane o$$erin' the 'irl more !alloons% The win' o$ the

crane is the Palestinian $la'% )t is as i$ the !ir" represents the a"ults o$ the Palestinian camps,

trin' to help their chil"ren see !eon" li$e !ehin" a wall% ?nce a'ain, there is an un"erlin'

messa'e o$ hope an" escape $or the $uture 'enerations%

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?ne o$ the most $amous o$ Ban(ss pieces is that o$ a oun' Palestinian 'irl $ris(in' an

)sraeli sol"ier )ma'e @5% His 'un is tosse" to the si"e as the 'irl, who is reminiscent o$ the 'irl

with the !alloons, pats the sol"ier "own% The iron an" implication ha#e a lastin' impact as

#iewers 'rapple with the messa'e o$ what it must !e li(e to !e constantl un"er scrutin in our

homelan"% Ban(s hi'hli'hts the $eelin's o$ humiliation an" "e'ra"ation the Palestinians must

un"er'o "ail% The innocence has !een strippe" $rom this 'irl, as she is con$ronte" with ha#in' to

'row up too .uic(l% Ban(s mana'es to e#o(e this a'ain with his paintin' o$ a "o#e in a $la(

ac(et in Bethlehem )ma'e 10, Parr 20115% The "o#e hol"s an oli#e !ranch in its mouth, with

crosshairs pointe" at its chest% ?nce a'ain, Ban(s contrasts the pure with the u'l truth o$ the

settlements% He seems to sa that the )sraeli 'o#ernment continues to $urther an chances o$

peace an" reconciliation with the Palestinians, who are "epicte" as "o#e+li(e #ictims% Ban(s

.uestions where the ustice in the pli'ht o$ the Palestinians lies%

The serious .uestions a!out ustice resonate elsewhere alon' the securit !arrier ! so

man "i$$erent artists% )n one ima'e )ma'e 115, a heart is crac(in' un"er the pressure o$ a

wrec(in' !all% The heart !rea(s as homes an" li#es are "estroe"% This picture is a re$erence to

the house "emolition or"ers en$orce" ! the )sraeli 'o#ernment Parr 20115% The cartoon+

nature o$ the !ull"o-er sets the )sraeli 'o#ernment up as a caricature, in a wa% The white pla.ue

painte" alon' with the picture rea"s 6)AH: 200>,7 an acronm $or 6)sraeli ommittee A'ainst

House :emolitions%7 These tones o$ a call $or ustice continue in )ma'e 12% E#er sin'le panel o$

this paintin' has a messa'e $or ustice an" hope% The center rea"s, with script painte" with the

Palestinian colors, 6ntil ustice rolls li(e water an" ri'hteousness li(e a mi'ht stream%7 Cer

clearl here are the si'ns o$ protest% ?ther wor(s mentione" ha#e hinte" at inustice an" ha#e

touche" on the ille'alit o$ the wall, !ut this ima'e is plainl in"icati#e o$ the "ri#e le$t in the

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Palestinian people $or the re+ac.uisition o$ their homelan"% The ri'ht si"e is e#en more

transparent% )t rea"s, 6The will not $orce us, the will stop "e'ra"in' us% The will not control

us% &e will !e #ictorious%7 ?!#iousl, the Palestinians ha#e not 'i#en up, nor is there an

in"ication that the will !e willin' to "o so an time soon% Alwas, there is an element o$ hope%

The !ottom o$ the wall has Ara!ic script that rou'hl translates to, 6*ot worth li#in' without

hope%7 But the !elie#e it is worth li#in', !ecause ultimatel their hope li#es on%

Perhaps some o$ the most pro#o(in' ima'es are those em!la-one" with the Palestinian

mantra, 6To exist is to resist7 )ma'es 1 an" 145% The messa'e coul" not !e more pronounce" or

power$ul% The simple existence o$ the Palestinian populace means the will $i'ht $or their

$ree"om, howe#er peace$ull an" silentl throu'h art% The han"s raise" in protest in )ma'e 14 are

li(e those with the chil"ren in )ma'e % The show peace, an" $i'ht, an" the call $or action% But

these han"s are chaine", li(e those o$ prisoners% Prisoners in their own lan", chaine" !ehin" an

ille'al wall% )ma'e 1 shows a woman whose hea" is wrappe" with a (e$$ieh% Her ees

penetrate onloo(ers% A simple remin"er resoun"sD these are real people with real li!erties !ein'

ta(en awa $rom them% Also stri(in', an" perhaps min"+!lowin', a!out this ima'e is the 3panish

text that accompanies it% The text rea"s rou'hl, 6;i#e $ree Palestine% :own with the wall o$ the

$ascists% ;i#e the E;*%7 The E;*, or Ercito apatista "e ;i!eraciGn *acional, !etter (nown

as the apatistas, are a le$tist re#olutionar 'roup !ase" in hiapas, Mexico% The securit !arrier

'arners international push!ac( that coul" not !e more pronounce" that throu'h the art "one on

the wall itsel$ ! outsi"e 'roups with no "irect tie to Palestine% )t seems that somehow, the whole

worl" is watchin'%

But has the worl" watchin' "one anthin' $or the Palestinian people/ )ma'e 19 seems to

point out otherwise% The ima'e shows a !la-in' $ire in the !ac('roun", an" two )sraeli sol"iers

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ta(in' a !lin"$ol"e" Palestinian man% This paintin', unli(e the others, portras the #iolence $ace"

! the Ara!s in Palestine% An" in the $ore'roun" o$ the mural is a "umpster la!ele" 6*7

surroun" ! piles o$ ru!!le, as i$ to .uestion what the nite" *ations, an" the worl" $or that

matter, ha#e actuall "one $or Palestine% ?n the le$t o$ the wall, the 'ra$$iti rea"s, 6&e cant li#e,

so we are waitin' $or "eath%7 A harrowin' realit $or so man o$ the Palestinian people% &here is

the international communit when Palestine nee"s them/

:espite all the sa"ness the wall portras, some protest the wall throu'h wr humor% For

example, )ma'e 1< shows the wall co#ere" with the wor"s 6TR;A;T:E;ETE%7 ?$ course,

this is a pla on the win"ows operatin' sstem stan"ar" o$ interruptin' a $unction% )n some cases,

this com!ination ser#es to re!oot a computer, or at the #er least !rin' up the tas( mana'er% The

meanin' spea(s $or itsel$D "elete an" en" the securit !arrier% ?ther instances o$ humor can !e

seen in )ma'e 1=, where the wall rea"s 6Ma(e hummus, not walls%7 &hile su!tle, it is e#i"ent

that the wall is #iewe" as a ri"iculous measure, i$ not outri'ht unust ! this artist% ?ther su!tle

an" twiste" $orms o$ humor ma(e an appearance in )ma'e 1>, where a re", pri-e winnin' ri!!on

a"orns the wall% &e almost expect an en"orsement $or the wall, until rea"in' the ri!!on re#eals

that it moc(s, 6&ith lo#e an" (isses% *othin' lasts $ore#er%7 )t is a po(e, a pro" at the )sraeli

'o#ernment + an outri'ht challen'e% )t exu"es a little smu'ness, as i$ patroni-in' a chil"%

The cnical come" "oes not stop there, thou'h% Althou'h crosse" throu'h with a !lue

line, )ma'e 1@ portras a 'reat, hu'e rhinoceros char'in' throu'h the wall an" !rea(in' throu'h%

He comes throu'h #ictorious with a challen'in' loo( upon him% The picture coul" almost !e

lau'ha!le, a rhino !rea(in' throu'h a wall to the other si"e% Then a'ain, ma!e it is not so

lau'ha!le a$ter all% The picture sm!oli-es, as others ha#e "one, that one "a the wall will come

"own% The sstematic oppression o$ the Palestinians will en", an" the will ha#e access to roam

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their lan"s $reel once more% The collapsin' o$ the wall rin's a'ain in )ma'e 20, where a man

points his $in'er into a crac( emanatin' throu'h the wall% )t is practicall li(e the man touche"

the wall an" cause" all the crac(s% The wall can !e so easil "emolishe"% All it ta(es is one push,

the press o$ a !utton in the mi""le o$ the silo% Throu'h the serious messa'e, the humor restores

itsel$ with the la!el o$ this 6chec(point%7 )ron pre#ails as the place to humiliate Palestinians

loo(s li(e a place where the Palestinians coul" reach their #ictor%

3o $ar, all the art has !een relati#el secular% Howe#er, there are arts that are reli'iousl

in$luence"% &hile not all Palestinians are Muslim, man o$ them are, an" as such erusalem

hol"s a 'reat pull% erusalem is the thir" holiest cit in )slam, an" a$ter the partition, the cits

meanin' has ta(en on a li$e o$ its own% entral to the Muslim Palestinian resistance is the

ren"erin' o$ the :ome o$ the Roc(% &ith this ima'e, the Palestinians claim Palestine as their

ri'ht$ul lan", at least in that the ha#e a ri'ht to call it their homelan"% The :ome o$ the Roc(

also ser#es as a sm!ol $or the closeness the Palestinians $eel $or erusalem, an" the sanctit o$

the site in the hearts o$ !elie#ers% Man times, the ima'e o$ the :ome o$ the Roc( in resistance

art can !e $oun" in the re$u'ee camps% For instance, )ma'e 21 was $oun" in the Bour Al+

Baraneh Palestinian camp in Beirut, ;e!anon% The paintin' shows the Palestinian $la' in the

!ac('roun" an" a han" 'raspin' the :ome o$ the Roc( in the $ore'roun"% 3imilarl, )ma'e 22

$rom a re$u'ee camp in the &est Ban( shows the :ome o$ the Roc(, !ut with more "etail% The

picture is surroun"e" ! a church in the !ac(, oli#e !ranches, tents, a ma'ni$in' 'lass, a

crum!lin' !arrier, an" a (e "esperatel clutche" ! two han"s% The cit o$ erusalem is

important to the hristians an" Muslims o$ Palestine, an" et the are still (ept awa% &e are

$orce" to scrutini-e the li$e o$ the Palestinians throu'h the ma'ni$in' 'lass% The are $orci!l

separate" $rom their homes, sent to li#e in the tents o$ re$u'ee camps% All the ha#e le$t are the

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Bi!lio'raph

Ban(s% )nter#iew ! The Independent% 6Ban(sD A Juerilla in ?ur Mi"st,7 Au'ust

to resist is to exist

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