The Archive of Modern Conflict presents The Great Refusal, Protesting 1948-1984

During the Christmas break I visited the Southbank Centre in London to check out The Great Refusal, Protesting 1948-1984 exhibition for inspiration for my COP essay which I was researching influential illustrations because of and in reaction to changing culture. I thought this was a very relevant exhibition to visit as it was packed full of the artwork, photography, posters and magazines used during times of revolt and protest and it came in many different forms for many different purposes including propaganda and instructions (regarding to what to do under nuclear attack).

In the aftermath of World War II, the spectre of atomic holocaust, coupled with profound changes in politics and society, brought about new forms of protest. In the West, these took on a distinctly existential and hedonistic flavour. Drugs, rioting, revolution and humour became the essential roots of the young generation.

The title of this exhibition pays homage to the notion of 'the Great Refusal', described in the 1960s by political philosopher Herbert Marcuse. Expressed in a variety of forms, this amounted to a widespread refusal to accept establishment values and 'things as they are' as well as social injustice. (There was a photograph of a trashed powerful political party members office which was used to evidence how his office got fixed and re-decorated within a matter of days whilst Britains poor were living in slums just like his trashed office without a moments consideration.)

As time has passed the nature of this refusal has become ever harder to explain. Where ethical issues ended and party time began in this era remain relatively unexplored territories.

It makes me reconsider what art is. This exhibition made me see it as an act of peaceful protest- instead of terrorism or reacting to something you have a passionate opinion about in a detrimental way- produce art and affect others opinions and aim to change the world through the power of silence and through the power of allowing people to use your art to trigger the change in their own opinion.