title: "Interview with Iara Lee: On Cultures of Resistance"
authors: ["nikomas.md", "Iara_Lee.md"]
tags: "Capital", "Crisis", "Iara Lee", "Cinema"
date: "01.12.22"
---
@ -35,7 +37,7 @@ Then in 2006, I was in Lebanon when it was struck by Israeli cluster bombs. That
But at the same time that my work has gotten more political, I actually don't like to make a big distinction between artistic and activist work. For me, what's interesting is how they're connected. That's why I'm always focused on creative resistance, how people are using art and creativity to make a difference. This is something I see all over the world. The individuals and groups that we work with at Cultures of Resistance really embody this principle. For so many of them, their art grows out of a desire to enact change within their communities. Their art brings them closer to the challenges faced by the people around them. And I believe that films that document how people face social challenges are not just political in nature. They can also be important works of culture—because hope is a form of culture.
*This kind of filmmaking is indeed a difficult pursuit, and it brings you into constant proximity with intense struggles and hardship. Almost 2 decades into this transition, you continue to work non-stop, so is it safe to say that you continue to find motivation to go on even though times are hard?*
*This kind of filmmaking is indeed a difficult pursuit, and it brings you into constant proximity with intense struggles and hardship. Almost 2 decades into this transition, you continue to work non-stop, so is it safe to say that you continue to find motivation to go on even though times are hard?*
When I spend time in the communities that are most impacted by issues of occupation, war, corruption, oppression, I'm always inspired to find people who are not content to be dispirited or pessimistic. Even in the most difficult conditions, there are people who are using their creativity to fight back against the tsunami of negative forces. These are people who are making music, art, dance, poetry, and film that takes on critical social issues. These are farmers, who are pushing back against corporate agribusiness by reviving models of agroecology. These are designers and agitators and people from all walks of life who are using whatever talents they have to promote a better future. This is tremendously inspiring to me, and it is what I try to document in my films. So I would say that putting myself into proximity with intense struggles actually ends up being a source of hope. It is when you stay removed and disengaged and only reading bad news that you open the door for despair and the cynical idea that one cannot do anything meaningful—at which point life just revolves around me me me.
@ -43,5 +45,3 @@ When I spend time in the communities that are most impacted by issues of occupat
*As a team starting our own creative political journey, we admire your continued determination, as it helps console us on one matter in particular. In the age of Capitalist Realism, it can often feel as though creative efforts are so easily undermined. Do you believe that our efforts as independent, political creatives can still affect change in the world?*
I believe that people should take action because they are motivated by their ethics and moral beliefs--and because they have a passion to protect values that are dear to them and to combat the injustice that they see everywhere. Sometimes, we might also be motivated by outrage, but I feel that this too ultimately comes from a place of passion and compassion. When I see art and other creative efforts that come from those places, I feel that it can be very uplifting. In terms of the impact we might have, it is there, but the tangible results may not happen within our lifetime. And yet, we must persevere as we think of next generations that will inherit the trees we plant seeds for. We must continue to be strategic and purposeful in promoting paradigm shifts. Many times a creative effort can send forth ripples that are only felt years later or continents away. People can take inspiration from artwork without the creator ever knowing it. I do believe we can affect change in the world, but the process is often indirect and intangible. We must focus on acting with integrity and empathy and creativity, with the faith that we can contribute to something positive, even if we never live to see the final results.
