Activism and Agency Intertwined
Write a 1.5 pages up to 2 pages single-space final essay that brings 3 (you can do more if you wish) weekly themes together around the bigger theme of activism and agency. Make an original argument that ties them all together. To argue for something, you need to first argue against something. Activism is something we all admire (or denigrate) in society, but how is it tied to agency, the ability to shape one’s own life? Do people who have no/little agency have recourse to activism? Does activism deliver or provide much agency? Use themes and materials from the second part of quarter to discuss the activism/agency dyad. Theme 1: racism, sexualiTY, internationalism racism, sexualiTY, internationalism Use the reading “queering the color line within the color” Theme 2: Palestine, activism, geopolitics Use the reading “spirit in opposition” Theme 3: coloniality, authoritarianism, aesthetics Use the reading “Enmeshment aesthetics” USE QUOTES FROM THE 3 FILES OF THE READINGS THAT I ATTACHED. CITE PAGE NUMBERS AND CITE IN MLA FORMAT. DONT USE AI.
Activism and Agency Intertwined
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How is activism tied to agency—the ability to shape one’s own life?,
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Can people with little or no agency still engage in activism?,
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Does activism itself provide or deliver agency?,
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How do the themes of racism/sexuality/internationalism Palestine/activism/geopolitics and coloniality/authoritarianism/aesthetics connect to the activism–agency relationship?,
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What original argument can be made that ties these three themes together while addressing both the strengths and limits of activism?
Comprehensive Answers
1. How activism is tied to agency
Activism and agency are interconnected in that activism often represents the public expression of agency—the conscious decision to challenge, resist, or reform unjust systems. Agency refers to the capacity to act independently and make free choices. Activism translates that capacity into collective action, mobilizing individuals and communities to push for systemic change. However, this connection is not linear; agency can exist without activism, and activism can be carried out under severe constraints on personal autonomy.
2. Can people with little or no agency still engage in activism?
Yes. In fact, some of the most significant movements in history have been led by people whose agency was severely restricted—enslaved people resisting bondage, colonized populations organizing against imperial powers, and marginalized communities asserting rights denied to them. The reading Spirit in Opposition emphasizes that activism often arises from necessity rather than from a position of freedom. For example, Palestinian activists under occupation demonstrate that even when political, economic, and social agency are limited, acts of protest, cultural preservation, and international advocacy become vital forms of asserting presence and self-determination.
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