Exploring Activist Art Studies: Enhancing Visual Literacy through Critical Engagement and Interpretation

Abstract

This study systematically examines activist art practices carried out between 2005 and 2023 within Critical Media Theory and Visual Culture Theory frameworks. Based on 58 articles, the research aims to analyse these practices' characteristic features and thematic focuses. The findings reveal that qualitative methods, particularly those based on content and discourse analysis, are predominantly employed; this indicates that contextual and interpretative approaches are emphasised in the studies. The frequent selection of middle and high school level individuals as sample groups aligns with theoretical emphases on developing critical awareness during the identity formation process. As a result of thematic analysis, three main themes were identified: social justice and character building, media and digital culture and cognitive-emotional-citizenship development. These themes reveal the transformative power of art in questioning social norms, analysing media representations and fostering awareness. This study contributes to the literature by holistically addressing the theoretical and methodological gaps in the field.