“How are you ageing today?” Art, activism and ageing

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the need to challenge ageism and to draw attention to how art, especially art activism, can challenge Ageism and bring about a new personal understanding of ageing.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is a summary of personal reflections by the author.

Findings

The pervasive, ageist, stereotypical attitudes developed at an early age and the possible means to challenge and transform thinking through Art.

Practical implications

Artist and Arts organisations, their commissioners and funders could consider focussing upon ageing across the life course and commission and create work which challenges thinking and the status quo on ageing, reflecting society’s adjustment to an Ageing society.

Social implications

Art and especially art activism could make a fundamental contribution to a raft of strategies to not only combat ageism but assist personal understanding of our ageing.

Originality/value

Currently there are relatively few artists and arts organisation focussing upon ageing across the life course. The paper states the view that such art activity could assist with new ways of understanding personal ageing and challenge ageist attitudes.

Citation

Martin, D.J. (2018), "“How are you ageing today?” Art, activism and ageing", Working with Older People, Vol. 22 No. 2, pp. 121-128. https://doi.org/10.1108/WWOP-09-2017-0027