Something every other political movement seems to understand is that in order to make effective political change, you need to induce a cultural shift. The gay rights movement didn’t succeed just by arguing the merits of marriage equality in an intellectual way. They created cultural memes that invoked emotions in people. They advocated for representation in the media in a way that would advance their cause. They made music and art that integrated them into the dominant culture.

Civil rights for black people was very similar. When you look at photos of black people in those marches, you’ll notice they were often dressed in their Sunday best. They knew that the image they projected would influence their cultural impact and therefore increase the likelihood of accomplishing their political goals.

The same can be said for feminists. They don’t just advocate for equity policies in government. They create feminist stories, like The Handmaid's Tale or The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, or Captain Marvel. It doesn’t matter if the story is good or bad, if it makes a profit or not, they keep trying until something sticks. The vast majority of feminist activism has nothing to do with gaining rights or changing policies. It’s creating memes, initiating cultural conversations and making art. The meme “I choose the bear” isn’t exactly legal activism, but as that idea gets internalized by the culture, it makes it easier for the feminist that come later to change legal frameworks that disenfranchise men because subconsciously people have accepted the idea that men are as dangerous as bears, partially as a result of the memes feminists create. Even their subreddit names often tell a story. Witches vs Patriarchy isn’t just a political movement, it’s an aesthetic.

What about our aesthetic? What about our story? What about our art? Sometimes I think that men tend to be so practical that we end up selling ourselves short. I often see men comment things like “There’s nothing we can do. Nothing will change, just wait for the collapse”. Since they aren’t lawyers, and can’t afford to be full time activists, they figure that there is nothing they can do to help. But I disagree. Create art. Make a meme. Write a short story. It doesn't have to be good, it just has to be honest. Then put it out there. I think that creating this type of art might be more effective in advancing men’s rights than political activism alone.

What sort of art would you like to make? Do you think this sub should allow more artistic posts, if they address men’s rights and struggles? What sort of aesthetic do you imagine the men’s rights movement having?

Edit: Formatting