I am a no-nonsense hippie.

Practical and serious, and only interested in doing what is necessary or achieving what is intended, without silly ideas or methods.

But who decides what these societal issues are? Are the biggest societal issues in the Netherlands systematic oppression, gendered bathrooms, the patriarchy and evil white men? I don't think so. There are many issues facing the country that are worth our attention. The website of the Dutch Institute for Social Research (SCP) holds a list with some of these societal issues. They include poverty, immigration and public health. When asked about societal issues in the country, Dutch citizens mostly mentioned societal (dis)harmony, health care, the economy, but also immigration, integration and polarization. There are also issues surrounding crime, mental health and loneliness among elderly. An artist can play a role in finding creative solutions for these issues.

To learn how to do this, I chose to follow the social practice. But after the first class, it seemed as if the ‘social’ in social practice, stood for ‘social justice’. But what is ‘social justice’ though? What is and isn’t “just” ? How one answers that question depends on their politcal beliefs. Does social justice mean equality of opportunity, or do our teachers think equality of outcomes is just? We can all agree there is injustice in the Netherlands, but injustice is done to people of all colors, gender or age. Our system has all sorts of flaws and we should be free to criticize it, because it may contribute to a better society. But, we should have a large degree of gratitude, because we don’t have anything better to put in its place, and we should appreciate that we live better in the Netherlands than humans have lived in the history of our planet…there is just no other way to see it. One cannot pick a time and place in the history of the world where individual rights were better protected, where access to cutting-edge health care were provided to the lowest in society and where freedoms were so aggressively guaranteed. Also, when injustice occurs, the system or institution might not be the one to blame, or reflective of a large societal issue. Therefore, a solution might be found somewhere else. Blaming those who aren’t responsible, or intersectionality won’t help us find a solution to injustice. Instead, individual instances of racism, sexism, bigotry, or any form of injustice, should be called out and dealt with on an individual level. Not every injustice that is done is the fault of society at large or white men. We need to know specifically where injustice took place, so we can help those who are treated unjust, and blame those who are to blame. We need to speak up for those who can’t speak up for themselves and listen to those who feel unheard.

"The social practice focuses on art and design that impacts societal issues by designing or redesigning processes, interactions and relationships, and by involving participants or stakeholders in the design process."

Humankind

‘We are not isolated. As part of God’s creation, we belong to other people too. Ignoring our well being van leave negative impacts on people other than us too since we are all connected. There is a piece of divine in us since we are God’s creation.

Life is full of hurdles, disappointments and heartbreak. While some of us may fall victim to anger and resentment, most of us rise above it. We deserve kudos for continuing to live and fight. We need to sympathize with others and ourselves for the diverse challenges all of us face.'

Jordan B. Peterson
12 Rules for Life

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