Examining the role of formal education during some free time over the holidays, I came to a conclusion, be it a flexible conclusion, that the success of formal education is largely dependant on its external enhancements. In that light, I have come to the point of my life where there are a lot of educators— institutional and non-institutional ones—trying to cultivate a sense of socio-political awareness amongst students and faculty alike.

I consider myself lucky because educators who take on the role of ‘activist’ are a big part of my studies at OCAD. These professors constantly encourage students to confront the flaws in the socio-political global system without violating any intuitional rules. This type of education feels very real. In a healthy manner, it expands anyone’s views of the world.

Having lived in the United States for a few years, I have come to notice a clear distinction of what matters to students, in terms of education. Down south, public educational institutions don’t offer much of a discussion on social conflict. In Canada, on the other hand, education, culture, politics, human rights and social affairs in general, matter more to a larger number of the population – specifically a younger generation. This interest is reflected in the type of educators which I have come across during my studies at OCAD. There is a humanistic essence to the citizens of this country, which I personally feel lucky to be a part of and surrounded by. However, whether or not Canadians are actually proactive socially and politically is whole other blog. On a personal level –and I’m not proud to admit this- I am not very proactive.

Interestingly enough, Americans, at least the ones that are proactive ‘culture jammers’, seem keen(er) on constantly challenging the system. They stir up polemic issues for others. They make us aware of how politics affect our lives. In that same vein, most of us are fairly familiar with the intense work of Michael Moore. His documentaries and activist actions can be said to be part of a mainstream community. His work gets shown in theaters and culturally-aware TV channels locally and abroad. And although the lack of support by his compatriots is clearly visible, his work serves as inspiration and pedagogical material to viewers around the world.

The good news is that large-scale activism doesn’t stop with mainstream documentaries. The non-profit educational project by cats, The Pinky Show, also confronts the system by utilizing the Internet as a channel to expand ideas that challenge the narratives and agendas built into our current pedagogical structures. The Pinky Show’s main purpose is to tell fact-based historic events excluded from most textbooks used in predominant educational systems. In other words, their show is about uncovering the information, which before could only be found between the lines. They do it through a didactic ’talk show’ streamed on YouTube. Their episode “The IrakIraq War: Legal or Illegal?” holds over 2.2 million views. Not bad for this unauthorized educational project.

Yes, from an undisclosed place somewhere south of the border comes yet another eye-opener, truth-telling, educational project with an embedded message that cries: ‘Something can be done. We can make a change. We know the world can be a better place. Here is something to think about. Here are some solutions’.

Working on a D.I.Y. motto and “gently poking your brain with a stick”, the staff of The Pinky Show have come to Toronto spreading the show’s intellectual curiosity, openness and empathy. As part of that visit, the Toronto-based magazine FUSE features, in its latest issue, an interview with Pinky and Bunny from the Pinky Show. The content of the article, which deals with in-depth explanations of the educational programme of the project and beyond, could easily have been supported and elaborated upon during the panel discussion that The Pinky Show offered this past Saturday at the Toronto Free Gallery. Said gallery, located at 1277 Bloor Street West, houses an exhibition of illustrated banners that indeed ‘gently poke your brain’ through means of humorous images of a cat, the average Joe cat, and some key words and phrases. It is great to put a face to a project and a cartoon cat.

Another cool activist project running along those lines of humour is The Yes Men. This successful project has been around for a while, and I recently got to see their self-titled documentary. Like the people from The Pinky Show, some of my educators, Moore and many other precursors of change for a better world, I’d like to spread the word and encourage everyone to support and be involved because it is your world too.