Foreword
There are times when the connection between literature and activism
might not seem self-evident. Activist demonstrations are often vigorous and direct, concerned with change, improvement and the fulfilment of demands. The social impact of literature, on the other hand, can be less apparent at first glance: frequently associated with the written language, it is inscribed on a surface, still and long-lasting. Yet to only consider these dominant perspectives of both phenomena would not be doing justice to either. Activism is not only concerned with the short-term. It looks to disrupt the status quo in the search for a better present, and with it, a better future. And literature is not static, but in constant movement. It moves the minds and bodies of its readers both as individuals and as masses.