Use the resource below and then submit your idea to get support!
“This sh*t is ridiculous!”
We’re guessing that’s a sentence you’ve yelled (out loud or just in your head) many times, in response to the many &#$!% things happening in our government and in our country.
But now, with the November elections nearly upon, we’re going to help you turn that scream into the void into a solid strategy for success, all through the magic of tactical frivolity.
What is tactical frivolity?
Tactical frivolity* uses humor, absurdity, and play to ridicule power and move people to act against it. It’s tactical because it works: it gets attention, confuses the opposition, and has taken down authoritarian regimes around the world. So we’re using its power to mobilize voters and protect elections this midterm cycle.
*People call this all kinds of things: laughtivism, causeplay, serious play, tactical performance — pick your fave or make your own. We’re here for it all.
Step 1: Identify the Basics
Clarify key goals, audiences, and opportunities
What is something in my community I want to change or impact? What specific outcome related to it do I want to achieve?
Whom am I trying to reach? What specific audience(s) or target(s) do I have?
What very specific thing do I want my audience(s) to do? This could be registering to vote, attending a voting event, reaching out to friends to vote, pledging to protect election results – anything related to the upcoming midterms.
How can I make taking the action I identified above as irresistible as possible? What are things I can do to make it easy to say yes and impossible to say no?
What symbolism or culture exists in my community that my audience knows? What’s something local, fun, and unique that I can use? What’s something the opposition is doing that my community knows and that I can poke at and make fun of? Is there a current news story that this could be attached to?
What resources do I have? Think beyond money! This can include a costume, a car, a bike, an instrument, a hidden talent…
What relevant contacts do I have? A member of the press, someone at a local radio station, a social media influencer, a staffer or organizer: someone usefully connected.
What are possible points of intervention? These could be spaces obviously connected to elections, spaces where the people I’m trying to reach tend to gather, or other key locations connected to my aims.
What’s the one piece of information I want someone to take away from my action? People will probably only hold on to one information tidbit: what’s the most important thing for them to know? How can I center it in my work? Or even better: what’s a narrative I can tell to help people learn it?
Step 2: Brainstorm Big
With the clarity gained through the questions above, brainstorm at least ten project ideas.
Don’t let your internal critic stand in your way: for now, let yourself dream really big, maybe even impossible, dreams!
Step 3: Hone and Heighten
Narrow down your options and take your ideas to the next level.
How can I make things more fun and funny? More joyous and inspiring? More countering of fear and apathy?
How can I make things simpler? Do I have three ideas when I need only one?
How can I do more to put my audience first? What do they need? What will really connect with them?
How can I heighten things to make them more ridiculous, memorable, surprising, strange, and impactful?
Now
You probably have some really great ideas! Help ensure success by drawing or acting out your action. You’ll learn so much and be able to get much more specific about what will happen, where people will be, how things will start, sustain, and end, and so much more.
Happy tactical frivolity-ing!
Don’t forget to apply for project support through our Radically Ridiculous Midterm Accelerator program, too!
This resource was made by The Center for Artistic Activism with L.M. Bogad and the Center for Tactical Performance, Mark Kendall and CoolCoolCool Productions, and Ian Madrigal. Get more resources here.