SPEAKERS’ PLATFORM
Concept of work ‘SPEAKERS’ PLATFORM’ is inspired by the protests that took place in Athens in the summer of 2011 across Syntagma (Constitution) Square.
The protesters, known as “disappointed citizens”, in line with those protesting at the Puerta Del Sol in Madrid, demanded the suspension of the austerity measures that were imposed by the IMF and the end of a corrupt political system that has been dominant in Greece after the Civil War.
Α mixed crowd comprising of students, pupils, intellectuals, business professionals and housewives that represented the full spectrum of political ideologies, from the extreme left to the extreme right, the “disappointed citizens” managed to raise their concerns and articulate their views on the need for a new model of participatory democracy. Some ideas were rejected while others were brought into immediate action. Although the majority of people viewed this as a potential for the creation of new sociopolitical alliances and the restructuring of social norms, it did not materialize into a new “condition” but rather, it remained an “unruly” burst of disappointment and anger. This was due to the fact that there were no leaders that could inspire a new, radical program of action. Furthermore, no attempt was made for some sort of dialogue with the members of Parliament, who in turn had been passively watching the events unfolding at the Square and their only input was to call the police forces to reinforce peace and order.
In this context, ‘SPEAKERS’ PLATFORM’ aims to demonstrate in a critical and often ironic manner, the utopic nature of such an initiative, but also the lack (elleima) of will in any attempt for political change through the extinction of social welfare and the antagonisms among different communities.
Dimitris Dokatzis
SPEAKERS’ PLATFORM
Concept of work ‘SPEAKERS’ PLATFORM’ is inspired by the protests that took place in Athens in the summer of 2011 across Syntagma (Constitution) Square.
The protesters, known as “disappointed citizens”, in line with those protesting at the Puerta Del Sol in Madrid, demanded the suspension of the austerity measures that were imposed by the IMF and the end of a corrupt political system that has been dominant in Greece after the Civil War.
Α mixed crowd comprising of students, pupils, intellectuals, business professionals and housewives that represented the full spectrum of political ideologies, from the extreme left to the extreme right, the “disappointed citizens” managed to raise their concerns and articulate their views on the need for a new model of participatory democracy. Some ideas were rejected while others were brought into immediate action. Although the majority of people viewed this as a potential for the creation of new sociopolitical alliances and the restructuring of social norms, it did not materialize into a new “condition” but rather, it remained an “unruly” burst of disappointment and anger. This was due to the fact that there were no leaders that could inspire a new, radical program of action. Furthermore, no attempt was made for some sort of dialogue with the members of Parliament, who in turn had been passively watching the events unfolding at the Square and their only input was to call the police forces to reinforce peace and order.
In this context, ‘SPEAKERS’ PLATFORM’ aims to demonstrate in a critical and often ironic manner, the utopic nature of such an initiative, but also the lack (elleima) of will in any attempt for political change through the extinction of social welfare and the antagonisms among different communities.
Dimitris Dokatzis