More Powerful Than A Whole Country Analysis

More Powerful Than a Whole Country
The documentary, Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry, encourages people to take risks at maintaining their individuality in an environment where nonconformity and freedom of expression provoke punishment. In the film, the renowned artist and activist, Ai Weiwei, advocates against the corrupt Chinese police and the ruthless Chinese government through his art. Despite his hardships, Weiwei remains dedicated to reinforce enlightenment and sentiment in fellow Chinese civilians.
Famous for painting the logo of Coca-Cola over a traditional Chinese vase and nonchalantly destroying a Han Dynasty urn, Weiwei characterizes a bold opponent to conformity. Such art expresses a need to be freed from the old world to pave the way for a new one. By destroying traditional pottery, Weiwei encourages a new perspective among young thinkers and artists that would influence them to strike against their abusive government. In reality, destroying a culturally significant vase is not as shocking as the government wiping out neighborhoods of migrants to construct its next big project over their homes. Moreover, modernizing pottery or breaking away from the past can connect with like-minded people who feel too restricted to boldly denounce society.
Several factors play into the
Furthermore, Smith believes the overall theme of Weiwei’s sculptures depicts “how to get people to appreciate that they are, or that they can be individuals” in a restrictive society like the one in China. Weiwei’s unique art not only criticizes the government, but also elevates the day-to-day Chinese citizen to the spotlight. Often neglected or mistreated by their government, Chinese civilians may feel trapped or unimportant, but Weiwei incorporates humor and controversy as well as multiple volunteers into the formation of his art to connect with a ragtag