Art as Protest in America
Angie Kidder
From the photography of the second wave of feminism in the 1970s to paintings spreading awareness about the AIDS crisis in the 1980s and 1990s, art as a form of protest has always been an integral part of American identity. Artists across the country have used mediums ranging from paint to performance to demand justice when words alone could not. Today, with major events like ICE raids and the erasing of thousands of government jobs under the Trump administration, a new generation of artists are turning their senses of creativity into confrontation.
One recent, notable example of protest against the Trump administration was the placement of a 12 foot, bronze statue of President Trump and Jefferey Epstein — a wealthy financier and convicted sex offender — holding hands with a plaque that said “Best Friends Forever.” on the National Mall in September This statue appeared after Trump’s failure to respond to the public about releasing the Epstein files, a promise that he made during his presidential campaign. Although the statue was shortly removed, it was later reinstalled in early October with a permit and a new plaque that said “Why Can’t we be Friends?”
This past June, the No Kings Movement took place — attracting artists nationwide to challenge what they saw as ‘authoritarian tendencies’ in the Trump administration. In New York City, a massive yellow banner reading “People Over Billionaires” was unfurled at a rally, symbolizing the frustration over growing wealth inequality. In Chicago, artists projected slogans such as “ICE is Domestic Terrorism” and “Trans Rights Are Human Rights” onto downtown skyscrapers. These messages transformed urban landscapes into megaphones of protest.
Because of its strong presence, protest art faces escalating challenges. Censorship, institutional resistance and fears of political backlash often limit where and how artists can share their work. Trump has also threatened student protesters and educational institutions, warning that schools which allow certain “illegal” protests could lose all federal funding, and that individuals — especially non-citizens — might face expulsion, imprisonment or even deportation.
Additionally, there is concern about ideological restrictions on public arts funding. New grants from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and Humanities now require compliance with executive orders that limit programs related to diversity, equity and inclusion, or what the administration has called “gender ideology.” Many have argued these moves function like censorship by limiting funding, threatening legal or immigration consequences, and trying to redefine what forms of expression are “legal” or “acceptable”.
Although these acts of censorship have harmed the messages of many artists, many view the act of pushing back itself as a statement. Ultimately, protest art endures because it does more than criticize; it inspires. By occupying physical and digital space, it reminds Americans that democracy depends not only on voting but also on imagination, creativity, and the courage to speak out. In moments of protest, art becomes more than expression; it becomes evidence of the human spirit refusing silence. It challenges apathy, sparks conversation, and gives voice to those who have been ignored.
Pending OCSA AI Policies
Ellie Choi
It’s the night before your final paper is due. Staring at a blank page, you have no intro, no outline, no idea how to get started. You could stay up all night, typing feverishly until the sun rises. Or…you could open up ChatGPT. A carefully worded instruction and you’re one click away from a full-length, decently written paper. The hard part is no longer writing the essay; rather, it’s fighting the temptation not to use artificial intelligence.
When ChatGPT entered the scene in 2022, most teachers banned its use. Now, three years later, AI tools are inescapable, and the technology has evolved faster than school policies can keep up. OCSA’s 2025-2026 Student Parent Handbook specifically prohibits plagiarism through the “unauthorized use of artificial intelligence platforms,” which constitutes a violation of the academic honor code. The consequences can include loss of credit on assignments, suspension, or dismissal from leadership positions at OCSA.
Other than this reference to the “unauthorized" use of AI in the Handbook, OCSA has not published a separate AI policy that provides more nuanced guidance. Could there be circumstances where AI would be “authorized,” perhaps even appropriate? An outright ban on the use of AI in schools has become a lot more complicated to enforce as AI tools are everywhere, embedded in social media feeds, search engine results, Grammarly, Quizlet and Microsoft email and word processing applications.
Moreover, some students consider these AI tools to be highly educational and productivity enhancing. An anonymous OCSA 11th grader said, “Obviously it can help you cheat if it’s doing your assignments for you, but it can also help you in ways that I think are fine, like creating quizlets and helping to understand complicated concepts. It can actually be a really good study tool.”
Certain uses of AI, like writing papers or completing your math homework, are clearly inappropriate. “Using AI, especially in Creative Writing or Lit and Comp, can be unethical–its plagiarism. It’s academic dishonesty,” said OCSA Creative Writing Instructor Missie Riojas.
However, other uses of AI are in the gray area. Teachers are beginning to acknowledge AI as the way of the future and recognize the need to help students use AI in a responsible manner. Riojas said, “I know that those supportive services can be really crucial for some students…I need to help guide you guys to use the supportive technology to do what it's designed to do: support you.”
The world outside OCSA seems to be moving in the direction of greater acceptance of AI, as 72 percent of teens already admit to using AI, according to Common Sense Media. California has recently passed a number of new AI education laws, including AB 2876, which requires AI literacy to be incorporated into math, science and history curriculum, and SB 1288, which establishes a working group to develop guidance for schools on safe AI use
The relevant question is no longer whether schools should allow AI but rather, how can schools help students use AI effectively and responsibly.
Riojas said, “Use it critically and be wise about it. Embracing it is not only helpful to you guys but it's more realistic. If you are serious about your art, and you use AI as a supportive service, it will make you a better artist.”
Lets Talk About Booktok
Sara Bradecich
I have been an avid TikTok user since 2020, and for most of that time I’ve had a lot of book content on my “for you” page. I’ve loved reading longer than I’ve had social media, but with social media I have been able to find a place online where I feel happy because I am able to see relatable videos, get great book recommendations and engage with content about my favorite books. However, as with almost all online spaces, there can be a lot of toxicity, and in BookTok it has become a big issue.
A big problem with books now is that many authors are writing stories that use tropes and stereotypes that are popular only because the best way to get your book out to a big audience is to have it trending on social media. This causes a lack of diversity in new books. Authors are no longer focused on making interesting plots and intriguing literature, they are more focused on writing books that they think will have a plot trendy enough to catch the eye of BookTok. Then you go to read one of these books and you find that they are a blatant copy of another popular series with different character names and slightly different plot points.
Another huge problem within literature today is the romanticization of abusive and misogynistic male characters, and labeling it as a “dark romance.” There is a popular controversy surrounding the genre with Colleen Hoover's book “It Ends With Us,” which in 2024 was made into a movie. The story follows Lily Bloom who is in an abusive relationship, and while she does not end up staying in the relationship, readers have expressed concerns because they believe that the book simplifies the complexities of the disturbing dynamic, and in the end the abuser does not face any consequences for his actions. This genre’s simplicities with main characters who are murderers or mafia bosses, glorify and normalize abusers. These types of books are all over BookTok and young people read them and are made to believe this is what relationships look like.
Furthermore, BookTok has created a competitive feeling within the community, making people feel like they absolutely need the newest book series because they don't want to fall behind. BookTok has coined many popular acronyms, one of them being TBR, meaning to be read, referring to whatever books someone has already bought or owns but has yet to read. BookTok creators online sometimes have TBR’s of over 100 books, and books are not cheap. This gives readers the feeling that they need the newest popular book and makes them care less about reading and more about being able to share the amount of books they have which can become very expensive, when it's free to get a book from the library. These expectations are placed on readers when reading should be a process that is individual to you, then later you can talk about your experience with a book without receiving hate for having a different opinion on a book than someone.
Be A Goldfish
Sloane Adams
As high school students, we are constantly surrounded by chaos. Continuously overwhelmed, overstimulated and overworked every time we step on campus. Piles of school work, long conservatory days and extracurricular activities flood our minds, while we attempt to maintain a social life. Seems impossible, right? Maybe it is or maybe it’s not, but regardless, we need to shift our mindset and look at life from a different perspective.
Be a goldfish. Choose to embrace the mentality of the household pet. I am referring to the fact that goldfish don’t have the most impressive recollection. As they are swimming through their watery surroundings, they forget, forget and forget. These little fish are never worried about the past or future; they remain present. Their minds stand free of all stress, anxiety and anger experienced throughout life. No weight carried on their back. No tears of exhaustion. The struggle to get up every morning doesn’t exist.
Be a goldfish. It’s definitely not simple. The complexity is unmatched as we attempt to rid ourselves of anxiousness. When a situation occurs that we are not proud or even embarrassed of, we tend to carry it as a burden. Every step we take the pressure increases, until we fully break down to pieces. Though our bones are fragile, they are not meant to break. Their strength represents our stability and balance.
Be a goldfish. Meaning we should learn from our mistakes, then let it go. Releasing our so-called flaws into the never-ending abyss leaves room for the endless possibilities coming our way. This leads to the next step, which would be fully immersing ourselves into our environment, just as goldfish do underwater. One way could simply be taking note of our senses. Every so often, it’s necessary for us to take a moment and smell the freshly cut grass, feel the ground beneath our feet, listen to our peers, and see everything all at once. Most importantly we must breathe, and fill our lungs with air.
Be a goldfish. Yes, letting go is difficult, but it allows for growth, change and reflection. We can’t take a step forward without leaving something behind. The goldfish is a valuable example of the courage it takes to stray away from what bothers us most. Our insecurities and errors should not be overlooked, but instead be utilized as an area of blossoming.
Be a goldfish. This mindset isn’t meant to stop history or erase the past. However, it does create space for the development of ideas, a fresh start, and a new chapter. Exactly as the goldfish, we must live life to the fullest with no regrets. Especially with finals around the corner, we can’t let our past grades or scores eat us alive. As high school students, we won’t allow the chaos of school to submerge us and not give us time to breathe. Because as humans, we don’t have gills.
Be a goldfish.