The Transformative Power of Creative Dissent

Abstract

T he Raging Grannies have crashed official receptions, parliamentary hearings, Canadian Armed Forces bases’ open houses, and meetings held by representatives of diverse levels of government to alert public opinion and authorities about environmental, peace, and social justice issues. With flair and style, they transform rage and powerlessness into humorous and creative protests. With the creation of the colorful, resistant, and seemingly enduring popular figure of the Raging Granny, some older women claim a public space of their own. They defy stereotypes and authorities alike with smiles, wit, daring, and imagination. In the Canadian Theatre Review , John Burns (1992) suggested that they “have reversed cultural expectations by empowering themselves within a society which belittles their experience and point of view” (21). Such a story of transformation requires attention: without stories of opposition, resistance, and transformation, we internalize patriarchy’s ideology and pass its rules to the following generation (Lerner, 1997: 207–8). These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

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