What does "radical" mean to you?

[SaraMarie Bottaro]

Is being radical intrinsic to mail art, since it's a medium that's ephemeral and often dismissed?

What does radical mean to you? I'm working on a social justice publication startup and we would love to know!

Check out the Dancing Rabbits blog post here

I'm thinking of running a mail art call about this as well, that would have all entries featured on the Dancing Rabbits website too. Any thoughts?

[SaraMarie Bottaro]

Both great comments- thank you! 

[De Villo Sloan]

I think there is always a radical element in mail art in that it inherently runs counter to the art establishment of any given era. Major museums now offer shows and collect it, but it is still marginalized. The spirit is egalitarian, which some equate with being radical. The network offers an alternative culture that is participatory.

Mail art's roots in the avant garde (such as DaDa) are more complex. The avant garde is associated with revolution and radical challenges to dominant social orders and cultures. However, the avant garde now has a 150-year tradition and has been absorbed by the cultural institutions it claims to challenge. Fluxus is a perfect example. So the mail artists working in some aspect of the avant (still the majority I believe) are faced with a challenge.

On the most basic level, you still see mail art that is "political." Some mail art shows are built around political and social issues.