‘Impassioned Destruction’: Exploring vandalism and property destruction as means of protest – The Huntington News
Impassioned Destruction, an exhibit at the Old State House, utilizes unconventional art styles and vibrant colors typically not associated with the 18th century to perpetuate the subject of property destruction. Impassioned Destruction: Politics, Vandalism and the Boston Tea Party presented by Revolutionary Spaces, dives into the contemporary relevance of disruptive activism through the lens of one of the United States most iconic acts of rebellion The Boston Tea Party.
On Dec. 16, 1773, the Sons of Liberty threw 340 crates of tea into the Boston Harbor as a means of protest against the British governments unfair taxation. The Boston Tea Party took nearly a century to disentangle itself from the ridiculed nature that embodied it at the time. Since then, Americans have utilized vandalism as a form of protest, with the modern day Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection being a notable example. The exhibit encourages visitors to reflect on instances of property destruction in relation to the Tea Party and ponder the justifiability of actions in the pursuit of a cause.
The bigger goal of Impassioned Destruction is to encourage people to think more broadly and critically about their own histories; we can be proud of America and American heritage while still not swallowing the mythology that created our founding, said Matthew Wilding, director of interpretation and education at Revolutionary Spaces.
The exhibit walks through the cause and effects of the Tea Party.
The core question Ive always had about The Boston Tea Party is why do people blanket celebrate it, when, if they are asked, they usually say property damage is bad, Wilding said.
As visitors progress through the interactive display, they confront the revelation; iconic figures of the American Revolution and United States history held opposing views on this celebrated act of protest.
The exhibit isnt always clear. Visitors see the Boston Tea Party and think I know this story; however, you continue through and realize George Washington and Benjamin Franklin were against the Tea Party, and it is interesting to think this huge event is celebrated, but these heroes that we have didnt like it, said Emily Yurkus, a visitor experience supervisor at Revolutionary Spaces.
Property destruction in the United States, exemplified by events like the Boston Tea Party, remains a tactic for protestors. Upon entrance, the visitors are met with the question: Do you believe that the participants of the Boston Tea Party were justified in destroying the tea on December 16, 1773?
On Jan. 14, the vote was yes.
One of the most interesting parts is to see how the different voting exhibits change. Most days it is some mixture, some days it is all yes and some days very rare days they have all been no, Yurkus said.
The exhibit explains in detail the amount of tea destroyed. With so much destruction, it took over a generation for this act to be turned into an origin story of the country. It was, after all, renamed the Boston Tea Party rather than The Destruction of the Tea.
In 1773, Parliament passed the Tea Act, a law which granted the British East India Company a monopoly on tea sales in the American colonies. This reaffirmed Parliaments power to tax the colonies without representation.
The Tea Party marked a notable chapter in Bostons history, and by comparing events in the other colonies, it becomes clear that Bostons response was exceptional in terms of its intensity.
This was an era where property destruction and mob life was part of Boston, said Malcolm Purinton, an assistant teaching professor of history at Northeastern.
About halfway through the exhibit, another voting station is placed with the question: Do you believe that participants of the Boston Tea Party were justified in destroying the tea on December 16, 1773? Despite being the same day and only a few feet from the prior voting station, this one was balanced with an equal number of participants voting yes and no.
In modern day, the Boston Tea Party is recognized as a proud uprising against a tyrannical government. In the exhibit, central figures vocalized it as inappropriate. Only after generations did the event become reimagined.
King George III viewed the destruction as an act of rebellion and in turn passed the Intolerable Acts, or Coercive Acts. This was a series of acts aimed to both assert control over the Massachusetts colony and punish Bostonians. The acts included the Boston Port Act, the Massachusetts Government Act, the Administration of Justice Act and the Quartering Act. Attempting to serve as a warning to other colonies, these acts ultimately became known as the Intolerable Acts due to their perceived infringement on liverities.
People always talk about the actual events, but you dont hear about them before or afterwards with the reactions and punishments from the British government, Yurkus said. The British government hit the colonists pretty hard with the Intolerable Acts because it literally closed the ports, and Boston is surrounded by water, so it is their way of life. In a way, it dissolves their colonial government; it goes from a little representation to none.
The exhibit also explores other instances of property destruction in the United States.
We have a pretty tight criteria for how we select the instances of property destruction, which [is] the main objective needed to be property destruction and not the killing of a person. The people involved need to have expressly said that they supported the property destruction, Wilding said. We tried to broaden the political spectrum. As you can see, the events go from a populist conservative movement to a far-left radical movement. Causes from labor movement, religious action and tax policy action were also covered.
Events mentioned include the Stamp Act Riot of 1765, the Ursuline Convent riots of 1834, the Reading Railroad Strike of 1877 and the Bombing of Gulf Tower of 1974, with the final incident being the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection.
As staff, before this came out, we knew Jan. 6 would be in here, and a lot of us expected the worst. We are talking about a celebrated moment in American history and then Jan. 6, which people have vastly different interpretations 0f, Yurkus said.
The exhibit ends with a chalkboard for visitors to share their thoughts. Yurkus said visitors use this to express their emotions.
At the end of the exhibit, the question was posed again: Do you believe that the participants of the Boston Tea Party were justified in destroying the tea on December 16, 1773?
It was a unanimous yes.
See the article here:
'Impassioned Destruction': Exploring vandalism and property destruction as means of protest - The Huntington News
- Clock Work Tea Party is releasing a new flower-scented thermal paste - The Verge - April 13th, 2024 [April 13th, 2024]
- Santa Monica Breakfast Club Hosts 8th Annual Mad Hatter Tea Party - SM Mirror - Santa Monica Mirror - April 13th, 2024 [April 13th, 2024]
- Payson Tea Party hosts five of the 10 council candidates - Payson Roundup - April 13th, 2024 [April 13th, 2024]
- Office Property: No Tea Party in Boston - National Review - April 13th, 2024 [April 13th, 2024]
- Rent A Tea Party Among 12 New Businesses Opening In Monroe - Patch - April 13th, 2024 [April 13th, 2024]
- 'Tea For Tea:' UConn's first-ever gathering of queer and transgender people of color - UConn Daily Campus - April 13th, 2024 [April 13th, 2024]
- Guests attend 7th annual Easter Bunny Tea Party in Columbiana - Shelby County Reporter - Shelby County Reporter - March 24th, 2024 [March 24th, 2024]
- Valentines Day theme tea party planned Saturday in Wausau - WSAW - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- United by Defiance | Introducing the "Boston Tea Party" kit - New England Revolution - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Party Pictures: The Third Annual Newbury Cup Tea Party and More - Boston magazine - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- First look: Revolution debut new 'Boston Tea Party' kits - The Boston Globe - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Chicopee Colleen hopefuls gather for Irish Tea party - WWLP.com - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- New England Revolution unveils new Boston Tea Party jersey - Yahoo News - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- From Glensfork at the TRH Tea Party on ColumbiaMagazine.com - Columbia Magazine - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Making the Tea Party work on ColumbiaMagazine.com - Columbia Magazine - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Tea Party at the Trabue Russell House on ColumbiaMagazine.com - Columbia Magazine - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Queen Elizabeth Insisted on Serving Joe Biden During Their Last Tea Party - Vanity Fair - January 24th, 2024 [January 24th, 2024]
- Participants announced, raffle & tea party added to Community Health Fair - The Manchester Mirror - January 24th, 2024 [January 24th, 2024]
- Governor candidates address local Tea Party | Elections | heraldbulletin.com - The Herald Bulletin - January 24th, 2024 [January 24th, 2024]
- Jill Biden Recalls Private Tea Party with Queen Elizabeth What Was Asked, What Was Shared - PEOPLE - January 24th, 2024 [January 24th, 2024]
- Targets $5 Tea Party Teapots Are Perfect for Galentines Day - Apartment Therapy - January 24th, 2024 [January 24th, 2024]
- 'Functioning Like Mouthpiece Of BJP, RSS': TN Congress To Boycott High-Tea Party Of Guv Ravi On Republic Day - ABP Live - January 24th, 2024 [January 24th, 2024]
- Breaking Baz: Mark Ruffalo Relishes Playing The Bad Guy In Poor Things And Says He Fantasizes About Meeting Up With Kate Winslet In The Brad Ingelsby... - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- Emily Blunt, Carey Mulligan and Tom Hiddleston bring the best of British to Hollywood for the BAFTA Tea Party - HELLO! - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- Stars Who Arrived at the 2024 BAFTA Tea Party: Photos - SheKnows - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- Emmy Parties: Quinta Brunson, Ayo Edebiri and Jeremy Allen White and His Mom (PHOTOS) - Variety - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- Winter Reindeer Tea Party the Good Witch of Salem - Destination Salem - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- PHOTOS: Inside the star-studded 2024 BAFTA Tea Party - New York Daily News - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- The Boston Tea Party Revenue and Beyond Boston University News Service - BU News Service - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- How to Host a Proper Tea Party It's Easier Than You Think! - Lancaster Farming - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- DAR Celebrates 96th Anniversary with Tea Party - The Wilkes Record - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- Brookman: Excessive taxes give rise to second coming of the Boston Tea Party - Calgary Herald - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- BAFTA Tea Party 2024: See Photos of More Than 100 Celebrities in Attendance! - Just Jared - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- After Donald Trump's Iowa Win, Former VA Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling (R) Plaintively Asks, whatever happened to the GOP I ... - Blue Virginia - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- All the Stars at the 2024 BAFTA Tea Party: Photos - Yahoo Singapore News - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- Watch 13 exclusive BAFTA Tea Party 2024 red carpet interviews: Rosamund Pike, Rhea Seehorn, Cara Jade Myers and more - Gold Derby - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- Dublin to Host Valentine's Tea Party | Community News | independentnews.com - Livermore Independent - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- Inside Hollywood's BAFTA Tea Party: Rosamund Pike, Emily Blunt, Greta Gerwig and More (Exclusive) - The Messenger - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- On The Scene At The 2024 BAFTA Tea Party - Haute Living - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- All the Stars at the 2024 BAFTA Tea Party: Photos - Yahoo News Australia - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- Kate Middleton's festive surprise! Moment the Princess of Wales surprises footballer, 13, at festive tea party - Daily Mail - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- Kate meets teenager and his football coach at surprise Christmas tea party - Yahoo News UK - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- Kate Middleton surprises adults working in childcare - and the kids they inspired - with a festive tea party i - Daily Mail - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- Make-A-Wish recipient takes part in Boston Tea Party reenactment - Boston.com - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- Princess Kate Looks So Festive in Her Favorite Holiday Cardigan At Surprise Christmas Party - Harper's BAZAAR - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- A look back at the Boston Tea Party - The Daily Iberian - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- What to keep and what to toss in how we view the Boston Tea Party - The Boston Globe - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- The 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party - Rochelle News Leader - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- Robert Rupp: A tea party 250 years ago (Opinion) - Charleston Gazette-Mail - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- 250 years later, Boston Tea Party offers business lessons - Providence Business News - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- Photos: Charleston celebrates 250th anniversary of 1776 Tea Party - The Post and Courier - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- America Museum sponsors reenactment of the Boston Tea Party - Hartford Courant - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- Pride and Prejudice: Tea Party With Otsuka - The M-A Chronicle - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- Hundreds celebrate 250th anniversary of Boston Tea Party with reenactments of revolutionary protest - Fox News - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- The Yorktown Tea Party at 250 - WYDaily - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- DAR hosts event to commemorate 250th anniversary of Boston Tea Party - Madison County Journal - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- Susanna Dickinson Chapter celebrates the Boston Tea Party - La Vernia News - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- Opinion British moves that spurred Tea Party left interesting 'what-ifs' for historians | Dorchester Reporter - Dorchester Reporter - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- America 250 Celebrates the 250th Anniversary of the Boston Tea Party - MDJOnline.com - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- Moment Princess of Wales surprises teenager at festive tea party - MSN - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- Let Them Drink Tea! | Clubs & Organizations | coastalbreezenews.com - coastalbreezenews.com - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- The Boston Tea Party turns 250 - The Boston Globe - November 5th, 2023 [November 5th, 2023]
- What happened to the Tea Party? | Letters To Editor ... - Payson Roundup - November 5th, 2023 [November 5th, 2023]
- Christmas Tea Party at The Ranch at Lake Sonoma! - Community Voice - November 5th, 2023 [November 5th, 2023]
- Edenton kicks off Tea Party anniversary at St. Paul's - The Daily Advance - November 5th, 2023 [November 5th, 2023]
- Adaland Mansion sponsors Holiday Tea Party | Grafton News ... - WV News - November 5th, 2023 [November 5th, 2023]
- Ex-Leader of La Crosse Tea Party Faces Trial for Hit and Run | Crime - News8000.com - WKBT - November 5th, 2023 [November 5th, 2023]
- Littwin: Ken Buck had his pick of good reasons to give up his House ... - The Colorado Sun - November 5th, 2023 [November 5th, 2023]
- Recusals lead to New Ipswich ZBA postponing Silver Scone appeal - Monadnock Ledger Transcript - November 5th, 2023 [November 5th, 2023]
- Community calendar - Nov. 4 - The Republic - November 5th, 2023 [November 5th, 2023]
- Hereward Community Rail Partnership 10th anniversary party - Cambs Times - November 5th, 2023 [November 5th, 2023]
- Silverthorn's High Tea Society: A Celebration of Community and ... - Hernando Sun - October 30th, 2023 [October 30th, 2023]
- Why it's boom time for bubble tea - World Coffee Portal - October 30th, 2023 [October 30th, 2023]
- Rise of the rank-and-file: How Johnson's speakership empowers non-leadership, conservative wing of GOP - Yahoo News - October 30th, 2023 [October 30th, 2023]
- Angel helps those in addiction recovery | Life | hpenews.com - High Point Enterprise - October 30th, 2023 [October 30th, 2023]
- No re-creation without representation: Boston Tea Party gets Brazos ... - The Baylor Lariat - October 23rd, 2023 [October 23rd, 2023]
- Tea Party to meet Oct. 26 - Fountain Hills Times - October 23rd, 2023 [October 23rd, 2023]
- Welcome to Clinical Congress 2023 | ACS - American College of Surgeons - October 23rd, 2023 [October 23rd, 2023]
- Did Mitt Romney Save His Soul? - The New Yorker - October 23rd, 2023 [October 23rd, 2023]
- Kevin McCarthy's Downfall Is the Culmination of the Tea Party - POLITICO - October 11th, 2023 [October 11th, 2023]
Tags: