Radically Ridiculous Election Ideas – the Center for Artistic Activism

We’re teaming up with some of the best artistic activists we know to offer a free training in tactical frivolity and how to deploy it for the U.S. midterm elections this fall.

On September 8 from 7-8pm ET:

• Learn how tactical frivolity works
• Get inspired by radical and ridiculous campaigns that have made real change
• Dream up your own strategically ridiculous election interventions
• Remember that fighting for democracy can (and dare we say, must) be fun

• Doing election protection and voter turnout work this fall, including: leaders and staff at advocacy organizations, members of community groups, and individual organizers and artists
• Working in communities facing especially high challenges to voting
• Interested in bringing strategic humor, spectacle, and play into serious pro-voter work

This event is one part of our Radically Ridiculous Midterm Accelerator. Learn more about the full program here.

What is tactical frivolity?

Tactical frivolity* uses humor, absurdity, and play to ridicule power and move people to act against it. It’s tactical because it works: it gets tons of attention, it’s surprising and weird enough that the police state doesn’t know what to do with it (and so usually doesn’t use force against it), and it’s taken down authoritarian regimes around the world. You’ve probably seen it this year with the frogs and unicorns standing up to ICE. It made us laugh and kept us fighting, even against the biggest bullies.

The claims being made against the upcoming elections are just as absurd, and they demand all of our ridicule. Let’s make it tactical, too. Let’s laugh our way to safe elections, play ourselves into huge voter turnout numbers, and have the best time getting our country back on track.

(*People call this all kinds of things. Laughtivism, causeplay, serious play, tactical performance — pick your fave or make your own. We’re here for it all.)

How will this actually help the midterms?

We’re going big on spectacle because in this moment, it’s strategic.

One thing our friends at the ACLU have been thinking about is ICE at the polls. We don’t know if ICE or other bad actors will be there, but actual presence, fear of presence, or lies about ICE presence could all significantly depress turnout.

So what if we throw the most spectacular, visually-dynamic, and tactically frivolous parties by polling sites? This would totally shift the narrative around what’s happening at voting locations. The amazing visuals would spread through earned and social media, countering fear and changing narratives about what it means to vote in 2026. People would be reassured that it’s safe for them to go to the polls, and they would have so much more fun making their voices heard.

That’s just one example of how tactical frivolity can help this fall.

Trainers

L.M. Bogad, Senior Mentor of Electoral Tactical Performance

Award-winning artist, author of Tactical Performance, and famous dancing mailbox

Mark Kendall

Comedian and co-founder of CoolCoolCool Productions, whose work has appeared on Comedy Central, HBO, NPR, and more, and who’s fought for fair districts in the funniest of ways

Ian Madrigal

Activist, filmmaker, and creator of some of the most unforgettable political interventions of the last decade (aka Monopoly Man)