Professor Johnson Uses Power of Words to Educate, Entertain

GOLDEN GATE XPRESS -- Johnson, a professor of Communication Studies, and poet Rudy Francisco shared their poetry and perspective as performance artists during a night of spoken word and conversation in the Humanities Auditorium February 26. The event engaged in conversation centered on process, politics, performance and the role of the artist in the contemporary moment. “I think artists are poised, and even primed, to engage certain things from a perspective that people aren’t always ready to hear or didn’t see,” Johnson said. “Art plays an incredible role in moving us forward.” Johnson allots a short amount of time per day to write as a force of habit. He cites these exercises as a common practice among famed poets like Maya Angelou and Octavia Butler. “I think of the world in weird ways and I write it down,” Johnson said.