Discussion Two
April 2, 2006
1st hour:
Equality discussion: open sharing of everyone’s weekly experiences. The idea of hypocrisy is brought up alongside the question, are women more idealistic? Or are we more idealistic, which would be paving the pathways for the future.
Discussion of the film: V for Vendetta (revolutionary of a corrupt government |system that acts as its countries own terrorist (commenting the current state of America). Vendetta is for a woman in a lesbian relationship that leaves behind an autobiography on a toilet paper; V finds this and creates a Vendetta for her.
Judgment/categorization: barometer of equality, more women applications, so statistically, programs are becoming more competitive. Who gathers statistics?
Privilege: benefiting the few and marginalizing/discriminating ‘others’ – who are these “others� What otherness is inside you? How do you juggle, relate to, understand, give voice to, this otherness? Is it silent? How or in what ways does it speak?
Otherness: the location and identification of otherness. Those that are not like you… Question: how do you treat people who are different from you? How do you make room for respect while juggling other reactions (xenophobia)?
Object of hypocrisy? For example, Doris holds up a women artist’s book and discusses how it feels good to have something caressed by gender. It is identified by gender…yet, allowing all differences beyond that to be a part of a history, a book, a group, and a movement. Is it a mode of self-protection or continuing marginalization? Are we just separate but equal? Should we blend? How might that happen?
Mentioned: Discrimination for wanting to be in an all female space; all female college. Receiving flack for being in an all female centered environment. Receiving flack for being in gender studies too. Empowerment through choice. Own representation*
Doris: Its very different when women exclude men and when men exclude women. Come up with the language and understanding that from the positions of the players, you are not talking about the same point of origin or where it meets.
Mentioned: a men’s group exists in Maine that is very nature-focused and allows men to bond in friendship. It would be great to let go of machismo. Men are very different and cannot be lumped into a category either. A struggle of their own feminism. Identification of “Queer.†A peer role; marginalized. Discussion of vagina monologues…Gay men as passing…A one up on other marginalized bodies?
Discussion: Not everyone can lead. People speak different languages! There is a reason why some things are popular, mainstream, and more convincing – language, representation, and acceptability (illusions). Switching positions – a battle – where are the soldiers? How are they identified? Perhaps we are all looking for our army and feeling discouraged (is it based on looks, representation, style)?
Point: Its good to recognize our own conditioning and be aware of the imperfection of humanity.
Mentioned: NBA directed | focused on urban youth. Images | icons that are not in alignment with reality. Forcing an already oppressed group into oppression; white corporate backing into creating an image AND identity for people of color/youth. Hyper-sexualized images vs. conservative expectations – oppression on top of oppression. Two expected roles – further marginalizes people of color and privileges the white “corporate | corporation†in power.
The media has dumbed us down! For real…Why are celebrities not allowed to be political? Why is that NOT attractive? Because it really is! How does that connection get made and drawn up, enacted, proactive?
Advertisements have changed a lot since the 1990s. How can we get youth to see beyond the media and physically become creators who challenge what they are spoon-fed? How do they become allowed to be active?
How do we affect education: In the space of teaching, create an understanding of “allowance.†To listen and to encourage! Allow them to feel that their ideas matter, that they can seek empowerment, that they must lead and not be followers to what they are spoon-fed. Everyone should be allowed to think for him or herself and not always feel that they have to play it safe. (The government keeps things “safe†and in “controlâ€).
2nd Hour (& critique):
Discussion of blog – privacies and availability. Notes from the discussion are to be kept private. Lock categories – a way to set “views.†Commenting + profiles…
1. 1st piece: Shipwrecks _ Ships _ Triptych
Photo: The Columbia that crashed onto the coast in 1898 off a website www.shipwrecks.com. Is looking for golden sailboat era ships that are sinking or on fire. Recreational; mass ships with sails that have decks that resemble class or social distinction; will go to museums (Newport) and the library. Will produce (eventually) 8†X 10†oil paintings. Artist wants to focus on these ships because of the hierarchy they employ, as well as the gender specificity of the crewmen. Artist is reading Horatio Hornblower and notices the specific language the crewmen deploy. Juxtaposes Kara Walker’s work on water with the ship | crewmen icon. For the artist, the ship is a symbol of engineering ingenuity of knowing how to allow nature to make travel work across sea. A symbol of power, mastery, inquisitiveness, trust, and navigation; as well as knowledge of time, the stars, of purpose, and calculation. The captain controls the ship and the men/his crew. The ship must operate, even amongst its own politics. In situations of war, news from the shore – does it arrive these mini societies on the water and give adequate information of allies and purpose? Whose laws do they follow on the sea? Is this a symbol for politics, for individuals, for activism? The paintings evoke a society that breaks; that something catastrophic happens. Therefore, what’s next? What happens to that leadership, that society, that kingdom, that legacy (under those extremes)? Is something that powerful and knowledgeable, actually more fragile, vulnerable and breakable?
2. 2nd piece: Life Size Canvas _ Triptych_Nude female
Attempting to work against “the pretty†and more naturalistic (against objectification). Wants figure to evoke empowered as opposed to disempowered or shamed. Artist enjoys skin and wants to work with hyper-realizing skin (for example, veins). Intention is important…Wants the figures to look off balanced, suspended, to create tension and confusion in the viewer as to cause + effect. (re: Robert Longo: comments on middle management, suited figures). Idea of women having to balance, choose, make our way while juggling so many issues, struggles, and questioning. The artist wants to push how there is a fine line between disgust and passion, especially for activists, because disgust is, by definition, a passionate experience. The artist is disgusted with the fact that women have such a difficult time to fully experience their power and potential due to the fractured, damaged self that society propels image after image, onto the world at large. Artist questions what an empowered female image is…Subject is the artist and representation is controlled by artist (ownership). Keeping one variable consistent: the nude artist.
3. 3rd Piece: Love Box | Name Project
People are eager to tell the artist about their love interests and stories, many of which are very sad. Each subjects approach is very different, yet they trust the artist with their submissions. Artist notices how subjects separate or differentiate between love interest and sexual partner, as well as the “rules†that are being shifted and created. People were concerned with doing it “right,†and wanted to have guidelines. Even in the open-ended project of love they wanted guidance and rules. Artist ends up being the observer to relationships and the real openness of one’s love (that is often not as truthful as one would think). Artist enjoys the uniqueness of each submission; receives many emails that have descriptions of the person while stating why they wanted to share the information (and not keep it inside). Artist ends up being a “nexus.†Realized she wanted one of the names to be her. Began questioning the project’s purpose and personal analysis |insight. Participants very protective of what will happen – what the result of the project will be. Has begun to think of what the project will end up looking like (final piece). Brainstormed columns and hanging the names on fishing line with a weight at the end so people could walk around them. Desires final project to be weightless, floating, subject to change, yet an occurrence. Who really knows who you love loves you back or if they love someone else? Idea: The state of love, desperation, and loneliness (or fear).
4. 4th Piece: Wonder Woman as a Little Girl
Changed projects: First recollection: Having worn a wonder woman training bra and panties. An older boy kicked her in the stomach and she was on the floor gasping for air. Artist wanted to re-hash the experience through a photo shoot. Purchased dolls and will paint a wonder woman outfit on their bodies. Wants to play with the dolls and play with their body image. Desires to be a part of the audience and place the dolls in arenas of empowerment and vulnerability. Artist never really played with dolls but realizes how they represent young women. Wanted dolls that don’t have sexual parts but taking their clothes off feels bad, guilty, and wrong. Wants the project not to be intrusive, but engaging in its own right. Several dolls re-done that break through a package: photograph. How would it feel to be in that position…Dolls associated with poverty (dollar store; creepy)? Very fake looking…but the project will change that. To question how things appear…
5. 5th Piece: Media Kit | Triptych
Three piece project enclosed by a lid with a light source that would emphasize iridescent qualities with a painted canvas backdrop (pained word); within the lid (or in the background) would be a word of wisdom | empowerment. Artist wants three pieces that are colored based on wonder woman’s outfit: sexuality, wisdom, and creativity | blue, red, white. Artist will re-visit her ideas throughout the week; desires to connect with other women and get a sense of what they view as empowering. Situated similarly with a perfume advertisement or photo shoot: 99% perspiration 1% inspiration. Programming a “poof†that would be time sensitive.
6. 6th Piece:
Some experiments with self portraits in bra. Technical issues to work out. Should play with positioning body and camera. Seems to work better when camera is held at arms length rather than on tripod. Tripod photos seem more voyeuristic. Originally thought of “mugshots,†new perspective opens to new opportunities. Much more nuanced positions and expressions can be achieved with these experiments. All agreed she does not look angry in the photos. Everyone thought her expression as honest and introspective.
7. 7th Piece: Photos
Temporarily abandoning comic book development. Exploring new ideas of a life size sculpture, or four-part painting. The group thought that her ambitious sculpture project might best be developed and explored for the purposes of this Wonder Women project as a small model or a series of drawings. Many issues seem to be complicating the process and progress. Will try to work with the group to complete a project for the exhibition that is still in keeping with original submission somehow. The group also suggested that she return to her original comic book and try to develop either a character or some sketches. Another place which was suggested for exploration was the idea of “skins†originally brought forth for the comic book character.
THESE CRITS KICKED-ASS !!!! Can’t wait to see all of your progress! Please post comments!
audio coming soon…………………………………………..
