Karina Cardenas
11/21/2018
The Persistence of History Vs.Body Image
Art can successfully convey a message that is able to touch global issues and connect the work itself. Artists aim to break rules and find unorthodox ways of approach contemporary issues to start thinking that may spark engagement and even action to make a different. Activism in art is more reliable than political activism because it can target any group not necessarily groups effected by the issues. Art can touch a person's senses, body, mind and connect a feeling that is larger than the actual piece of art. My project focuses on the importance of knowing about media literacy to understand the threats and show awareness on false perception of a woman's body image. Media effects everyone and it is not going to stop being consumed any less in the upcoming years which is why it is important to understand media since it consumes so much of our lives. The media has a driving force and it is to look pretty but, because the American media is only owned by six corporations. Who runs all six of these corporations? You guessed it... are owned by rich white straight male. If all our media is coming from one demographic, how does that affect narratives? We're taking in a whole lot of stereotypes and misinformation if were not questioning what we're watching. Media literacy enables people to analyze, evaluate, and create media in a variety of modes, genres, and forms-which is the answer. As a culture that does not spend a lot of time teaching young people how to decipher written word, but not nearly enough time teaching them how to read images which is literally all around us. As Nato Thompson States in
Seeing Power, " How we understand the world is shaped by how we experience it,".(Thompson 56). I want my audience to engage in the space I created to discuss this socio-cultural issue in order to influence the fashion, beauty, diet, media industries and government to stop the pressure that comes with the idea of conforming to impossible stereotypes for female and male. As Thompson further explains, "For if we consider ideas as space, then we can start working toward ethical spatial productions as the first step in producing good ideas."(Thompson 146)
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An example of a collage made in
Resistance to Beauty expectations of women |
My plan on creating an act of resistance is by making a collage using real advertisement pieces and creating my own image of what the media portrays of women and uploading them. My platform, Instagram is commonly known among many generations (even politics are on social media) so I found it to be the perfect spot to raise resistance against this issue as a socio-political space. Thompson emphasizes, "This emphasizes on space over time can lead to interest forms of resistance because it makes the composition of a city-and the way a movement engages in it through a critical lends for action.".(Thompson 163) Being able to notice and point out the influence of media through a critical lens allows individuals especially women, to be more aware, share their thoughts to create more resistance towards ending the influence of media and image. This reminded me of the world of the artists,
Michael Oatman from the exhibition,
The persistence of History. His painting
F(armed) 2016, includes different materials to form a collage and usually a different wooden framework that is not your usual four by four portrait. I found this to be interesting because he uses cut out material to make his own statement on a contemporary issue which allows the audience to be more critical when interpreting the image. The artists addresses issues on political, cultural signs and redemptive testimonies. By using collages he addresses the political message by mocking it in the space it lives in. This is the same technique I plan to pursue with my project. Also, the framework being uniquely different adds more of a twist to his work. Although it is just a framework the artist does it on purpose. I found this an interesting way to catch an individuals attention and reminded me of my own message on body image. Why must our qualities and judgement be based on our physical appearances and not for what we are about. We are teaching young girls that standard the ideal image of women media portrays is the ultimate goal in life but with examples in the world like Oatmans framework we are exposed to more diversity. My interpretation to this was it was odd at first, but I looked past that and it told had another message and meaning to me. Oatman didn't have to conform to the typical, usual like every other portrait that exists. Similarly, like all of us not having to conform to the one ideal beauty standards and expectations of women.
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| Michael Oatman (Farmed) 2016 |
Similarly, I found another piece at the Persistence of History exhibition that correlates to my project. The piece by, Nina Katchadourian correlates something that is commonly criticized by society as unnatural but a statement of resistance and makes it a natural thing by a simple photograph. Although her art work is more humorous and playful, she still touches bases on issues of that of cross dressing that is seen unnatural. However the caterpillars that she uses gives the message a humorous touch but at the same time the image becomes a natural transparency to cross dressing. In a very simple way she dresses as Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton a British explorer who is suppose to be brave manly giving that Patriarch idea a twist in her art. Her portrayal of herself as a man to address the judgment and stereotype wrapped around cross dressing is an act of resistance. Why should we have to conform what we want our image to look like because others and media say so? We should be able to feel, look and express ourselves however we want. We should be unpressed and open enough to feel free to look and accept how we look right ? But we arent and that is why I think Nina rocks for this. Similarly, I found this image that I felt presented a the negative matters in body image in our society, similarly like Nina's message something natural as the measuring tape that is associated with clothing and measurements is used to wrap around the waist of the barbie doll and is used in an unnatural way to present another message to the image.
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| The usage of the measuring tape is used in an unnatural way (around the waist) to bring awareness to the body image issue. |
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Self-Portrait as Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton,2002
Nina Katchadourian portraying the a natural touch to the "unnatural" stereotype of cross-dressing |
Lastly, the third piece of art I felt a connection with was the piece by
Juane Quick-to See Smith who explores Native American Identity and the destruction of their cultures, their oppression and marginalization. In the painting Trade Canoe The Dark Side she tells a Narrative of an army office (General George Armstone Custe)and a native a warrior (Tonoto) facing each other at different ends as seen below. There is a lot of symbolism in this painting, for example the complimentary tones of the sun reflecting in opposite direction of the darker shaded side which is facing the army officials. This portrait in itself is telling a story by which the army warrior represents the new world and innovations that took over the culture of the Native Americans that have civilized in the Americas for decades. This new world led a genocide that would decrease the population of the Native Americans to a small fraction of that, leaving the others to be the majority. In my own reflection, I see it as the people brought new items, innovations and a new way of living but there were consequences to this new world and brought a lot of negativity that is not very much spoke about. I saw my project in this, as these new devices and forms of media advertisement offer so much opportunity if used correctly but can also exist as a space to hurt any individuals, but especially the most vulnerable young girls and boys. Media has become such a part of our culture, as Nato Thomas quotes Lo Burnette, America's father of branding and advertising, "good advertising does not just circulate information. IT penetrated the public mind with desires and believe.". (Thompson 79) Media is consumed by advertisements and its just only one of the ways that young girls create a relationship to media. Nato continues by, "It is this relation of feeling and desire that is central to the advertising game-and it is also, ultimately, a producing of meaning. A brand's primary goal is to simple become one of the more regular part of ones given world. Liking the brand can come later. The true task is making the produce a part of consumers everyday exists.". (Nato79) Media is the system in which advertisements target young girls and it is everywhere effected girls almost every hour of the day. This is allowing a genocide of a on a whole generation of girls growing up thinking their image is their value. Making a girl feel like an object to beauty will create a whole generation of women who will have less confidence to take on leadership roles! This is a major problem that exist and is currently on its way there. By creating resistance and using art we are able to speak up and change ideal beauty standards, is not we may have a future of women with broken confidence. Like the painting Trade Canoe represents the chaos the new world brought I hope to bring awareness to the similar chaos media's influence has on girls.
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Trade Canoe: The Dark Side 2017-2018
Trade Canoe (General George Armstone Custe vs. Tonto) |
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