Group 3 Summary

By: Karina, Sam, Alex

Feminism in Art

   For the group presentation we choose a theme that we felt was important to associate with the Guerilla Girls which was the readings for that week. The Guerilla Girls are resistance group that protest the inequality women have in the art world and in general. Their form of resistance included humorous but mocking tactic to target larger key issues among women.  However, my group decided to introduce the process of the resistance women had to go through up to where we are now a days with groups like Guerilla Girls that can approach it differently. We introduced feminism in a brief manner to allow the class to have some background when reading about Guerilla Girls. By presenting the different waves of feminism we allowed to present the difference types of resistance.

One of many examples of Guerrilla Girls

During the first wave of feminism had women fighting for basic civil rights, they were limited to owning property, executing wills or signing documents, voting in elections, refusing to have sex with their husbands, attending university, having legal custody of their children and even divorcing their husbands. The first group of women fighting for their right  believed in achieving change through parliamentary means and used lobbying techniques to persuade Members of Parliament sympathetic to their cause to raise the issue of women's suffrage in debate on the floor of the House. They were mocked and named suffragettes but ended up being the name for their resistance and who they were. Like the Guerilla Girls have been criticized for what they do, the suffragettes were ridiculed, and negativity talked and made fun of in media which was just newspapers at the time. The suffragettes were mocked because at the time it was widely feared that if women gained suffrage, it would begin to corrupt the patriarchal ideology of gender difference and the roles of the family within society. Similarly, guerilla girls do the same in presenting their argument they attack tradition of patriarch inthe museums that has existed for years and demand for change.

Example of propaganda against the Womens act in the first wave

  In the second wave of feminism, women of color, specially African American women were fighting for equality during the Civil Rights movement during the 50s and 60s. In this period, black women could not enter the same public spaces with white people such as schools, public transportation, interracial marriage and places of business. Another goal was to get rid of the workplace equality women were facing. During the 60s women were limited to housewife duties such as chores and and cleaning for majority of the week. In reference to the Guerilla Girls, a lot of women took parts in occupying public spaces. For days perhaps weeks at a time, a lot of women of all color protested and performed sit-ins where many of them would get arrested and sent to jail.

The most radical thing I found was the Sexual Revolution. A lot of women started to question their roles and revolted against it. Women are not obligated to find a husband, get married and have kids. In fact, feminists argued that single women can have the same sexual desires as married woman and that they should have a place in society. A radical way to revolt was using the Birth Control Pill as it was introduced in the 60s. Taking the birth control pill is an act of defiance and shows that women are in control of their bodies and that men should never have a say in that.

Going into the topic of 3rd wave feminism, we discussed how feminism has currently been used in mass media, such as music and television. Positive women representation is something that has always been lacking in media. Similar to what the Guerilla Girls have fought for, Women usually need to be sexualized to be see in a grander light.

Women are seen for their bodies rather then heard for their thoughts. This is something that the Guerilla Girls have tried to fight against for awhile. 3rd wave feminism is arguably one of the most well known, solely because it was the time of mass communication with the internet so many different movements. The music industry began to get involved in the ‘independant women’ movement, because it was becoming more understood that women should be able to do whatever they please. Artists such as Beyonce, Gwen Stefani, Queen latifah, and Pink to name a few, became the voice to an entire generation of women and girls during the 90s to the mid 2000s. Media in television also began coming into the spotlight with bringing up feminist ideas in shows and movies but most notably animation.  

The spread of feminism and questions of a woman's place in society has now made its mark, although typically small, in mass media with not only music but animation as well. Shows like the Simpsons introduced the world to a new type of feminism with their characters like Lisa Simpson and Marge Simpson. Lisa gave an entire the generation the representation that girls are be smart too, the Simpsons also did not sexualize many of their female characters, keeping the playing field level. 3rd wave feminism began to give girls the courage to be themselves without being sexualied, to join groups such as S.T.E.M.

Please see attached for more information !

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1v0MguQ_T4Z3sN6Nvp1F6nb2T5LzPMyDn6kChQQQYcjI/edit#slide=id.p

Rosabi Pena Garcia
Activism and History Writing Assignment
12/14/18

Gaku Tsutaja uses reeds, branches, wire net, Spanish moss, wood, paper, clay, Indian ink, canvas cloth, net, and string to explores issues of national identity and the trauma of disaster. Her sculpture is called "The Project to Dismantle the Enola Gay." In her sculpture, the Hiroshima bomber, Enola Gay, is exorcised by flocks of parakeets. Tsutaja is of Japans decent and dedicated this piece to her country's trauma and suffering. She addresses this socio-political issue using parakeets because these birds are an invasive species in America and a metaphor for immigration in this piece. A plane is placed in the center (representing Enola Gay) as a net is hovering over him. The plane is surrounded and confined by gates. Around the gates are pictures of Hiroshima that serve as a reminder to Enola Gay. On the branches are hundreds of parakeets looking down at the plane. There are so many birds it almost looks like an invasion. This piece connects to my project in the sense of revenge. Tsutaja puts the bomber in the center of the piece. He is the one to blame and he is at fault for the tragedy. In my project I look institutional racism in higher education. Although there is not a particular person to blame, there is a group at fault, the ignorant population of white America. The cause for disparity in the education system traces back in history. From gentrification, blacks and hispanics were forced to live in these low-income areas because that was all that money could buy. The wages were low and many competing for jobs, did not get the job. In the sculpture, the parakeets would represent all minority students rising above watching the destruction of white America.

Roger Shimomura addresses sociopolitical issues related to ethnicity in his piece, "American Guardian." He spent two years of his early childhood inside a concentration camp located in Idaho. This was during World War II when the US held concentration camps for Japanese immigrants, including Japanese-Americans. The medium he used for his piece was lithography. He depicts his childhood inside these camps from the point of view of a guard. The guard's gun is pointed at a child riding his tricycle. The camps are surrounded in barbed wire with heavy clouds of smoke above the homes and guard towers making it hard to see. The sky looks dim and everyone else is inside their homes. It's a sad depiction of Shimomura's childhood, he wasn't able to enjoy the simple things. The US criminalized Japanese immigrants during World War II forcing them to lose several personal items and their homes. Even children were imprisoned in these camps, which wouldn't be tolerated today...until Donald Trump. This relates to my project in the aspect of isolation. The Japanese immigrants were isolated from the rest of the population and stripped from their person items and belongings. This refers back into history when slavery was the economic fuel. Although there weren't concentration camps for blacks, America successfully isolated the black population through the economy, justice system, education system, work, and politics. Institutionalized racism became a way for whites to oppress minorities without physically owning them. This art piece reminds me of the institutionalized racism that occurs in the US that many of white America don't notice or are to ignorant to notice. The clouds of smoke would represent their perspective being blocked and the guards represent white America pointing guns at the innocent child (minorities).

Nina Katchadourian uses humor and playful themes in her portraits. This self-portrait is called "Self-Portrait as Sir Ernest Shackleton." Katchadourian dresses as explorer Ernest Shackleton with a full mustache. This looks like your ordinary mustache until you look closely for a better perspective. In fact these are real caterpillars! Getting them to stay still was a challenge, she uses honey to keep the caterpillars in one place. In seeing power, "Inside a space of becoming, there are transversal methods that allow for the capacity for a person to change." Katchadourian is doing something different, most artists would use this eccentric twist on a self-portrait. She has found her space of becoming, she is using different approaches, allowing for her work to change.

Activism and History

My project was based on representing the underrepresented in the dance community. Minorites are still struggling to get the same opportunities in the dance world as other Caucasian people. The gallery exhibition "Persistence of History" by Dr.Midori Yoshimoto contained works of art that taught different aspects of history/ self preservation. One of the projects that I really liked was "Self Portrait" by Nina Katchadourian, which displayed a picture of herself with caterpillars on her lip to signify a mustache. She explains that crossdressing often seems unnatural, but the caterpillars on her upper lip signify nature itself. This piece is satirical and it relates to my project because the roots from where dance came from, is from African/Caribbean culture. Why do Caucasians get to be the faces of professional dance companies when dance came from minorities and their culture?




    The next piece from the gallery that caught my attention was the "Trade Canoe: The Dark Side" by Jaune Quick to See Smith shows a canoe and a army officer on one side and a Native American warrior on the opposite side. The side where the Native American is seen, shows colorful schemes in the backround which represent their culture and peaceful way of life. The opposite side of the canoe is much darker and the colors seem like they are bleeding, which represents the mass murders that occurred during colonization by the English. Colonization has taken many lives and wiped away culture and history that can never be attained again. This piece is relevant to my project because dance is a way to represent a certain type of culture by their music and the way they move. That is why it is so important for minorities to be given the opportunity to express themselves and their culture.





    This last piece called "American Guardian" by Roger Shimomura shows a soldier watching over a concentration camp that interned Japanese Americans during World War II. The soldier seems to be looking over at a young child riding his/her bike around. The child is clearly harmless and so were the other thousands of people who were United States citizens and were placed into these camps. The artist was taken to one of these camps in his early years of childhood and tells his story through art and actual history. Minorities have to go through daily struggles by being judged incorrectly because of stereotypes, and this goes hand in hand with the message I am trying to spread with my project. These unfair treatments can grow into much more severe problems if we don't open our minds and stop judging people based on superficial information.

Chapter 3: Ready to Wear (Interventionists)

Kimberly Lamadieu

Professor Cacoilo

Art 263

December 12, 2018

                                                           Quotes

"YOMANGO lifestyle consists of shoplifting as a form of social disobedience and direct action against multinational corporation" (p. 76). "As a particular part of their struggle, YOMANGO promotes the tactics of illegality and in particular, stealing." This quote made me question why is this a movement and how did it start? I think this movement is for people who are not treated equally at work.To some this movement can only be seen as a way to shoplift and taking what they cannot afford. On the other hand, YOMANGO sees it as taking back what's theirs or returning it to the owner. I find YOMANGO's approach and purpose meaningful but risky.This reminds me of the documentary "Made in L.A." It's about three Latina immigrants with different stories to how and why they traveled to L.A, working in a sweatshop. The three women filed a lawsuit and boycott "Forever 21" for basic labor protections. The low pay and horrible conditions of working in a factory went on for years until they were finally heard. Lawsuits were distributed back and forth, and the women continued to bring people together and boycott "Forever 21" stores around the country. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtQ1qMuuL60

Final Project

Rosabi Pena Garcia
Final Project Presentation
Professor Cacoilo
12/05/18

Institutionalized Racism in Ivy Leagues

Institutionalized racism is a form of racism expressed in the practice of social and political institutions. It is also racism expressed in the practice of social and political issues. Education was always an important skill to have. My mom always pushed for me and my sister to do good in school. She taught us how to work hard for anything we wanted. If I ever wanted the latest phone, she always made me pay for a portion of it. And when I wanted to go out with friends, I had to finish whatever responsibilities that were at home. She wanted us to work hard to teach us the greatest lesson in life. Hard work really does pay off. I take this very lesson and apply it to different situations in life. I applied this lesson to school. I always made sure my sister and I were going to be set for college with no tuition to pay. When I was helping my sister apply to her dream schools I realized that it was going to takes more than hard work. But what if no matter how hard you worked the system was always against you because of your race. 

Columbia's Racial Makeup:

Yale's Racial Makeup:

Columbia University is a very diverse school for an ivy league. I was really impressed with the racial makeup in the school. After hosting several interviews with student, a lot of them shared common points. The lack of diversity within the faculty. Many of the interviewees shared the disappointment when a white professor would teach ethics and morals of people in the middle east when that professor hasn't experienced it first hand. Another point shared was the lack of supplies for low income students. Columbia enrolls a several low income students but don't supply them with the tools they need such as book vouchers or affordable/flexible meal plans. They are left behind their fellow classmates and struggles for supplies. About more than half of the school pay the tuition in full amount or close to it. These are usually upper middle class families that can afford the $80,000 tuition (per year). Theses students don't really have to worry about their next meal or how to pay for a book because they have a support system. 

This issue stems from the wealth gap in America which involves race. Since the beginning of slavery, America has been trying to oppress people of color. In every single fashion, whites have used different forms of slavery to ensure their hierarchy will not be affected. And that their image will not be tainted. Throughout history blacks and hispanics have been criminalized for minor charges or at times for no logical reason. Approximately 90% of inmates incarcerated haven't been given a trial. A majority of this population are black or hispanic and are too poor to get bail money. 

An author that connects to this issue would be Bell Hooks. In "Understanding Patriarchy", she writes "We cannot demand for men the right to be whole, to be givers and sustainers of life...they are imprisoned by a system that undermines their mental health." I applied this quote to my topic and looked at it from a different perspective. Society has imprisoned the minds of minorities. It has corrupted them into this ideology. Many minorities don't go into higher education because they were kept out and were threatened by white America. They are pushed out of their homes (gentrification) into poverty stricken areas and forced to go into poverty stricken schools. And that is all they had to work with. Ivy leagues were initially only made for white male America, minorities just started attending these schools. Although we have come a long way, they still much more to go.

I conducted interviews with minority students at Columbia University. In between photos I displayed different artworks and statistics on this topic.  I created a tumblr blog on this issue. I discuss racial demographics in different ivy leagues, the history behind it, current news, and lets viewers submit their experiences or thoughts. I also did a couple interviews with minority students attending Columbia University. They share their experience and hardships they deal with. I plan on continuing these interviews in different schools to see the differences and similarities. I also plan on endorsing the page more to receive different stories from students all over the country.

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/poisonedivyleague

References:

• https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-harvard-affirmative-action-20170806-story.html
• https://www.thenation.com/article/for-students-of-color-ivy-league-schools-have-a-long-way-to-go/
• https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/education-postsecondary/reports/2018/05/23/451186/neglected-college-race-gap-racial-disparities-among-college-completers/

Short Writing Assignment: Complaint

To whom it may concern:

Why are children being forced into marriage? Why aren't women being heard when reporting a form of violence? Children should be able to have a say in what their future will look like. There are children attempting and committing suicide. Setting themselves on fire to avoid punishment within the marriage. Are the children safe with whom they're marrying? I don't think so. What about education and having a childhood? Not to mention, females are not treated equally like males are. For years women have been limited, thanks to patriarchy. The least that could be done is hearing women out when speaking on issues that are life-threatening. No, victims of domestic violence cannot just deal with it. The violence, oppression, and inequality towards females must stop. If you do not do something about this issue, there will be protests and marches held. Also, if a male is reading this, please give this letter of complaint to a female. 

Sincerely,

An Advocate

Activism & History

For my project, I am discussing girls/women and violence. The issue I am focusing on is domestic violence, the different forms of violence and the root of it. It starts with oppression, inequality, and patriarchy. This topic is usually avoided and not acknowledged unless it involved murder. The art piece below is called, “Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil”, by Carly Stafford. You see there are three women with different ethnicities but experiencing the same issue. The first females to the left look scared and have a mark on her nose and bottom lip, the second female looks cornered and is blindfolded with a bruise on her cheek, and the last woman has been silenced with a black eye and a bruise on her neck. Domestic violence has become the norm in my opinion. It’s normal to abuse a female when they do not obey their partner. This is tearing away their rights as a human being. Women are not valued and their education is not seen as important. They are valued for how they look, not what they can do. How I plan to approach this issue is by raising awareness and suggestions on how to cope with the aftermath of violence.

Carly Stafford's piece, "Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil"

The Persistence of History consists of art pieces that teach aspects of history. The first piece I choose from the exhibition is the “Trade Canoe: The Dark Side” by Jaune Quick-to-See Smith. This piece shows two people with different ethnicities and backgrounds, General George Armstrong Custer and Tonto. In between the two you see the solar eclipse, a rainbow beam, bones and bodies of victims. The rainbow is shining on Tonto, and the solar eclipse is facing General George Armstrong Custer. Yet the mountain is much higher that is near General Custer than Tonto. From this piece I see bad versus good, lives and possibly animals that are caught in between the trade. The Native Americans identity are being taken away from them by force. This is a sign of oppression and the thirst of gaining more power by any means necessary. “We understand particular cultural references and we are in cahoots with a certain common sensibility that motivates our action. We gain a sense of how the game is played, and we play it well, for the purpose of gaining more power” (Thompson). It does not matter how power is achieved as long as it is obtained. Do you think power and violence are the same things? Power is used to make people obey, and those who do not have the ability to make people obey uses violence in order to gain power. People use this strategy for many things. “Power is thus not purely a financial situation, but one coded in the manner in which we speak, walk, and breathe" (Thompson).

Tade Canoe: The Dark Side

The second piece I choose from the exhibition is Christy Georg’s project called “Untitled (Sailor Saddle). In the description of her piece, it says she explores parallels between the sailor and the cowboy. Behind her piece, Christy Georg is said to be an experienced sailor, backpacker, and explorer. She is very adventurous and not your typical idea of what women should be doing with her time. I thought what society would think of her piece and character as a whole. Gender roles play a huge part in today’s world. “Time and again, I have seen the potent merger of art and activism transform people’s understanding of politics- and their relationship with the world” (Thompson). Gender stereotype has an effect on children, making them believe that appearance is much more important than achievements and character. Women are not limiting themselves anymore. They are not identifying and embedding the stereotypes that are made for them. Gender inequality is an ongoing issue people from around the world are experiencing. From women not having the right to vote to women and girls not having access to education. 

Untitled (Sailor Saddle)

The last piece I choose is by Nina Katchadourian. I liked the idea of how she used caterpillars as a mustache. To keep the caterpillars from crawling and roaming her face, she applied honey on her upper lip where the mustache was created. Another piece of hers, using caterpillars, that grabbed my attention is called, “Quit Using Us”. “Rather than telling people exactly what I think, the art experience becomes a platform for a dialogue, even if its solely an internal dialogue” (Interventionists). This piece spoke to me in a way that could advocate for females to speak out. Quit using gender roles to force identities upon people. Quit using oppression to have control. Quit embedding patriarchy upon others as if it is the correct way of living.

Self Portrait as Sir Ernest Shackleton

                                                                    Work Cited: 

• https://www.yourobserver.com/article/the-art-of-equality-embracing-our-differences-fills-sarasota-bayfront-with-art
• Friedman, Nick. “The Art of Equality: Embracing Our Differences Fills Sarasota Bayfront with Art | Arts and Entertainment.” Your Observer, Your Observer, 10 July 2017, www.yourobserver.com/article/the-art-of-equality-embracing-our-differences-fills-sarasota-bayfront-with-art
• Smith, Jaune. Trade Canoe: The Dark Side. 2017-2018. Canvas. Courtesy of the Lawrence Lithography Workshop, Kansas City.
• Georg, Christy. Untitled (sailor Saddle). 2016. Sculpture. 
• Katchadourian, Nina. Self-Portrait as Sir Ernest Shackleton. 2002. Chromogenic color print. Courtesy of DC Moore, Gallery New York.
• Nina Katchadourian, www.ninakatchadourian.com/uninvitedcollaborations/quitusingus.php.