By: Andrea, Estefanie, Llesenia, Myura
As women of color we found our inspiration through our life experience and the differences we share with our siblings. We share the same parents yet our features/skin color vary from our siblings, whether or not we identify as mixed race. Colorism, being discriminated against due to the color of an individual's skin is an issue that can be connected to that of power. In some countries such as Africa and Latin America social status is directly connected to skin color. Allowing them more opportunities of privileges and wealth. Similarly, colorism serves as an oppressor that alienates people in our society and categorizes everyone in social groups. One of the results of colorism is treatment differentiation between people of different complexions. It can be argued that this prejudice not only happens in public social settings and through public interactions, but it is even experienced within the familial structure. Our work exemplifies the experiences of siblings within a family structure and their different treatment within their family based on their skin color. Often times, certain family members are favored and receive better treatment than others because they are of a lighter complexion. Although all members are from the same kinship, the ones with the lighter skin receive the best treatment because our society is structured to favor the skin complexion that is closest to the white.
This art piece is the embodiment of our (artists) internal feelings and struggles in a single canvas. We hope to not only increase awareness on certain issues but also to influence other individuals, through the art, in a way that leads to and fosters a greater understanding of these social and racial issues. With our art, we hope to bring awareness to these prejudice and racial biases that happen around the world, and experienced predominantly by people of mixed race. Our goal is not only to bring awareness but to remove this racial lense and appreciate our social and racial diversity and accept each other as human beings.
I appreciate the diversity and quantity of subjects you all photographed. There is a very straightforward message that focuses on the physical appearance of people and how it relates to being a race traitor. I think more elaboration on your technique of creating the art piece and why you chose to overlay the images with text could help strengthen the statement.
ReplyDeleteI like it how you guys integrated yourself into the photos. The artist state is good in explaining the photos too. Though I'm not sure whether this fits better in the Sacajawea and Pocahontas reading or colorism. As for improvement, it was kind of hard for me to read the writings in the picture.
ReplyDeleteI like how you showed different forms of mixed race individuals and the explanation in your statement of why you chose to do this photo. I thought it was a great idea to incorporate siblings of mixed race families because some siblings appear more dominant in one race than their other and it greatly affects how they're treated in society because of this Colorism. I don't think the statement needs improvement!
ReplyDeleteI thought that your artist statement went well with your artwork and did a great job of bringing about an issue that is quite relevant. It was interesting to read about how people within a single familial structure could get treated differently based on their skin tone. One thing that was missing in your artist statement might be the explanation behind the text you chose. Through my own interpretations, the text on the pictures didn't really match up with the statement since your group mentioned that "ones with lighter skin receive the best treatment" yet the text on the pictures seemed to explain ones with skin colors that are different from the norm for each ethnic group is treated with despise. But again, that is just my own interpretation; explaining the text in your statement would help.
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ReplyDeleteWe have looked at colorism as they pertained among different groups, but your group looked to a micro-lens and found a similar prejudice and discrimination with a compact group, families. The captions and images in your visual perfectly captures what your group was trying to achieve in your statement, and I am sure there are many out there who would agree with your claim. The dominant, white, culture established themselves so well at the top of multiple hierarchies that even the superficial things, skin color, finds it way to divide groups. There is no need to fix your statement, good job!
ReplyDeleteThe photo delivers the message of the artist statement effectively. However, the artist statement needs to critique and relate back to this week's readings. I wish the artists would include their reasons behind why they choose variation of fonts for each portrait.
ReplyDeleteIt is a great picture because you do portray the mixed race and the artist statement to back it up. I could see the artists statement with this picture, however I believe it could be a bit more creative. The first thing that came to mind looking at it was mixed race and not the theme of colorism.
ReplyDeleteI really like the concept of your piece and thought you did a good job describing how colorism affects us in different ways. Your artist statement did a good job explaining the piece, the only thing I would say is to give a title to your piece. But other than that I really like it.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate that the group focused on the issue of colorism between siblings. It is interesting that both siblings are still perceived as "lacking" of a race. I am just confused because in the statement stated that the lighter complexion are treated much better in society, but the captions on the images contradict the concept. "Not brown enough" and "Not black enough".
ReplyDeleteWhen I first saw your project, I immediately thought of the 100% Hapa Project, where Fulbeck also took portraits/ mug shots of mixed-race individuals but I like how you took a step further and added texts on top of each photograph to bring forward your message. However, I didn’t fully understand how the texts supported the idea of colorism mentioned in your artist statement. Other than that, great job!
ReplyDeleteI really love the idea that this project has brought to life. Yes, it is similar to the Hapa Project, but I particularly love how it plays on the idea of being "enough.
ReplyDelete" It relays the types of microagressions that many people face on a daily basis. The statement emphasizes these messages, great job!
The piece is very creative and interesting and shows how mixed race peoples as race traitors still continue to challenge the need for racial categories as a mainstream, hegemonic discipline.
ReplyDeleteI like the short text within each single photo, that created a general straight-forward meaning for the image as a whole. I definitely understood each of the labels of each set of pictures, which I would like to think is one main of the goals of the image; mixed race people feel these internal struggles and this was a good way to represent some of them and let it be known. I think my favorite part of the artist statement was the phrase "racial lense", which i think is a brilliant play on words and according to the topic of this week's topic.
ReplyDeleteAt first I was a little confused about how to read through the photos, but as I read the artist statement, I enjoyed the idea of how even within the family, the siblings could look different because of getting different part of gene. I like how you incorporate the 100% hapa project but at the same time putting interesting depth into it. The colorism affecting within the family can be a very interesting topic that we can discuss further. The art ties back well to the thesis, and I enjoyed the dark atmosphere of the piece. Great job!
ReplyDeleteThis is a innovative project to discuss how ideas of colorism exists and is internalized through many different cultures and how it can affect individuals within a family unit. I think the images could have been better quality though as many were unfocused and not uniformed. I also think a good title would help the project read better. Something like, "Siblings of a Feather Get Labeled Together."
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