By: Angela Nguyen, Christine Lee, and Kurt Romero
Artist Statement:
In reading the book, “Passing” by Nella Larsen, we artists were fascinated by the idea that regardless of one’s heritage, looking a certain way is a privilege. Although the main character, Clare Kendry was biracial and was part Black, she was able to pass into the White society and marry a White man due to her Blond appearance. However, appearances are only privileges for a selected population of the mixed-race community. Through the theme of being able to ‘pass’ due the color of one’s skin, we realized that sometimes, skin pigmentation cannot be used to differentiate one race from another race. For example, in Europe, it is difficult to distinguish one European from another by just looking at their skin. Therefore, during times of conflict regarding race such as the Holocaust, ancestry was used to categorize the different ethnic groups. During the Holocaust, mixed-race Jews, known as Mischlinge, were privileged if they were no more than 50% Jewish. While the Germans created the Nuremberg Laws to ostracize the Jews, not much was done about the half-Jews, which allowed most to survive the tragic event.
For our artwork, we used Microsoft Word to design our playing card. We chose to include the two of hearts to symbolize mixed-marriages between two races. We wanted to use the poster of the racial policy of the Nuremberg Laws to show how the Nazis were able to categorize the Jews and partial Jews.
As artists, we wanted to highlight that physical appearance can be an ambiguous characteristic to determine one race from another at times. In looking at specific historical events like the Holocaust, it is important to recognize that certain parts of the world use different methods to segregate one race from another, which further leads to the different methods of ‘passing’.
I didn't know about the half-Jew. I guess I was too focus on an authentic Jew identity that I didn't really look into the complexity of mix race within the holocaust. It's nice that you brought in the readings and try to connect with what you are trying to deliver. How certain groups are more privilege than the other not because of the color of the skin but the group they are identified as. I also wonder about Executive Order 9066 when the Japanese were interned. What happen to those of mix race heritage?
ReplyDeleteA very interesting way of tying "Passing" to the Nuremberg trials. Colorism continues to be the factor in which people try to differentiate between certain groups. It has been ingrained into our society. However, I do think that the categorization your group spoke about relates more to the "One-drop Rule" rather than skin pigmentation. The visual on the card, a bit difficult to see, looks as if the Nazis genetics to categorize. I would have loved to have seen some other type of visual that presented what your group said in the statement, in addition to the poster. Overall, good job connecting the two events.
ReplyDeleteThrough the playing card and artist statement, the group raises awareness to how dictatorships and US laws record civilians' genetic date in order to subject them to discrimination and violence. However, the artist statement also needs to elaborate on the Nazis and US laws meticulously gained access to family records and documents that allowed them to categorize Jewish populations and African Americans. Through a more intellectually rigorous comparative approach, The group needs to do outside research on how intuitions and governments used social scientists and lawyers to create policies, mandatory reporting rituals, and laws that deter passing and remove loopholes to categorizations in Hitler's regime and in the US (during the setting of Larsen's novel Passing.) For instance, what advantages or "playing cards" could Jewish peoples use to escape the structural violence of categorization and Nuremberg laws in Hitler's regime?
ReplyDeleteThis art piece shows how the line that determines whether or not someone can "pass" is in-flux and depends on what the government is trying to achieve. Great job connecting these past events with the book Passing. The artist statement wonderfully supports the piece without restating what's already written on the playing card.
ReplyDeleteYour art piece gave a great visual representation of how mixed-race individuals historically have been categorized regardless of skin color. It was interesting how you tied the Nuremburg laws into the concept of mixed-race indivuals who decide to "pass".
ReplyDeleteI like that you connected this to the book Passing. The art piece is very simple but sophisticated. I can't see any immediate improvements -- interesting use of the Nuremberg trials.
ReplyDeleteI thought the piece was very original and great how it highlighted the inability to categorize mixed race people. The artist statement did a good job going into more detail about the card. Very cool and unique piece.
ReplyDeleteThe card piece clearly illustrate the graphic's history about how Nazi party decided different mixed race Jews gets different treatment. I personally thought it is very interesting since I thought there were not a lot of mixed race around that time due to closeness within the community. The card piece is informative and easy to read, and the artist statement clearly illustrates the purpose and inspiration of the work. I like how there is a comparison between the book Passing and the history in world war two. Overall great work!
ReplyDeleteI really like how you incorporated the book Passing into this piece. Although the book only mentions briefly about an African American who identifies as a Black Jew, this piece has elaborates on what "judging a book by its cover" has made a huge impact on race. No need for improvement great work!
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ReplyDeleteI think this is a very well thought-out piece. I specifically like how you chose the number 2 on your card to represent the mixing of two races. The artist statement did a good job of explaining everything with more details. No improvements needed. Great work!