Week Three

     My work displays my struggle with identifying with who I am, do I follow American beauty standards or Asian beauty standards? Growing up I was raised in a very Americanized household, I didn't have anything holding me to my Asian roots. I didn't realize how much I lacked knowing who I was until I was older. I started struggling with beauty standards when social media was introduced to my life in middle school, I’d see beautiful girls in full glam makeup and cute outfits. I wanted to be like whatever I saw on my little phone screen even though I knew photo-altering programs like photoshop existed. I yearned to look like something that was unachievable without surgery. I got into watching youtube makeup artists, people like Jeffery Star, James Charles, Tati, and so many others who paved the way for makeup in the 2010s. With makeup they were able to alter their facial features to however they wanted them to be, and could also use makeup to even “paint” images on their face, it is art.

     “They understand her as a pioneer, a maverick and as a great artist,” speaks for anyone who had to create a platform in art and shared it with the world. That quote talks about a group of people who view Ana Mendieta as a trailblazer, an independent thinker, and a talented artist. Using words like "pioneer" and "maverick" suggests that Ana is seen as someone who breaks the mold, pushes boundaries, and creates something new and innovative. Using "great artist" implies that Ana is widely regarded as a highly skilled and talented artist within her field. Overall, the quote highlights the positive and high regard that others hold for Ana Mendieta. 

    That is how I view the people who opened up the makeup world to me, I was very shy before, and using makeup helped me gain self-confidence and not only did makeup teach me that, but learning from youtube makeup was also a form of art. “There’s a way in which her work is about performance,”  Ana Mendieta uses their work as a form of performance or display. This means that the work itself is being used to convey a message, entertain, or make an impact in some way. The work becomes an act or presentation, rather than just a static creation. The focus is on how the work is being received and experienced by others, rather than just the work itself. Makeup was always more than “just trying to be pretty” it is about being creative and showing the world how you wanted to be perceived. 

    I didn't have any issues with how I did my makeup until my grandma made a comment on it, “Sasha you would look so pretty if you looked like a Korean girl.” My grandma is a special person in my life and her comment had stuck with me since. I started looking into more “Asian-styled” makeup which differed from the American style from it being more softer and youthful. I’ve cried many nights because of this issue and I still continue to struggle with my identity. Asian Americans and Asians have two different beauty standards and I’m not sure where I fall. “It is a way of reclaiming my roots and becoming one with nature. Although the culture in which I live is part of me, my roots and cultural identity are a result of my Cuban heritage.” The quote is likely referring to the speaker's connection to their cultural heritage, specifically their Cuban roots. The speaker is expressing their desire to reconnect with their roots and to feel a sense of unity with nature. They view their cultural heritage as a fundamental part of their identity, despite the influence of their current culture. By reclaiming their roots, the speaker is striving to preserve and celebrate their cultural heritage. This connection to nature and their heritage is seen as a way of becoming whole, of discovering their true identity.

As Ana Mendieta did before, I hope to discover my true identity.

"Untitled" Sasha Monserate, 2023