Week 6: Collage Self Portrait

Mirzoeff textbook, How to See the World 

“the police version of history" 

    The quote suggests that people tend to develop their own worldview based on their experiences and knowledge. This worldview is shaped by the information they receive from institutions such as the government, media, and educational institutions. However, the quote also suggests that these institutions can present a narrow, biased perspective of events and history. The term "the police version of history" refers to a sanitized and controlled version of history that is designed to maintain the status quo and prevent people from questioning authority or the established order. The quote implies that people often choose to rely on this limited perspective provided by institutions and do not question it. This can result in a lack of awareness or understanding of the full picture, including the negative aspects of society or events. The quote encourages people to challenge the narrative presented by institutions and seek a more comprehensive understanding of the world. This requires questioning authority and being willing to explore alternative viewpoints and information sources. It suggests that there is often more to see and learn than what we are told, and that it is up to individuals to seek out the truth rather than relying solely on the authorities to deal with situations.

"All media are social media. We use them to depict ourselves to others." 

    The quote suggests that all forms of media, whether traditional or digital, are essentially social in nature because they involve people sharing information and expressing themselves to others. The media is not just a means of disseminating information or entertainment, but a way for individuals to present themselves and their ideas to a wider audience. The quote implies that individuals use different forms of media to create and maintain their social identities, whether that be through posting photos on Instagram, sharing opinions on Twitter, or writing blog posts. These actions serve as a means of self-expression, and also as a way to connect with others who share similar interests or perspectives. The quote highlights how social media has transformed the media landscape, enabling anyone with an internet connection to create and distribute content to a global audience. It also underscores the importance of media literacy and critical thinking skills in understanding the messages conveyed through media and the impact they can have on our social identities and interactions. In summary, the quote suggests that all forms of media are fundamentally social in nature, and that we use them to construct and communicate our identities to others.

- Nowadays, people are frequently glued to their phones, leading them to feel disconnected from their surroundings. For many individuals, being separated from their phones can trigger feelings of anxiety and panic. Technological advancements have rapidly progressed in recent years, and it is likely that they will continue to do so in the future. Personally for me being on my phone stops my anxiety, by knowing if something were to happen help would be one call away.

Wangechi Mutu at Met 

"words that we haven't heard, people we haven't noticed. They will be our redemption"    

    The quote suggests that there may be untapped sources of wisdom and insight that can help us to overcome the challenges we face. The "words that we haven't heard" may refer to ideas, perspectives, or knowledge that we have not yet encountered. By being open to new information and viewpoints, we can broaden our understanding of the world and find solutions to problems that may have seemed insurmountable. Similarly, the "people we haven't noticed" may refer to individuals who have been marginalized or overlooked in some way. By recognizing the value and potential of these individuals, we can create a more inclusive and equitable society, and tap into the unique strengths and talents that they bring. Taken together, the quote suggests that by being open to new ideas and valuing the contributions of all individuals, we can find the solutions we need to overcome the challenges we face. By embracing these previously overlooked sources of wisdom and insight, we can find redemption and create a brighter future for ourselves and those around us.

"The one thing that's always missing - I think it's part of the trauma - is the personal element. My parents don't often talk about their experiences in terms of how it made them feel"    

    The quote suggests that those, who may have experienced trauma in the past, are not able or willing to discuss their experiences in a personal or emotional way. The "personal element" refers to the emotional impact that their experiences had on them as individuals, such as fear, sadness, or anger. By not discussing their experiences in this way, the speaker's parents may be suppressing their emotions or avoiding the pain of reliving traumatic events. The quote suggests that this reluctance to discuss personal feelings is a common characteristic of trauma. Trauma can be deeply distressing and overwhelming, and individuals who have experienced it may struggle to confront their emotions and discuss their experiences openly. Overall, the quote highlights the challenges of coping with trauma and the importance of providing emotional support and a safe space for individuals to process their experiences. By acknowledging and addressing the personal element of trauma, individuals can work towards healing and recovery.

Stitched

Stitched, Sasha Monserate 2023

Stitched, Sasha Monserate 2023

Annegret Soltau, Self Portrait

    Annegret Soltau, a German artist, creates collages that address explicit issues using photographs of her own face and body. She employs black thread stitching to add an imaginative touch to her artwork

    My collage is titled “Stitched”. The Annegret Soltau version is uncanny and aggressive. She shows unkempt eyebrows and crooked teeth and shoves it into the perspective. My interpretation of her work could go two ways, one way is giving society a big middle finger in the face as a “I will look the way I’d like to look” and my second take was  “this is all society sees me as”, because when people don’t look conventionally attractive, there is a trend where people will pick on someone for their different features to the point to where that’s all the person feels they are. For example from the show “iCarly” the doorman named Lewbert had a mole on his face and Carly and her friends treated him less of a person because they found his mole disgusting. When Lewbert got his mole removed Carly and her friends treated him 100 times better.

    For my work I took a selfie with a Bold makeup filter from TikTok and on the second layer I have pieces of my bare natural face stitched on top of the airbrushed filtered photo. I liked the uncanny feeling of Soltau’s work and I originally wanted to achieve that for my work, but the more I tried it I failed to recreate the same feeling she gave. I opted for a less aggressive version of her piece and I kept the stitching idea the same. 

    Social Media is a form of media, people choose to present themselves in certain ways and sometimes filters help a person achieve the way they wished to be percieved. Around 2016 Snapchat released filters on their selfie taking app, but the filters that were on Snapchat were funny playful filters like the dog filter and the rainbow throw up one. Now filters have been advanced to the point to where it can subtly change your facial features to be smaller or to have a full face of makeup on and it doesn’t look like a filter anymore, it looks real. When creating my piece I did feel a bit upset because I would line my natural features with the ones that have a filter over it and with my old unhealthy relationship with myself, I wished the filter was real.  The feeling amplified when I began to stitch my features to my work, it reminded me how people would “go under the knife” to change themselves. But in my version I'm covering the filter with myself, as much as I would like to have a filtered face 24/7, I am more than a filter. It is human to have eye bags, blemishes, facial marks and more is what makes us all unique. A filter is what its name is, it filters out your uniqueness, if everyone used the same filter we would all look the same. Looking different is great, it's what makes you you.