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| Selfie inspired by Shaun Leonardo: The Freedom to Move; "As I Am." |
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| Shaun Leonardo embracing male volunteer in untitled performance. |
Hey everyone!
Assuming everything goes right (but we all know how this school gets down), this will be my final semester at NJCU, fingers crossed! I am a Graphic Design major, though that title is not exclusive to what I love doing. Anything remotely related to creating is right up my alley. Absolutely love every aspect of sports, basketball in particular; my dad named me after Michael Jordan and thus I had no choice but to be a Chicago Bulls fan my entire life. Big Marvel fan as well, I shed ugly tears at the end of Logan, so I'm glad Hugh Jackman is returning. You'll more than likely catch me with my headphones on walking around campus.
This isn't a cop out answer, but I find inspiration in every and anything. However, if I had to choose one artist, it would have to be Brian Donnelly, known professionally as KAWS. Not only is he from my hometown, Jersey City, NJ, but his ability to branch out into different outlets of the creative world inspires me to do the same. There are so many talented people in the world, it can be difficult to narrow down the list of those who inspire you. I'm at a point now where I want to understand people's "why?" Why do you do what you do, create what you create, what gets you going, etc. It was a breath of fresh air to watch these videos on ART21 and dig deep into the artist's philosophical motives, understanding that the art will take care of itself. If there was a major takeaway from the assignment that I could summarize to everyone, it is to confide in yourself and pursue what makes you happy. If you like it, I love it.
The selfie you see above is inspired by the work of Shaun Leonardo. Although he primarily focuses on performance art, it is the philosophies that are attached to the bodies of work that struck my interest. Leonardo emphasizes the importance of empathy and expressing your emotions, specifically targeted towards men. There is this social stigma that a man isn't allowed to be vulnerable, or show any signs of weakness; constrain the idea of masculinity to portray this "macho man" act amongst themselves and to the world that is disingenuous. In the portrait that I have created, the sense of embracement and comfort within oneself was the focal point. Once a man is able come to terms that it's okay to not only be themselves, but to also wear their heart on their sleeves, is when we can come together and promote healthier mental lifestyles. It will never be my intention to compromise my character, as I will continue to unapologetically be me, hence the comical overtone in the image.
Anyways, I look forward to having class with y'all, and good luck to those who are also participating in the BFA show this Spring along with myself!
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SUSAN SONTAG: ON PHOTOGRAPHY
"Finally, the most grandiose result of the photographic enterprise is to give us the sense that we can hold the whole world in our heads -- as an anthology of images."
As often as we use photography for artistic intentions, it can also play a role as a systematic storage of information and memories, where this idea of the "whole world" can be used in both literal and figurative context. Many times there are instances where we snap a picture of something relevant and save for future purposes as a way to solidify a moment or noun, refreshing our photographic memory on the subject. Similarly, the world can metaphorically mean our world, those of which including our family and loved ones, gathering a chronological series of images, past and present, to hold dearly forever.
"Photographed images do not seem to be statements about the world so much as pieces of it, miniatures of reality that anyone can make or acquire."
With the popularized concept of "photo dumping" taking over social media, more and more people are beginning to romanticize the world and the environments surrounding them. The greatest realization comes largely in part with the fact that, as the quote suggests, anyone can participate. It is through their eyes that we get to experience these moments in time, and the beauty of everyday life.
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