Project Update

So far the progress I have made on my project is creating my tumblr to be more of a rant kind of page rather than just a place to go and look at stuff about universal health care.

https://healthcarerant.tumblr.com

I have updated the theme and added a different avatar while still getting my point across about why health care should be universal.  

Written Communication Post

Throughout this entire semester I learned about how everything in its own way is political.  We have come across many groups of artists or solo artists who get their point across in various ways.  Two of the biggest projects we covered this semester that caught my eye are privacy and homelessness.  

Privacy:

The Yes Men have a good take on privacy when they intervene with certain companies' presentations because they like for the truth to be revealed.  The Yes Men expose big companies on their unlawful business acts and get praise and hatred for it.  

Link to video just in case above does not work: Yes Men make their own New York Times Newspaper

Link to video just in case above does not work: Yes Men pretend to be Shell

Above the two videos show two examples of how the Yes Men work.  Whether they are impersonating a higher up person in a big corporation or creating a false newspaper they get themselves out there and blurt out the truth.  They are against privacy in the terms of major companies keeping secrets to gain profit, etc.

Another group who is involved in privacy aspects of things is the Surveillance Camera Players.   The SCP are a group of people who believe that surveillance cameras invade our privacy.  Their big thing is to say that "Big Brother is watching" just like the book 1984 written by George Orwell.  Basically meaning that the government is always  watching us no matter how much privacy we think we have in this world.   This group puts on a acts right in the main view of surveillance cameras to get their message across which is different than any other group we learned about.  

All about SCP 

Homelessness:

Michael Rakowitz and his "paraSITE" project is something you cannot ignore if you are walking on the street and happen to catch a glimpse of it.  It was an inflatable shelter for homeless people that was produced from plastic bags and tape and attached to air vents on buildings.  It is interesting to see people take such a stand on the issue of homelessness and make use of the HVAC system air in a positive way to benefit someone or a group of people.  

All of these activists prove their points with different types of mediums and that is what makes theme each unique.  Each work in their own way because people know about all three of these groups and their stand on certain topics.  While these are within the art world in some way, it varies from others because of how they do what they do.  They are not just creating posters, tweets, or motivational videos.  They go out and make something out of the group they have created.

Project Update

My project consist in creating posters that highlight the problem of mass incarceration and inequalities in the criminal justice system. Here are two posters I made.

Semester Project Update

I have already conducted a lot of the research and put some of that in my previous post about my project. For this week's post, I am presenting a work in progress of my "audio visualization" of how the Black Lives Matter music video will appear. The track, which has heavy influences from the famous rapper Drake, EDM producers Boombox Cartel, percussion heavy KRNE, distortion heavy rapper xxxtentacion (not a fan of his lyrics but his productions are sometimes quite creative), and more. Transcribing the track to words would make it lose some meaning, but I'll picture it for you before you listen to the song. It starts out with a dark pad commonly used in the style of some Drake songs with an eery piano playing high notes. It then transitions to violins and a repetitive riff of a glockenspiel, which gets an audience feeling a classical yet modern vibe. A siren goes off in the background, which would be seen better in the upcoming music video. The buildup is quite tense, leading into a drop with a main grimy synth popularized by EDM artists such as Quix and Boombox Cartel. Note that it is a work in progress, and I am open to all changes before making the final music video for the presentation.

Here is the link to the track.

Semester Project: The Homeless Cats Update

Check out my website! Share it!
Take the time to answer the questioner on the website.

The Homeless Cat

Presentation is on construction!

Transgender Bathrooms Final

Project Topic and Goals:
Inform the people as to what is happening currently the right way and interesting way raising awareness on a bill I deem as unfair and a step backward using surveys, facts, And web links to get information across and make informed decisions.

Tumblr

Qr Code Link




What is A Transgender?

People who identify as transgender or transsexual are usually people who are born with typical male or female anatomies but feel as though they’ve been born into the wrong body. They have many different ways of expressing this some change their clothing, hair, and name. Some ask others to change the way you address them like using he or her.Some even go all the way as to altering their bodies using hormones or surgery to alter how they look and feel. Its a lot more common than most people think. A recent study was done by William's institute which found that about 1.4 million in this country and about an average of about 100000 per state. 

What Are Transgender Bathrooms(Gender Neutral Bathrooms)?

Simply put is a bathroom than ANYONE can use no matter what gender you are or feel you are. These type of bathrooms vary in appearance to being a bathroom you can lock and occupy for yourself until your done or a bathroom with multiple stalls where anyone can enter and you're free of judgment because your with people who have accepted the idea.

Pros/Benefits

• People who are uncomfortable in men’s or women’s rooms for many reasons; for example, people who are not women or men and/or people who are gender nonconforming 
• Parents/caregivers whose children are a different gender from them
• People with caregivers or personal attendants who are a different gender from them

Cons

None

Trumps Wrong doings:

The Trump administration withdrew Obama-era protections for transgender students in public schools that let them use bathrooms and facilities corresponding with their gender identity. What seemed to be really good decision and convenience for all people was taken away. The steps that were taken by our government the trump administration is a step backward and an unnecessary one.They sent out a letter called  "Dear Colleague"  rescinding the guidance without offering a replacement.

As a strong advocate for freedom and peace, it angered me knowing people could just stand by and let this happen. But what really struck me is to why so I conducted a peaceful survey which got me some surprising results. My first survey form looked like this:

First Survey

It was a good research and test idea but filled with flaws but gave me useful information and one key hint as to why people let this happen, don't care for it and actually never wanted it to happen. 

People Don't Know What This Bathroom Actually Is and Who Can Use It 

All It Is is a Family Bathroom with a different name.

Here are my First Results:
 

First Survey Within City Much Older Participants Average was age 37 and 20 People were Surveyed

 

All College Students Surveyed Average age 24

 
 There's a lot of things wrong with The Trumps New Bill and for starters the calling the Bathroom A transgender bathroom instead of a nonsexualized Bathroom it gives it a bad name and confuses people.

Based on my results from my tests done later one i got new interesting results as well it seems that the younger generation is more comfortable that the older where they see it as wrong and promoting the youth to be LGBT pushing them in that direction. While there is nothing wrong with the LGBT community we live in a world where not everyone is comfortable with them which is exactly why this action was taken and was allowed to happen.

Although it seems like the Bill is unfair its not all that bad because schools aren't forced to get rid of them there are places that still have them and make people feel comfortable and happy for example a very popular Buzzfeed Article highlighting some kids having fun
 in a Gender Neutral Bathroom.
 
In order to help me with my website and the way I present this information to others I would really appreciate it if you took the time and did my online survey to help collect information.Thank You!!

Upcoming website
 

Semester project progress

Semester Project Update: Women gaming comic

To recap I am making a comic that tells the story of a female gamer, a character I created named Lana who suffers from bullying and harassment online from internet trolls. She goes into the video game world and becomes her favorite video game characters in order to defeat the trolls that target her. So far I have a drawing for the main character Lana and concept drawings for the internet trolls and the boss troll on the right. I have also chosen the characters Lana will become Lucina from Fire Emblem Awakening, Dva from Overwatch, and Lightning from Final Fantasy 13. I plan to start work on the comic this weekend.

semester project- Cosmetic Procedures

             Are women being pressured to get cosmetic surgeries? I will conduct surveys on the internet and real life as well as show photos on the most common surgeries that women get. I will also get mens opinions on various elective procedures and see if they feel women need to get these procedures done. I will take all this information and put it on a blog with wordpress.com displaying the results and graphs of my research.

 I am focusing on this topic because a lot of women in my family have gotten procedures done and I want to know if there was something said to them to make them go through with it, or if they simply wanted a change.

Semester Project Update - Kat Harris

To Recap, I would like to raise awareness over Cosplay and the controversy issues that different audiences have with it. Cosplay is basically the practice of dressing up as a character from a movie, video game, anime, or anything in pop culture. Some cosplayers see it as a way to network with other friends who share the same interest and even get some nice photos of their costume they put their hard work in.

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I decided instead of a full webcomic the posts are going to be more of motivational pictures that
encourage body positivity. I am going to two events this weekend and next weekend I was planning on finishing up a few posters and having cosplayers take photos with them.

What inspired me to create motivational posters was seeing one of Kevin Bolk's piece (bottom) on "Everybody is beautiful" I like creating a simplistic art style that can reach out to the crowd.

Kevin Bolk, "Everybody is Beautiful"

Semester Project Update

Still protesting against animal cruelty. Here is another poster that I made. Also if anyone has any ideas for posters feel free to comment them below because I am running out of ideas. Thanks.

Poster

Blog Project Update

Yoko Ono

The blog project I have been focusing on has increasingly progressed throughout the week. Each artist will be organized accordingly, in order to simplify searching for a post to the public. The first artist I decided to focus on is the Guerrilla girls because they inspired this project in particular and there is much artwork, posters, and artistic contributions they have focused on that influence women empowerment in society. There posts can be found towards the bottom which include some of their work, videos, and brief history. Links to their website and other information about them are also provided within the posts in order for viewers to really have the opportunity to understand their movement. The next artists I included are Pussy Riot which have made a significant impact in Russia but have also reached out to the political issues in the United States. The punk rock band are courageous, strong, and passionate about their cause. Having them as a piece of the blog is essential for society, particularly women, to understand that there are no limits when fighting for a strong opposition. The members of Pussy Riot have been imprisoned due to their rebellious acts but it is their life purpose to maintain this movement in order to show the public the serious political and social problems that are present in Russia and America as well. Their song “Make America Great Again” is dedicated to Donald Trump’s racial comments that have caused serious controversy across the globe and is a part of my project. The next artist I will be focusing on is Yoko Ono and Barbara Kruger who have also contributed to feminism, environmental and social issues through her work. The overall purpose of this blog is to make society aware of the serious social, environmental, and political issues that are going on and how these empowered women are making a difference everyday through their talented personas and courageous choices.

The Guerrilla Girls

Pussy Riot

Barbara Krugger's poster work

Semester Project

Pass it on… A.O.P.

The project I have selected highlights the values, skills, and feelings that characterize us as humans. My project will focus mainly on encouraging people to be authentic, optimistic, and perseverant (AOP). I want to campaign online creating a page on Facebook or other social sites and distributing envelopes and hanging posters on campus where social, and environmental issues that affect us all are addressed. This will give an opportunity to create consciousness on people toward these important issues and other relevant social problems.

Below there is a copy of a poster addressing water pollution, people responses to this poster will be bellow.

Stop Trashing My Ocean ... by Ingrid Taylar (flickr)

The contamination of fresh water and sea water has transcended to the degradation of lakes, rivers, aquifers, oceans, and groundwater destroying and killing species that depend on them. Even though many campaigns have been done to increase awareness and help change that. We still have a long way to go. By being authentic, optimistic, and perseverant we can contribute to the effort in the restoration of our environment.

In order to make people care about social issues,  their own personal issues must be addressed first. 

According to experts, people cannot function well if conflicts are limiting them to look beyond their problems. To stimulate a change in that behavior and encourage them to look from other perspectives; I'll share a note containing a phrase or one simple word. 

The flyers and knows will contain this starting phrase then blank lines will be left for people to fill in their reaction and points of view. 

I ‘M AN AUTHENTIC, OPTIMISTIC, AND A PERSEVERANT HUMAN-BEING 

I DESERVE BETTER; THEREFORE, I_______________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Activism Through Art - Privacy

Privacy is one of the most important feelings and rights that every human should have, whether it be at home or in school or in a bathroom. I found some interesting projects that deal with securing privacy.

One project I found interesting has to be The Surveillance Camera Players, just because the topic of privacy is still relevant and made stronger today. The group of these Players were founded in 1996 in NYC to protest the invasion of privacy by the government. More specifically, they try to remove the myth that those who are afraid of being on camera are those who are guilty of doing something. This myth is unsettling because it is true for certain instances in which some police officers, who claim their “body cams” suddenly turned off, brutally murder or injure their victims, who are prominently African American. This project represents public space well because even though public spaces are considered to be “public”, they can never truly be that way for as long as the government has cameras set up. People have also said that the government can even spy on those who have their webcams open on their laptops or through their phones’ front cameras. In the various images Rakowitz took, people had posters covering nearly all of themselves or the space the camera looked at for the shot.

They know there are actual people behind the cameras.

Another project that somewhat touches upon privacy is the Yes Men. They've been known to cause havoc among huge companies, and even cost the DOW about $2 billion in stock losses. While The Surveillance Camera Players try to advocate for better privacy rights, the Yes Men expose and reveal shady practices among businessmen, and sometimes these people don't realize what they're doing. The Yes Men create ridiculous costumes and projects, such as the Management Leisure Suit and Breakaway Leisure Suit. They have several documentaries that showcase their thought processes behind their pranks and expose the businessmen and their practices. In class, we watched one of their documentaries and realized how people are willing to risk lives just to make money. It's an ugly practice, and no human life should be taken just to create profit.

One of the Yes Men impersonates a representative from DOW on BBC News. Shortly after this announcement, the DOW lost billions of dollars in stock.

Another activist, or rather, hacktivist that has done whistleblowing against the U.S. is Edward Snowden. There is a movie made about him (portrayed by Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and it dramatizes his exposure of illegal mass surveillance by the National Security Agency. At the moment, Snowden is under asylum in Russia, one of the places he has stayed for so long since the U.S. revoked his passport. During his time with the NSA, Snowden learns that the U.S. has not just been the "Big Brother" watching over their own countries, but rather in others too. Should any allies turn their backs on the U.S., the country has already planted malware in several sectors of those countries and will shut them down effectively. It's a scary thought to realize that this country is involved with other countries in such a malicious way, but Snowden has brought it to light and we know more about it than we ever had.

Side by side comparison of Levitt from the movie and Snowden himself, who makes a cameo in it.