Core 2 – Project 2 – T Shirt
For my Core 2 final project I intended to make a piece that would address the problems of homonormativity, white feminism, and trans-exclusionary radical feminism in which certain marginalized groups are further marginalized by a larger marginalized group in which they belong. I wanted to acknowledge also my privilege as a white gay male, and remind myself and others to be aware of how privilege can perpetrate harmful exclusion of less privileged people. Like the zine I made for the first project, I wanted to make a piece that could distribute my message publicly and one that could exist outside of the art institution. Recalling the artists of ACT-UP and Jenny Holzer’s institutional critique work, among others. I created a t-shirt with a message that brings awareness to issues of homonormativity and exclusionary feminism. The shirt reads “the oppressed can oppress” in light grey-blue hand embroidered text. I chose this phrase because I hoped it could point to multiple social issues and that a reader could relate the phrase to their own experience. The words are embroidered to look like a sans serif typeface, which is legible and does not allow the hand-made element to distract from the message.
In critique, I displayed the t-shirt on a hanger and left the tag on which indicated the shirt was from American Apparel. This display distracted viewers from the message, as it related more to clothing store displays and the American Apparel logo appeared to be important to the shirt’s message. I was also warned of the ambiguity of the phrase “the oppressed can oppress,” as can is a passive verb and potentially could be read as a statement giving permission to oppress. I realized the proper way to display the piece is truly out in the world, where people I encounter could read the shirt and ask about it. I could then document my experience through images.
Below are images from a day in which I wore the shirt to the park. I intend to wear the shirt out in public several more times in different places to see what potential conversations can come out of it.
