Assignment: Perform a creative erasure on a page of any text by selecting a few words to focus on. Consider the original text and what effect the erasure will have on it. Consider what and how you erase is part of what you want to communicate.
The original text is made in a book I found at The Strand called, Journal of Democracy, which covers the study of democracy, democratic regimes, and democratic movements throughout the world. The first page, which is the page I chose to create my erasure, introduces the ideas of growing democracy and the organizations supporting these advancements around the world.
I thought it would be ironic to take this academic text on democracy and make find words to make a statement about our current political climate. After choosing the words, I painted the rest of the text white to show how this new administration has spurred and encouraged the actions of white supremacists in America. Then compositionally, I grouped the words “new regime manifest” and painted Trump as he is the subject of these words, and grouped “scrutiny of concern within active bodies,” and painted picket signs to show the protest that has emerged against his and his cabinet’s actions.
Reflection:
I am very pleased with the outcome and I really enjoyed creating this, so I think in the future I’ll continue to play with erasure texts as part of my work. I think using the original text and connecting my erasure and way of erasing made it more effective because it conveys a message relevant to our society.
