Quote:
“We are the generation that must throw everything into the endeavor to remake America into what we say we want it to be. Without this endeavor, we will perish. However immoral or subversive this may sound to some, it is the writer who must always remember that mortality, if it is to remain or become morality, must be perpetually examined, cracked, changed, made new. He must remember, however powerful the many who would rather forget, that life is the only touchstone and that life is dangerous, and that without the joyful acceptance of this danger, there can never be any safety for anyone, ever, anywhere….Not everything that is faced can be changed; but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”
I chose to address the topic of climate change and waste due to increasing human consumption. I hope to spark interest in this topic and get people interested in increasing their education on the topic and pique consciousness towards their habits and actions.
Multiple Perspectives:
In order to address the theme of multiple perspectives, I chose to create a box made of clear panels so that the audience can view all perspectives at the same time in order to understand that everything is connected. The first panel represents the history and the events that lead up to this current situation. Through this, you can see trash piled in the box, which represents the accumulation of waste that is permanent on this planet up until now. Then you see the back panel of the box where viewers see familiar images of shopping aisles and bags and piles of unnecessary clothing. Through questions I asked to my close friends and even myself, I discovered that when thinking about buying something, we usually only think about its aesthetics, price, our mood, our desires, instead of its manufacturing process or what will happen to it after use. And this mindset leads me to the last painted panel which only be seen through its reflection in the mirror behind it. The viewer can see not only the image of pollution, natural disasters, and detriment to the Earth, but also their own reflection. People intentionally avoid things they don’t want to address or feel helpless about, but here, they must confront and face the truth and consequences of their habits.
“We are the generation that must throw everything into the endeavor to remake America into what we say we want it to be.
As this new generation of young Americans, it is our responsibility to repair and remake America not from scratch, but rather work from what we have and history we are left with. The damage done to the Earth is the work of generations upon generations, difficult to ameliorate, though not impossible. The history of this climate change begins with the industrial revolution in the 18th and 19th century, spurred by increased technology like the steam engine and cotton mills. Consumerism grows in the 20s along with the middle class, and therefore advertising and marketing. I illustrated this in the front panel of the box with collaged and painted images of cotton mills, Ford model T’s, and other iconic symbols that represent the beginning of this history.
“Not everything that is faced can be changed; but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”
This quote is reflected in my piece through the incorporation of the mirror and the image seen alongside the reflection of the viewer, as mentioned above. Though the truth may seem grim and as individuals, we may seem small, each of us have a role and responsibility in repairing and maintaining the health of the planet we live on. That is why I painted the image of a young boy in the top corner, standing atop of the melting iceberg. He faces his back to the mess of his environment, but this does not show that he is ignoring the fact of the matter, but rather deciding to change it, shown by the grass growing around his feet.
Shift:
Starting off with this project, I knew I wanted to create something confronting the idea of climate change, but I didn’t know which direction to go in. I started out by researching and brainstorming upon the idea of the negative impacts of climate change on different parts of the population. I looked into how industry of the “developed” countries caused problems in other countries through outsourcing but with lack of regulations, precautions, safety, appropriate wages, etc. I branched off at one pointed and tried incorporating the issue of gender equality and how women can face higher risks from the changing climate, especially in situations of poverty. However, I wanted to make it more personal, so I started asking myself and those closest around me questions like, “what aspects of my life are contributing to this problem,” “how is my life being dictated by high consumerism and convenience?” I found during this project that even I have difficulty maintaining heightened awareness about every product I buy even though I feel very passionately about sustainability. Therefore, I wanted to create something that would be a reminder to keep educated and keep being aware.
Process:
Presentation:
