prejudiceproject-blog1

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The Wrong Side of the Lens.

Photography wasn’t always used for taking nice pictures of the sunset or mirror selfies. Photography was a mechanical process, a scientific one. Photographs of plants, animals, locations, and eventually people were taken and then used to study differences. To catalog. Photography was thought as objective, no human influence existed since it wasn’t emotion filled like painting. The idea that what is viewed through the camera is the truth, or there is no interference with the mechanical process is and was a myth. Photography doesn't have the ability to capture everything, something is always left out of the frame the whole story is never told. The photographer is human not a robot they have bias, objective, and a purpose to show how they see the.  

In the early days of photography there was no use for it in the art world, only to document and have use in the scientific community. Eugenics and the practice of it started up in the United States, scientists employed photographers to help document the process and individuals of different races. This was done thinking photography was objective and would show the truth, except these scientists/photographers were using “science” to push their racism as truth. Much like categorizing plants, people were put in front of the camera with different measuring devices  to show the differences between phenotypical features. Eugenics was used to categorize and prove that certain races were pre-disposed to criminal behavior while others were the perfect examples of society. Photographing the people who would get arrested and then showing that people with these characteristics were more likely to commit this specific crime. These first mug-shots helped officers essentially racially-profile individuals. Eugenics wasn't only for crime it was also used to see what women were the best to get married to, and in turn have the best children. The nuclear family was born.

Photography wasn’t considered an art form then, it was used to dictate who was suitable for society. Photography wasn’t used as an art form since it is too mechanical. There wasn’t enough feeling in it like painting, where you can see the mark of the artist. Photography was only available to the very rich, only some could afford the luxury of taking a picture. The ones who could afford the camera their photographs were tainted with their privilege. Photos of the exotic world, poor people, hungry children. Photos like those were made not to raise awareness but to show the viewer that they had a good life, not to worry about having to live like that. The exotic, to show the viewers at home the wonders of the world. Cultures were soon exoticized, their culture made into coffee table books so the viewer could see how weird and different the other parts of the world were. When fashion photography emerged exoticism and non-western landscapes became a fashion backdrop, when ethnic features became “trendy.” The beautiful landscapes provided picturesque backgrounds, used to contrast the modern with the past, the new with the old. Romanticization and exoticization of cultures to promote a dream, and to promote the idea of forward ways of thinking.  

Eugenics was created/started to help explain the perceived differences between the races. Why were African-Americans not having any upward mobility? Why are all the incoming immigrants so inclined to crime? It was also done to prove why Whites are the superior race, why this race is excelling and the others are falling behind. These “scientific” findings of the inherent differences in race have become so ingrained in society, they have become a part of society and shape medical and public judgement. Science, something that is supposed to be objective has been tainted with these old ways of thinking. The evidence to back up the pure race/superior race idea is riddled with photographs by Francis Galton. He created composite portraits of people who committed the same crimes, from a certain race, or just to see who shared what traits. He did this to see the correlation between the types of people who committed crime, and if there was a correlation between looks and the crime. He studied human behavior and wanted to see the extent to which it went, to try and prevent further injustices against society.   

Sources:

Houston, O. "The Lure of the East." Exoticism and Fashion Photography: An Essay. N.p., 01 Jan. 1970. Web. 25 Apr. 2017

Morning, Ann- Juanita. The Nature of Race How Scientists Think and Teach about Human Difference. Berkeley: U of California, 2011. Print.

Dolmage, Jay. "Framing Disability, Developing Race: Photography as Eugenic Technology."Framing Disability, Developing Race: Photography as Eugenic Technology | Enculturation. N.p., 11 Mar. 2014. Web. 25 Apr. 2017.

Science, Seeing. "Bad Science: Eugenics and Photography." Seeing Science. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2017.

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The Sexy Latin Lover

There are multiple stereotypes that fly around whenever there is someone of Latino/Hispanic decent. There are six stereotypes that surround Latinos/as whenever there is a film that includes them. The one that is very common for both men and women is the “Latin Lover” or “Harlot.” 

For men they are dark and mysterious, a nice accent and are always clean cut and from an upper class standing, to make them more acceptable yet still slightly dangerous for the white women. The latin lover is never acceptable to the parents, or if the movie is left leaning the interracial couple is ok only if the man is rich and speaks English well enough. These stereotypes have been around since film has begun. After the initial document everything, portraying the other in exotic documentary films began. The Latin Lover stereotype can be traced back to Rudolph Valentino an Italian immigrant. Before making his way into the hearts of many young American women he had to work his way though minor roles in order to reach the level of fame he did. He created a new type of lover on screen, a “possessor of a primal sexuality that made him capable of making a sensuous but dangerous...brand of love” (Ramírez-Berg,76). After Valentino left the perfect example on how to be a sexy Latin lover the image has never left the screen, with many actors perpetuating the stereotype of a sexy dangerous lover.  

The dark lady or the harlot is a stereotype portrayed by Latinas in film. Rarely are these characters the main plot of the story. Normally these women drape themselves on the bar, or on the arm of a man. There isn’t much plot behind them, they are there to look at and be exotic and interesting to Anglo males. Dolores Del Río played the dark lady stereotype well, attracting the Anglo males attention in a way that no white women could achieve. Latinas are only with white men as arm candy, they eventually turn on them to return to their roots. The white man can never save the Latina women like they want, her troubled past always catches up with her. Latina women are also always fetishized and have this feminine-mystique about them that marks them as the extreme other. Latinas always have to have a white female counter part, someone who is easy, or on the other hand the good girl that the white male always goes back to.       

These stereotypes have been around and started with the making of films. These have been some of the only roles available for Latinos/as in the movie industry, they have already been laid out and all of them are very very similar. Perpetrating these few stereotypes leads to stereotyping in everyday life, life mimics art. 

Sources: 

Berg, Charles Ramírez. Latino Images in Film: Stereotypes, Subversion, Resistance. Austin: U of Texas, 2011. Print.

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Big Lies and Big Eyes

The embodiment of white male privilege in the art world is personified with Walter Keane. Walter Keane began painting when he returned from France, simple landscape scenes of different French towns. When he returned to the states he closed his own business to focus on his painting. As he was wandering the fairgrounds one day he came across Margaret who soon became his second wife, she was also a painter. Their life was pleasant both making art, until one day Walter took Margaret’s painting and called it his own. He did this at an art show where they were both showing art at the Washington Square. Margaret painted portraits of children with huge eyes, windows to the soul she called them. Her paintings sold as Walters, and eventually the Big Eyes developed a following. Many traditional art critics were upset by Walters rise to fame, his rise to fame was controversial, yet he never faltered and continued to take her paintings and call them his own. 

For years Margaret accepted the fact that her being a women wouldn't sell paintings, Walter also fed into that fear and used it to his advantage. Women artists never make it this big. She continued to paint and he continued to take her work. Her paintings now taken credit by Walter were praised by Andy Warhol and many were hung in celebrities houses. At the height of her/Walters fame she was painting 16 hours non-stop. 

The idea that women’s art isn’t taken seriously is all too common. Women’s art is typically seen as a cute craft, something to keep busy. There isn’t a skill to anything when a women does it, thats for men. When a painting or a drawing is done by a women it is seen as a cute hobby, there isn’t much substance. An art practice to a women is something she can do in her leisure time, its not anything real, she whipped up this cute little drawing in between caring for the kids and cooking. 

When schooling wasn’t so easily attainable for many, rich women weren't allowed to attend schooling to receive the education to make it as a successful artist.When women did attend school or got a private education, taking credit for something was a difficult task. Taking credit for something that big caused women to be shamed by the public, women were supposed to be humble, quiet, and gentile. “Although many critics applauded their new prominence, others lamented the immodesty of women who would display their talent so publicly” (Laura Auricchio) being socially accepted was important, women would be shunned by the community for being so immodest. 

Women often signed their artwork with either only the last name, initials, or changed their name to something more masculine. They did this so they could enter the art world without having to deal with the shaming, or being reduced to famous painters wife. Men were more likely to receive schooling so they could craft and refine their skill. When the men finished their schooling they were more often then not receiving praise and fame for their work, being shown in galleries like the MET. Men were also more likely to maintain their fame long after they were gone, become one of the greats. Women had to struggle to find a way in to the highly competitive art world, once they did get in they often faded not long after they were gone.

Walter Keane plagiarized his wife’s paintings with ease, he had the confidence and the charisma of a painter who wanted it bad. No one suspected he was anything but an artist, it wasn't until long after he became famous and Margaret divorced him was when she went on radio that she was the painter of the famous Big Eyes. There soon was a court battle which was a case of he said she said, the judge had enough and told them to do a paint off to see who was the creator of the pieces. This showed the courtroom and the world that Margaret had been making the paintings and Walter was receiving all of the praise for it. The Big Eye scandal shows how the art world is accustomed to seeing men dominate the art world, how no one thought twice about Walter and his confidence. Showing how easy it is for a man with a big personality in the art world.         

Sources: 

Marder, Lisa. "Why History Makes It Hard to Name 5 Women Artists." ThoughtCo. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2017.

Gajewski, Camille. "A Brief History of Women in Art (article)." Khan Academy. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 May 2017.

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White Privilege: “Unpacking the Invisible  Knapsack”

An essay written by Peggy Macintosh on White privilege she lists some of her privileges that she either consciously or unconsciously benefits from when she navigates the world as a white women. Below I will list some of my privileges.

1. Middle class living and the opportunity to go to college and pursue a degree I want to for pleasure rather than to earn a living. 

2. The ability to move about the world without having to worry about accessibility 

3. I can find makeup that matches my skin tone easily 

4. I have no need to fear the police and can walk away from a traffic stop without thinking about whether I will be killed  

5. I have United States citizenship and don’t have to worry about being deported 

6. I can move through stores without having to think about whether or not they think I am stealing 

7. I can move through airport security without having to fear being pulled aside for extra screening 

8. Most of my family has attended college and therefore I have a basic understanding on how the college system works. I also have a support system. 

9. Access to resources like computers, printers, cameras, art supplies to be able to research and make art 

10. Middle Class living allowed me access to clean water, food, clothes, shoes etc. Never had to worry about where I would find food or shelter. 

11. Could enroll in extracurricular activities with the help of scholarship, did cycling and could afford to travel with the team to attend races and practices. 

12. My family is all middle class, never have to worry about ending up on the street without support. 

13. As a cisgendered women I don’t have to worry about the bathroom I use, or being called out for the bathroom that I use since it is the gender I identify with

14. My pronouns match my gender identity and never have I ever considered changing them, I never have to worry about being misgendered or someone using the wrong pronouns with me.

15. As a cis white passing women I don’t have to worry too much about how the medical field will take my case. I also don’t have to explain my gender identity each time, or worry about being misdiagnosed or ignored. 

16. I don’t have any medical disabilities or learning disabilities that could hinder me in any way.

17. English is my first language, I didn’t have to worry about not knowing the language, and I always was comfortable in any space since most knew English. I didn’t have to struggle to learn a new language to be able to fit in.

18. Being a United States Citizen I was able to travel freely in the U.S as well as outside of the United States. 

19. When Traveling I don’t have to worry about being turned away for looking a certain way or speaking an unknown language.

20. Since I am white passing I don’t have to worry about being singled out at security. 

21. As a U.S citizen I have access to scholarships and financial aid to help make college more affordable to me. 

22. As a U.S citizen when I pay taxes I can see the benefits and access the services that I pay for. 

23. Being a light skinned Mexican women who lives in Arizona I don’t have to fear being pulled over and being asked for my green card. 

Reflection:

Writing down my privileges and having to think about how I can navigate my life easier in some ways and more difficult in others. I had to think about certain parts of my life that I don’t ever think about. Such as me being able bodied, I never think about how difficult it would be if I wasn't able to easily move around different spaces. Or the fact that I am a United States citizen, something I take for granted. I don’t ever have to worry about being deported on any given day, or worry about my parents being taken from me. I never have  to worry about my family being broken up in that sense, it is divided by a wall but I never have to worry about them being taken from me. Privilege is never taught it is just something that is how you are able to navigate, you never question your ability to move through space. It is just something you do. Growing up I never really thought about privilege, which is a normal since privilege is never really taught until you come across something that tells you about your own. It takes time to being able to accept that you can get through certain aspects of life. Coming from a middle class family allowed me and still allows me to follow and do what I enjoy, not pursuing an education that I know would make me money. My privilege allows me an education, but also the ability to not have to worry about money all that much. My lighter colored skin allows me to receive certain privileges that I wouldn't receive if I was of a darker skin color.     

I knew that I lacked certain things others had. Growing up I was made painfully aware of certain things that I lacked. Teasing is something I had to learn how to tolerate, and then I had to re-learn how to love myself and the way I look. I always looked not white enough yet not Mexican enough for people to fully realize what I was. Being told I wasn’t normal or didn’t look normal made me realize that I wasn’t a part of the main group. I was told I wasn’t pretty enough and to change the way I look to fit beauty standards. Very hard to navigate a space where I felt like everyone was looking at things that made me different, that told me I didn’t belong. I also felt like I needed to change the way I look, to hide my more ethnic features, to never claim the other half of me. I rejected my culture for a part in my life and refused to speak the language, and only enjoyed the food. It wasn’t until the privilege of access to education taught me that other people felt the same way. There was a common thread of never fitting into either category. I was never Mexican enough to fit in with the Mexicans, and I was never white enough to be white. 

Sources:

McIntosh, Peggy. White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack. Louisville, KY: Louisville Anarchist Federation and No Borders, 2000. Print.