• The subject of my image is that back then African-American women were criticized and downplayed for their big lips and wild hair, but now a lot of females who are not African-American try and copy this style. When they copy this style they seem to get more credit for it, like they originated it.

• The content of my image is "me" or what I would like to be in my natural stage.

• There were many choices that led me to my composition such as, my favorite colors, the natural process that I am going through, old society compared to contemporary society. How people see African American girls.. "big lips, and big hair"

• The process all started when I did my presentation a couple of weeks ago, and I stumbled upon this amazing artist Mickalene Thomas. Her works were mixtures of collages, acrylic paint, and rhinestones. She inspired me to mimic her work on my Final self portrait. I used acrylic paint and mimicked the whole big lips, and big hair thing. Everything comes into play in this final project such as my favorite colors, my inspiration, and what I'm going through.

• my work is a collage of different articles I cut out that I thought related to me or that would make my piece stand out.

• Mickalene Thomas is an artist that I learned about a couple of weeks ago but she had a huge impact on me and what I should do for my final assignment.

• I believe this image conveys a message that you should be who you are no matter what. Me personally, had to learn that the hard way. If you had a fat nose embrace it, curly hair embrace it, Don't try and criticize someone because they being themselves. and don't criticize someone because their trying to be different.

• The difference between my first self portrait and my last is that I am more confident on what I want to do in my last rather than my first. I had more information, more inspiration, and more encouragement.
• what influenced these changes were the artists I discovered, my own natural process that I am going through, my environment. being around my classmates gave me different perspectives on different things.

https://goo.gl/photos/gaBdyGayBdwwZgGQA

Ethan Araya

12/8/16

Self-Image as I

Wood Carving

The subject of my self-portrait is wood carving and I have carved names with dates under them and they are names that I have portrayed throughout the years. Now these names are names that I portrayed in plays as an actor and what year I portrayed them. I came up with this idea because I wanted to come up with something new for this project and it came to me at my second job at Home depot. I was set up at Garden as a cashier and there are barley any customers going there and I began to carve a piece of wood and began to explore what else I could make and that’s when it hit me today. Why not make a bigger version of the wood carving. To make this piece would take a lot of patience and I am a very patient man. I guess my work is like Julia Anne Goodman. She is also a wood carving artist and she creates amazing work. However with my piece I am carving names, dates and spray paint. The audience would see not just me but, many people would create fake names or portrayed different characters if like creating a new user name, gamer tag, movie character, and theater character. The difference between my first self-portrait and the new one is that the first has picture of myself and the other has names of myself.

Final Self-Portrait - "Two Sides of the Same Coin"

·      The subject of my image is the beauty standard women are held to with makeup. Women are held to the standard that their skin must be clear, they should have bold full lips, perfectly shaped eyebrows, and so much more. My goal is to make people aware of the burden that these beauty standards are.

·      The content of my image is me. There are two “ME’s”, the first one shows a happy, ecstatic girl. She is full of life, the background behind her emits the colors purple and blue. The second “me” is relatively emotionless. She is looking down while having a mask of makeup on her face. Behind her it is dark and gray.

·      The choices that led me to the composition of this image is that all around us are advertisements and pictures of women that show the beauty standards that are “accepted”. These beauty standards are next to impossible to achieve. Many times, there have been models who see the final photograph from their shoot and don’t even recognize themselves. Many celebrities are starting to realize the effects this is having on young girls and even women opting for their photos to be untouched. For example, Kiera Knightley has expressed her stance against photoshop on several occasions, and she’s always had an honest stance about her body. When the King Arthur posters came out in 2004, revealing that her bust was significantly altered to appear larger, she revealed that her training for the movie had decreased her breast size even more. Also, in November 2014, she agreed to pose topless for Interview Magazine demanding that the photos be unedited so people can actually see what she really looks like. She said, “OK, I’m fine doing the topless shot so long as you don’t make them any bigger or retouch.’ Because it does feel important to say it really doesn’t matter what shape you are.” Many others have spoken out about the intense photoshop that is put into these photos like Lady Gaga, Kate Winslet, and even Beyonce. These impossible beauty standards causes many women to have low self-confidence, some women even refuse to leave the house without doing their hair and make-up.

·      I wanted to create a photo that successfully shows the effects of these beauty standards. So, the makeup that is put on women usually is like a mask. At first, I wanted to create a picture where half on my face had makeup and the other half didn’t but I realized that this would not successfully show the deeper emotions behind the burden of makeup. It would be difficult to take a picture where my face has two different emotions. So I decided to spilt it into two different pictures. I was set on doing a picture with makeup and one without. I knew the picture of me without make up would radiate happiness and the one with makeup would be more sad/emotionless. After researching and talking to the professor, I remembered a makeup look from Halloween where people would literally make the makeup they have on look like a mask taped to the face. I thought that portraying the makeup as a literal mask would create a better impression on showing the burden of it. Because of this burden I knew that the background behind the me with makeup would be dark and gloomy. I chose to portray the me without makeup as happy because it is important for people to know that everyone should be body positive. Throughout life it is important to be comfortable in your own skin. I chose the purple and blue background behind me by researching the colors of human auroras. Shades of blue represent peacefulness and clarity. The purple represents vision and imagination.

·      I believe my work is more of a collage.

·      I would think my artwork sends a similar message as Marina Abramovic work “Art must be Beautiful”. In this work she wants to send the message that the art and artist must be beautiful because of the standards society has set.

·      I think this image shows people that women do not need makeup to be beautiful and that makeup is just a social standard created by society.

·      The difference between this self-portrait and my last self-portrait is that this one sends a greater message about social standards.

·      What influenced this change is everything that we’ve learned throughout the course. All the readings we have done and new artists I was introduced to showed be how important it is to be comfortable in your own skin, especially as a woman.

Final Project: Doing Good by Any Means & Keeping Yourself

            The subject of my work is the various things I am a fan of, as well as the aspects of fallen heroes and anti-heroism in some of the works of fiction that I have included. In my project, I have included several images, some that I have taken myself, including a traced picture, and others that I have downloaded from the Internet. Pictures of some of my several collections are included, as well as my FBI hat, my PC, and my Witcher books. The images that I have downloaded include three characters from the Star Wars series and two characters from the World of Warcraft video game.

            As to why I decided to go through this concept, I found the idea of doing collages to be easier than the other options that I have had available to me. Considering that I have already done one collage as per the midterm assignment for this class, I figured, “Why not do another one?” but with a concept that is a bit more in depth. Initially, I decided to merely do a collage that included some of the various things that I like; works of fiction and things in real life. Then, while I was beginning the first steps of my project, I realized that the fiction works that I have included all had one thing in common: fallen heroes and antiheroes. I chose to stick with this idea because those two things are some things exemplify a concept that I deeply identify with, that the ends justify the means so long as you don’t lose too much of yourself in the process, each of the characters going completely along with this or partially against it. Not only that, but I have an admiration for such characters and their tragic back stories.

            An artist that I would compare my work to would be Andy Warhol, the artist that I decided to work on for the group presentation. Many of his self portraits involved cross-dressing, which most likely related to his very possible homosexuality. My work is similar to his in the sense that we both decided to create our art images with things relating to what we relate to, his being on a deeper level. For the lack of better phrasing, I think this project would convey to the audience that I am a massive nerd. With my first self portrait, I remember taking over forty pictures before I was completely satisfied, in contrast to my last self portrait in which I only took about five pictures, signifying that my “selfie” technique has improved immensely over the semester. What influenced the concept behind my project, as well as the improvements to my technique, was the “The Impostor, Trickster and Spy” reading of the book, The Art of Self Invention. Each of the three people in the chapter showed that they had a developed understanding of whatever they modified their self image for. Like Anthony Blunt who “understood the importance of public opinion and the value of a convincing performance” (p. 67). Like those mentioned in the chapter with their images and their corresponding means and objective, I developed my own personal philosophy through fiction.

Self Portrait

  Mute 

Too often we are silenced by others opinions 

Yet we speak without words 

Racing to be something or somebody 

While time is constantly choking at our success 

Intuition is now second nature 

As we thrive off the approval of strangers 

We become the very thing we despised 

           The subject of my image is me and how I express myself in today's growing society. Also how factors in society have shaped me. This drawing is meant to show how I am placed in society. It's evident that I don't like to speak much explaining the red X on my mouth. Social media plays a big part in letting me have an alternate way of getting my voice out without actually speaking. So I I cooperated it into my Afro. It seems as though I'm always racing against time, racing to complete something or start something. Time is preventing me from being successful and achieving certain goals. I do not have eyes because I believe you don't have to actually see to see the truth in things if they makes sense. The third eye is to represent intution, which I have a great sense of. 

          I usually draw with pencil but I wanted to set out of my comfort zone and make my image pop so I used makers. I cut out holographic paper to give certain things a glow. I wouldn't say it's a collage because of the cut out paper so I'll just say it's a regular drawing. When I came up with the image I had  Barbara Kruger in mind. How she put blocks and then writings in her blocks over top of other images. The words usuallyhavr a message explaining the image. I sort of did the same thing with the red X just without the words. 

          To the audience they might read it as a girl who doesn't speak but has other outlets of speaking or getting her voice out. In this self portrait I actually I cooperated a face last time it was just a body. The meanings were similar but different. It all ties together with me doing a body first then a head. I normally do faces so I really wanted to show that in this project but with different elements. Reading Kara Walker I really found a way to abstractly express my identity like she does. She was another artist that helped me creat this project. I believe this time my message was clearer and powerful. This image really shows my true identity. 

Life Is Better With Glitter

            The subject of my image is me and my clothes. It is the idea of that clothes bring up the topic of identity and what you wear says a lot about who you are. Being who I am I do not necessarily believe of clothing with identity, because honestly what does that mean? My image is made up of 8 selfie works. I used glitter, yarn, photography and stickers to convey the content of my image. There were so many items that I put on to my final, because I felt they had an important message for my project. Nothing that was put into my project without reason. The stickers with smiley faces on them represent my need to stay happy and smiley even when someone insults what I am wearing. The pictures show some of the outfits I used when I was not conscious enough to pick an outfit. This means that I chose when to take a picture based on how much effort I put to dress myself in the morning. I choose the glitter, because I love glitter. It is a huge part of me and what I wear. I have so many pair of shoes and clothes that have glitter on them. They are also the main thing that people like to point out. Finally, the yarn represents my clothing and the feeling of looking down or up. The whole process took me a long time, and a lot of changing to get it right. There were many things added and then removed because it did not fit the message I was trying to convey.

            I would categorize my work into several categories, and one of them being digital photography. I used my camera in all of my selfie pictures. I also used a bit of collage when I removed my own head and added glittery smiley stickers as a replacement. The yarn was set up in a way to give the illusion of the top of the bridge or maybe being bellow the bridge. There were three artists that influenced my work. The first and main artist that really inspired my work was Sophie Calle. Her continent need to detail her life and other people’s lives inspired me. I wanted to see what it was like to document at least a piece of my life. The second artist that inspired me was again Hannah Hoch. Her works of combining different body pieces was something I still wanted to incorporate into my project, hence the smiley stickers. The last artist that inspired me was my friend Rabeb. This was someone who I ran most of my ideas by and helped me create the final piece.

            My image conveys the message of what we wear and what does it mean about us. It is supposed to document different outfits where I was not really feeling myself, and how they appear to other people. Do they like it? Does it matter? I really wanted to just open the floor to a discussion about the OOTD. My first selfie was definitely just something I took a minute ago. I did not have to think about it much. All I did was add a simple dog filter and that was it. My last selfie was definitely something I thought about more. I was paying attention to every little detail, and making sure everything in my selfie was related to the point I was trying to cover. The filter, the clothes, and the background. Different artists are what really changed my selfies. I look at these accomplished artists and everything they do is with purpose. I figured that I should follow in that path as well.

INSTAGRAM- whatdoesootdmean

HASHTAG-myownootd

Girl Power

The subject of my images is  of me as my favorite characters from different cartoons, tv
shows, anime, and manga. Because these characters and different forms of pop culture have
helped me shape my identity as a person, I am a nerd who loves the thrills and action of the
unreal and fictional. I chose characters who I saw parts of myself in, and who I made
connections to. The issues I wanted to address with this project are more personal issues with
myself. Throughout my childhood and adolescence I was afraid to show others that I liked
anime, cartoons, and manga because I went to an elementary school where the kids were harsh
and judgemental and I didn’t want to feel embarrassed for liking these things. I was afraid to act
like my normal self, afraid to show my passion and interests. I wanted to be brave and bold and
show others what I’m passionate about, and to send a message to others, never be afraid to to
show who you are, share what you love with others, because you will find others who are just like you.
The materials I used are appropriated official images of the characters I chose, bristol
paper, color pencils, my own drawings, and sharpie pens to put my project together. On the paper
I draw a background or setting that shows the character in a setting they are in and some settings
that they have defining moments in. I cut and paste the image of my chosen character and next to
it I draw myself as them doing what they do. I categorize my project as mixed media.To draw myself as the character I then feel like I become them, that I become a warrior, or a hero and it’s the most greatest feeling I get, which is why I love to cosplay because to have the chance to become something unreal and spectacular. The difference with my first self portrait is I protrayed myself as many different things rather than portray myself as I normally am. It shows more of my passions in life.
The artists who have inspired me, influenced these changes are  Orlan, and Marina Abramovic. I took
inspiration from Orlan because when I first learned about her, I was bewitched by how she
presented herself to the public. I’ve been told most of my life that a woman should look,
beautiful, fashionable, and presentable, but Orlan just showed herself in the most craziest and
unrealistic ways. Orlan’s plastic surgery work showed her deformed face, or parts of her body
being taken off and she shows this to others. I was inspired that if she can choose to show herself
as abnormal and unrealistic, I can too, but not on the scale she does it. For Marina I drew
inspiration from what she tries to do in her performance pieces, she wants to interact with the
audience, have them be apart of the piece like in her work “The Artist is present” in a way I like
to do what she does, have art become a part of you, and interact with you. What made me do these changes are that I no longer want to hide my greatest passions in life and I wish to show it more in the future. What  In a way I am interacting and being a part of the characters I love and become way, and I show others that this is me, but different, and in a way not me.
 Weiss's trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vt9vl8iAN5Q