My project “I am enough” focuses on women regaining the power they have lost due to the male gaze, unrealistic standards for women in society, and society’s idea on gender roles that keep women confined. I was inspired by Sophie Calle to create a piece that demonstrated writing on a person, to display the idea that words matter, and can truly affect a person.
For years women have been told how to “be” in order to be perceived as feminine. The first clip of my video shows the words “Don’t wear that” “you should lose weight” “put on more makeup” “don’t dress like a boy” “sit like a lady” “Don’t be too loud” “you’re trying to hard” “you’re showing too much skin” “sit down” “you should smile more” “Be ladylike” “you shouldn’t say that” “you’re not smart enough” “cover up.” These words are projected onto my skin, and they are meant to demonstrate the views and expectations that society has placed on women, making it hard to love and accept themselves. Gender roles have affected women for years, making them believe that if they don’t behave a certain way, they aren't acting as a woman “should.” This way of thinking has many negative effects, especially to little girls growing up in a world where they're told if they dont act ladylike, they aren't worthy. In the arctic “The Photographed, Collaged, and Painted Muses of Mickalene Thomas” it states,``Thomas's jazzy photomontages of women’s limbs and facial features can be construed as commentary on how female bodies are brutally picked apart in contemporary visual culture.” Unfortunately, women have become used to getting picked apart daily, and it results in them feeling the need to cover up or become something different.
In the second clip of my project, I projected misogynistic quotes that men in power have said about women. The quotes state "A society in which women are taught anything but the management of a family, the care of men, and the creation of the future generation is a society which is on its way out. … The historian can peg the point where a society begins its sharpest decline at the instant when women begin to take part." Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard "I’m not a misogynist, I respect any woman who knows her place." - Stephen Braithwaite
"A proper wife should be as obedient as a slave… The female is a female by virtue of a certain lack of qualities... a natural defectiveness." - Aristotle
"At what age does one become old? The misogynist believes the female grows older and the male grows wiser." - John Caff. Clearly, these ways of thinking about women are insulting and damaging, but some men continue to have these ideas, and have no problem stating them. These misogynistic quotes are meant to bring awareness to the thoughts and words men have towards women, and demonstrate the reality of how women are perceived. Author Bell Hooks has stated in “Understanding the Patriarchy,” “As their daughter I was taught that it was my role to serve, to be weak, to be free from the burden of thinking, to caretake and nurture others. My brother was taught that it was his role to be served; to provide; to be strong; to think, strategize, and plan; and to refuse to caretake or nurture others. I was taught that it was not proper for a female to be violent, that it was "Unnatural.” For too long women have been taught how they should be, instead of accepted for who they are, and want to be. Both first clips in my project are in black and white to demonstrate that these are, and should be old ways of thinking of women today.
The third clip of my project is where color comes into play, and you see the words “I love myself. I am strong. I am capable. I am worthy. I am smart. I am beautiful. I make a difference. I matter. I can do whatever I set my mind to. I can be myself. I love who I am. I don’t need to compare myself, I love myself. I am strong. I am capable. I am worthy. I am smart. I am beautiful. I make a difference. I matter.” These words are written in purple and highlighted in multiple colors to demonstrate the new ideas, and ways of thinking of women. The affirmations I used go against old morals and beliefs of women, and counteract it with self love. John Berger wrote in “Ways of Seeing,” “The real function of the mirror was otherwise. It was to make the woman connive in treating herself as, first and foremost, a sight.” This is something to always remember, and can inspire us to let go of anything standing in our way. The idea that all women are worthy and beautiful no matter if they go against society's “norm” is what I wanted this portion of my project to focus on.
In the next clip of my project I react to the quote, “In societies where modern conditions of production prevail, life is presented as an immense accumulation of spectacles. Everything that was directly lived has receded into a representation.” This quote represents the fake expectations you place on yourself, in order to feel a part of a false reality. I state in this clip “The spectacle presents itself as a reality when it is actually the complete opposite. The vision that the spectacle puts into our heads about what life should look like, creates dissatisfaction within ourselves, and the life we live. Comparing yourself and your life to unrealistic standards, only sets you up to want a false reality. When you view something too much, it can consume you. The spectacle creates the idea that there is such a thing as a perfect life, perfect body, and perfect day to day circumstances. This simply isn’t true and you can lose yourself in trying to live up to false expectations if you allow the spectacle to make you believe you’re not enough.” The spectacle has created fake ideal circumstances for every aspect of life that are simply impossible to live up to. I put these words in a bright pink to represent waking up from these false realities and learning to love and accept yourself the way you are.
The last part of my project shows a letter my friend wrote to me to act as a reminder to love yourself, and never compare yourself. The letter says “ Dear Dominique,
Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Questioning yourself and your beauty is easy to do when society tells you how you “should” be. I hope you always remember everyone is special in their own way, and everyone has their own strengths. Never compare yourself, keep your head up.
-Gabe”
This clip in my project was especially inspired by Sophie Calle, and her dumped by email series. The letter is representing new views and ways of thinking about women, and learning to love/ embrace yourself. I wanted my project to take you through old and new ways of thinking from the beginning to end, so it went from black and white, to colorful bold words.
My process for creating this project involves a projector, a backdrop, and my laptop. I projected the words from my laptop onto my skin and shut off all the lights so you would be able to properly see it. I had my friend scroll through my writing so it looked like it was moving up over my head. My final is different from previous projects because it involves The Society of the Spectacle, A letter from my friend, words and affirmations, misogynistic quotes representing old ways of thinking of women, and a projector that was able to place the words on my skin. I used the song “You Don’t Own Me” by Lesley Gore to demonstrate the power that women have. Overall I wanted my project to empower women, and change society’s view that keeps us confined.
