Bodies, Consumerism, and Inclusivity; The exploitative nature of clothed bodies under capitalism
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| ANON1 |
My final project will involve visual identity and discussions of sizing inclusivity through clothing, consumerism, representation and ethics. I will be first providing people with info of the volunteer based questions, allowing people to answer out of 12 questions with as much info as they'd like. Each question is either geared toward visual identity, sizing, representation of clothes, and accessibility to clothing. I'll be taking their perspectives, either making graphics or illustrations out of them, and possibly adding illustrations OF the volunteers if they choose to be represented.
Will have a Zine
POSSIBLE Video component will include audio of any volunteers, and some visuals (can include the illustrations, or official advertising)
(Video can be scanned via Zine in order to gain access)
Inspirations: “To put it simply: as artistic activists, we need to become really good storytellers.”
The Matlock Method: the literature table.
“Some of us have been behind it; we’ve all been in front of it. A flimsy fold-out table stacked high with flyers, reports, and books packed with facts designed to convince “the people” of what’s really going on. And we’ve all likely seen (or possibly created) artwork that seeks to perform a similar function: using bold images to “visualize data” and illustrate important information that, again, is hoped to awaken people to what’s really going on.” (172)
While what's happening isn't new by any means, this social perspective of consumerism, sizing, ethics, and visual identity usually goes unquestioned. All these issues are laced together and are rooted deeply in issues that go far beyond the vague broadness of each term. The idea of visualizing data does not have to always be literal data, but it can also be storytelling, experiences and personal data. Using images to illustrate and GIVING that to people, based on what people give me, is the idea. I feel like some “social politics” aren't given specific attention even though there's a lot of systematic problems that run within them. If given attention, maybe we can not be so passive or polarized by them.
My goal is to take perspectives and allow thought. I want people to read this and to think before they say something negative about representation. I still see a lot of people talk bad about people with eating disorders or people that are considered plus size. People are still consistently judging each other for their bodies and it’s very upsetting. Although the issues of ethical consumerism are deeply rooted in a series of issues, having people reflect can allow people to reevaluate their choices. Additionally, as a beginning step, we can at least treat people decently, and I want to use my art in order to describe certain feelings and experiences while giving people a bit of a platform to answer questions they feel strongly about.
Info: This information will be shared in the form of a Zine which includes visual graphics, illustrations, and depictions of people. Your response, whichever one(s) you pick, can either be written as a quote or depicted as an illustration. Additionally, you can be voluntarily represented as an illustrated picture of yourself. This whole process is volunteer based.
So far I have five volunteer responses, quotes from articles, and personal experiences.
WIP resources
(These will be cited in MLA when I decide which ones have the most relevance, some I may keep out)
https://mashable.com/article/shein-influencer-brand-trip-exploitation
https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/plus-size-models-online-abuse-b1923485.html
Kjerstin Gruys. “Does This Make Me Look Fat? Aesthetic Labor and Fat Talk as Emotional Labor in a Women’s Plus-Size Clothing Store.” Social Problems, vol. 59, no. 4, 2012, pp. 481–500. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.1525/sp.2012.59.4.481. Accessed 14 Apr. 2024.
https://www-jstor-org.draweb.njcu.edu/stable/pdf/41303969.pdf?refreqid=fastly-default%3A8176e7deaf6cb2918db6cab75fcc313e&ab_segments=0%2Fbasic_search_gsv2%2Fcontrol&origin=&initiator=search-results&acceptTC=1
https://www.outdoorresearch.com/blogs/stories/whats-the-difference-between-plus-size-extended-size-and-straight-size
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Deborah-Christel/publication/343768618_What_plus-size_means_for_plus-size_women_A_mixed-methods_approach/links/5f73a1e092851c14bca01748/What-plus-size-means-for-plus-size-women-A-mixed-methods-approach.pdf?origin=publication_detail&_tp=eyJjb250ZXh0Ijp7ImZpcnN0UGFnZSI6InB1YmxpY2F0aW9uIiwicGFnZSI6InB1YmxpY2F0aW9uRG93bmxvYWQiLCJwcmV2aW91c1BhZ2UiOiJwdWJsaWNhdGlvbiJ9fQ
https://www.jstor.org/stable/26370382
czerniawski, amanda m. “Beauty beyond a Size 16.” Contexts, vol. 15, no. 2, 2016, pp. 70–73. JSTOR, https://www.jstor.org/stable/26370382. Accessed 14 Apr. 2024.
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