My last intervention was based on a topic heavily discussed in class. Generational trauma is something that lingers between many students. Things and words our parents find “okay” often hurt us and put negative thoughts into our minds. I want the audience to remember that we are the people who will be raising the next generation and that change begins with us. This project represents me because generational trauma has been something that has been overlooked in my family for a while, and I would like to be the one to put a stop to it and let my brain flourish and steer away from those negative things.
Who inspired this project ?
Ben Jones' vibrant colors stand out to me, and the contrast between a solid painting and its outline makes it more interesting.
Ghana Amer is a contemporary artist who has established herself as a worldwide artist. She is based in Egypt but recently opened an exhibition in NYC. In her art, she talks about breaking social norms, establishing boundaries, and women's empowerment.
The project draws inspiration from Yoko Ono, a renowned peace activist. Her influence is evident in its overarching theme of peace and harmony.
Doris Cacolio has made us feel heard and understood throughout this semester and let us know that, eventually, things will get better.
Qotes That Inspired this Project
" With her needle and thread, she weaves intricate embroideries that defy traditional notions of femininity. It invites viewers to question and reimagine societal expectations. Her bold and vibrant paintings redefine the concept of the nude, presenting the female form as a symbol of strength and liberation"
" when damage is done to you, you cannot be the same, but you can be healed spiritually to live a better life if we're not going to be good human beings, what will we be - Ben Joes
“You must be the change you wish to see in the world,” (Duncombe & Lambert, pg. 171)
About the project
As previously mentioned, this project is about generational trauma and what comes along with it. Being raised by parents who have both suffered trauma in their childhood is never easier. There is not much affection, not many words of encouragement, and no random " I love you"; instead, there is only acknowledgment of what you do wrong, what is not correct, and when you are not behaving as expected. Like myself, many young adults live with hurtful words that their parents have said. Throughout this semester, generational trauma was brought up in almost every intervention that was done. For my last intervention, I wanted to dig deeper and go beyond just talking about it on the surface level. In the future I hope I get an opportunity to further the knowledge I've gained in this class and be able to educate the older generation on how they still have the opportunity to make a change. To teach them that therapy isn't just for crazy people and that we are not them.
The Research
For the research of this project, I used social media, where most people my age interact. Most people find it easier to express their emotions on social media, even to strangers, because they are not doing face-to-face and believe they will not be judged for what they say. On my Instagram story, I uploaded a question asking what hurtful their parents said to them, which has stuck with them ever since. With the responses I got, I took some of the hurtful words and wrote them all down on one side of the brain. I struggled with what to write on the other half of the brain. Therefore, I decided that the good always outweighed the ugly and decided to do something more creative than just adding words. I decided to add flowers to the other side of my brain; the reason I chose flowers is that flowers have the opportunity to bloom and grow and continually change. However, flowers aren't always so beautiful they have to start in the dirt and go through a process in order to grow and become beautiful.
Projects that have inspired this project
When I do homework, I listen to music, get lost, and focus on my work. During this project, SZA was one of the leading artists on my playlist, specifically, her album CTRL; the album talks about finding our person while dealing with the hardships in life and not being afraid to be who you are but of what you have been through. HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT
I AM NOT YOUR PERFECT MEXICAN DAUGHTER by Erika L.Sanchez This book is one of the main representers of generational trauma; it shows how parents will often hold back their kids because of their fears and old-school beliefs. It shows that not every story needs a happy ending, just a realistic one.
Guadalupe Maravilla, a Salvadorian artist who recently battled cancer and, while on his healing journey, decided that in order for him to heal, he had to heal the generations that came before him. Reading that made me realize that even older people are still looking for ways to solve their generation's trauma, and while they know that it is a hard thing to do, they are still willing to make a change because they know it can change the future. His " healing tower" sculptures are inspired by the anxiety that many immigrant kids suffer in their day-to-day lives.
Yoko Onos, the cut piece, was one of the projects that impacted me the most during the class. I talked about it in most of my interventions. Although it does not have much to do with the project's appearance, it is its symbolism. In the video that she created, it showed her being "stripped" by the audience with their gaze. With generational trauma, most of the time, it is our parent's hurtful words or actions that hurt us and " strip" us of that feeling of protection that parents are supposed to give us.
Iconographic "Shango" women on fans. In this creation, Ben Jones worships women who have made noticeable changes in music. Based on prior readings, many women were neglected in the art industry or told they could not do certain things. Most importantly, they were victims of patriarchy. Patriarchy is something that leads to generational truth. Whether we choose to celebrate patriarchy or refuse to embrace it is up to us.
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