so human beings above all else rely on their vision when I say that I mean that
their vision when I say that I mean that
their vision when I say that I mean that more than any of the five senses do we
more than any of the five senses do we
more than any of the five senses do we look to it for survival and for
look to it for survival and for
look to it for survival and for understanding about the world what if
understanding about the world what if
understanding about the world what if each of us created relationships and
each of us created relationships and
each of us created relationships and made connections using taste or touch
made connections using taste or touch
made connections using taste or touch what have we formed lasting and bonding
what have we formed lasting and bonding
what have we formed lasting and bonding relationships and connections with other
relationships and connections with other
relationships and connections with other people using smell or hearing how
people using smell or hearing how
people using smell or hearing how different would the world look today but
different would the world look today but
different would the world look today but instead we we rely on our vision a
instead we we rely on our vision a
instead we we rely on our vision a friend in the designer Amy Chen once
friend in the designer Amy Chen once
friend in the designer Amy Chen once asked me err but what makes you unique
asked me err but what makes you unique
asked me err but what makes you unique she had her own project that she was
she had her own project that she was
she had her own project that she was working on and instantly I told her
working on and instantly I told her
working on and instantly I told her nobody sees the world like I do that’s
nobody sees the world like I do that’s
nobody sees the world like I do that’s not to say that I’m super special or
not to say that I’m super special or
not to say that I’m super special or anything but to say that each of you
anything but to say that each of you
anything but to say that each of you sees the world in the way that you see
sees the world in the way that you see
sees the world in the way that you see it that’s the whole point we reach
it that’s the whole point we reach
it that’s the whole point we reach unique in that way well the way that I
unique in that way well the way that I
unique in that way well the way that I see the world is that it’s a little bit
see the world is that it’s a little bit
see the world is that it’s a little bit broken I’d say that so many of our
broken I’d say that so many of our
broken I’d say that so many of our problems are based off the fact that we
problems are based off the fact that we
problems are based off the fact that we are too too interested in in relying on
are too too interested in in relying on
are too too interested in in relying on self interests making decisions creating
self interests making decisions creating
self interests making decisions creating policies around what benefits me and
policies around what benefits me and
policies around what benefits me and only me well in my world a lot of these
only me well in my world a lot of these
only me well in my world a lot of these things could work it could function I
things could work it could function I
things could work it could function I see a world with so much untapped
see a world with so much untapped
see a world with so much untapped potential and sort of what Davis was
potential and sort of what Davis was
potential and sort of what Davis was saying this comes back to the idea of
saying this comes back to the idea of
saying this comes back to the idea of empathy in the world that I see if
empathy in the world that I see if
empathy in the world that I see if people maybe took a chance to step into
people maybe took a chance to step into
people maybe took a chance to step into one another’s shoes instead of taking
one another’s shoes instead of taking
one another’s shoes instead of taking that hundred for yourself you keep 50
that hundred for yourself you keep 50
that hundred for yourself you keep 50 and give 50 to somebody else something I
and give 50 to somebody else something I
and give 50 to somebody else something I would do not because I’m a saint but
would do not because I’m a saint but
would do not because I’m a saint but because by giving somebody else 50 they
because by giving somebody else 50 they
because by giving somebody else 50 they might be able to contribute back to
might be able to contribute back to
might be able to contribute back to society in a way that you never could
society in a way that you never could
society in a way that you never could even have imagined you might find that
even have imagined you might find that
even have imagined you might find that you enjoy exactly what it is that they
you enjoy exactly what it is that they
you enjoy exactly what it is that they had been able to bring to the table but
had been able to bring to the table but
had been able to bring to the table but you would never have known that had you
you would never have known that had you
you would never have known that had you only kept your hundred and so all this
only kept your hundred and so all this
only kept your hundred and so all this is to say that if we rely on our vision
is to say that if we rely on our vision
is to say that if we rely on our vision the most in terms of how we understand
the most in terms of how we understand
the most in terms of how we understand the world in terms of what we see
the world in terms of what we see
the world in terms of what we see influences so much of how we be
influences so much of how we be
influences so much of how we be a v’ how we react towards one another
a v’ how we react towards one another
a v’ how we react towards one another why would I then not operate in the
why would I then not operate in the
why would I then not operate in the world of visuals if I’m so invested in
world of visuals if I’m so invested in
world of visuals if I’m so invested in changing how people behave influencing
changing how people behave influencing
changing how people behave influencing how people think about one another well
how people think about one another well
how people think about one another well as a photographer I thought that that
as a photographer I thought that that
as a photographer I thought that that might be the best place to start so I’ll
might be the best place to start so I’ll
might be the best place to start so I’ll show you some of the projects that I’m
show you some of the projects that I’m
show you some of the projects that I’m currently working on send nudes
currently working on send nudes
currently working on send nudes intriguing title now as young millennial
intriguing title now as young millennial
intriguing title now as young millennial obviously there’s so many people who we
obviously there’s so many people who we
obviously there’s so many people who we have smartphones these days people send
have smartphones these days people send
have smartphones these days people send nudes to each other all the time but
nudes to each other all the time but
nudes to each other all the time but this project is more about the body and
this project is more about the body and
this project is more about the body and our identities this project looks at who
our identities this project looks at who
our identities this project looks at who we are and how this fits ourselves into
we are and how this fits ourselves into
we are and how this fits ourselves into a larger part of the society
a larger part of the society
a larger part of the society essentially my thesis is getting at this
essentially my thesis is getting at this
essentially my thesis is getting at this is my visual study singer thesis by the
is my visual study singer thesis by the
is my visual study singer thesis by the way my thesis is getting out the fact
way my thesis is getting out the fact
way my thesis is getting out the fact that Who I am is irrevocably tied to
that Who I am is irrevocably tied to
that Who I am is irrevocably tied to what I look like I’ll let you pause on
what I look like I’ll let you pause on
what I look like I’ll let you pause on that that might seem a little strange
that that might seem a little strange
that that might seem a little strange singing as so many people want to tell
singing as so many people want to tell
singing as so many people want to tell you that you live in a post-racial post
you that you live in a post-racial post
you that you live in a post-racial post identity Society it’s just not true
identity Society it’s just not true
identity Society it’s just not true have you seen the news so many people
have you seen the news so many people
have you seen the news so many people are treated differently based off what
are treated differently based off what
are treated differently based off what they look like but let me get into this
they look like but let me get into this
they look like but let me get into this a little bit further so it’s not just
a little bit further so it’s not just
a little bit further so it’s not just obvious facts coming at you I’ll talk
obvious facts coming at you I’ll talk
obvious facts coming at you I’ll talk about the body and why my photographs
about the body and why my photographs
about the body and why my photographs are getting at these three parts first
are getting at these three parts first
are getting at these three parts first we have our physical body what you see
we have our physical body what you see
we have our physical body what you see here before you I have dark brown skin
here before you I have dark brown skin
here before you I have dark brown skin very dark black hair
very dark black hair
very dark black hair I’m 5-1 pretty short and wearing heels
I’m 5-1 pretty short and wearing heels
I’m 5-1 pretty short and wearing heels though switch it up but that’s my
though switch it up but that’s my
though switch it up but that’s my physical body almost like a second skin
physical body almost like a second skin
physical body almost like a second skin and a layer that I’ve come to be
and a layer that I’ve come to be
and a layer that I’ve come to be convinced cannot be removed from you is
convinced cannot be removed from you is
convinced cannot be removed from you is your socialized body the fact that I’m
your socialized body the fact that I’m
your socialized body the fact that I’m wearing African print from West Africa
wearing African print from West Africa
wearing African print from West Africa where my family’s from the fact that
where my family’s from the fact that
where my family’s from the fact that I’ve twisted my hair for the purposes of
I’ve twisted my hair for the purposes of
I’ve twisted my hair for the purposes of this talk and for life in general but
this talk and for life in general but
this talk and for life in general but all of these things fact my eyebrows are
all of these things fact my eyebrows are
all of these things fact my eyebrows are done are contribute to our socialized
done are contribute to our socialized
done are contribute to our socialized bodies our socialize bodies are what are
bodies our socialize bodies are what are
bodies our socialize bodies are what are in constant communication with the world
in constant communication with the world
in constant communication with the world around us and that’s important to note
around us and that’s important to note
around us and that’s important to note because when you walk up to somebody the
because when you walk up to somebody the
because when you walk up to somebody the first thing that you see influences all
first thing that you see influences all
first thing that you see influences all the ideas and assumptions that we place
the ideas and assumptions that we place
the ideas and assumptions that we place on top of that and lastly it’s your
on top of that and lastly it’s your
on top of that and lastly it’s your subjective body who you are as subject
subjective body who you are as subject
subjective body who you are as subject I’m Arab and kuma I have
I’m Arab and kuma I have
I’m Arab and kuma I have lived experiences what I’m trying to say
lived experiences what I’m trying to say
lived experiences what I’m trying to say with all of three of these things is
with all of three of these things is
with all of three of these things is this triangulation soon turns into a
this triangulation soon turns into a
this triangulation soon turns into a cycle if your lived experiences are
cycle if your lived experiences are
cycle if your lived experiences are based off of how your body communicates
based off of how your body communicates
based off of how your body communicates with the world around you well your
with the world around you well your
with the world around you well your communication with the world around you
communication with the world around you
communication with the world around you your subjective or your socialized body
your subjective or your socialized body
your subjective or your socialized body is built up 100% on what you look like
is built up 100% on what you look like
is built up 100% on what you look like your physical form so if all that is to
your physical form so if all that is to
your physical form so if all that is to be true then Who I am my subject has
be true then Who I am my subject has
be true then Who I am my subject has lived experiences it’s 100% tied to what
lived experiences it’s 100% tied to what
lived experiences it’s 100% tied to what I look like I get at this fact in my
I look like I get at this fact in my
I look like I get at this fact in my project by asking four simple questions
project by asking four simple questions
project by asking four simple questions first what part of your body do you
first what part of your body do you
first what part of your body do you value the most think about it
value the most think about it
value the most think about it well Eden talks about his blue eyes and
well Eden talks about his blue eyes and
well Eden talks about his blue eyes and how he looks amazing all the time hehe
how he looks amazing all the time hehe
how he looks amazing all the time hehe and when when it comes to being
and when when it comes to being
and when when it comes to being aesthetically pleasing as a white gay
aesthetically pleasing as a white gay
aesthetically pleasing as a white gay male he has no problems getting into
male he has no problems getting into
male he has no problems getting into clubs or bars in Paris Oran in New York
clubs or bars in Paris Oran in New York
clubs or bars in Paris Oran in New York he knows this and he recognizes his
he knows this and he recognizes his
he knows this and he recognizes his privilege based off of the way that he
privilege based off of the way that he
privilege based off of the way that he looks his facial features my second
looks his facial features my second
looks his facial features my second question what is the first thing that
question what is the first thing that
question what is the first thing that people say they notice about you whether
people say they notice about you whether
people say they notice about you whether upon first meeting you or constantly
upon first meeting you or constantly
upon first meeting you or constantly well my friend Kino talks about the fact
well my friend Kino talks about the fact
well my friend Kino talks about the fact that he has both bowlegged legs and
that he has both bowlegged legs and
that he has both bowlegged legs and supinated feet and it causes him to walk
supinated feet and it causes him to walk
supinated feet and it causes him to walk with almost like a grouchy old man gait
with almost like a grouchy old man gait
with almost like a grouchy old man gait and for him he’s noticed that a lot of
and for him he’s noticed that a lot of
and for him he’s noticed that a lot of people have told him this and I’ve also
people have told him this and I’ve also
people have told him this and I’ve also followed up with you know you seemed
followed up with you know you seemed
followed up with you know you seemed really grouchy and like mean when I
really grouchy and like mean when I
really grouchy and like mean when I first saw you I never would have
first saw you I never would have
first saw you I never would have approached you you know Hina recognizes
approached you you know Hina recognizes
approached you you know Hina recognizes the fact that his gait the way that he
the fact that his gait the way that he
the fact that his gait the way that he walks has influenced a lot of how people
walks has influenced a lot of how people
walks has influenced a lot of how people think about him but that’s not who he is
think about him but that’s not who he is
think about him but that’s not who he is people would have never taken the time
people would have never taken the time
people would have never taken the time perhaps to know that he is in love with
perhaps to know that he is in love with
perhaps to know that he is in love with being just such a caring individual he
being just such a caring individual he
being just such a caring individual he has so many happy thoughts he wants to
has so many happy thoughts he wants to
has so many happy thoughts he wants to be a part of art and culture he
be a part of art and culture he
be a part of art and culture he appreciates those things he’s hilarious
appreciates those things he’s hilarious
appreciates those things he’s hilarious he has a big arms with which he loves to
he has a big arms with which he loves to
he has a big arms with which he loves to give hugs
give hugs
give hugs you know people wouldn’t take the time
you know people wouldn’t take the time
you know people wouldn’t take the time to know that about him without having
to know that about him without having
to know that about him without having first done past their assumptions their
first done past their assumptions their
first done past their assumptions their ideas of what he looked like
ideas of what he looked like
ideas of what he looked like which leads me to my third question of
which leads me to my third question of
which leads me to my third question of this thing that people say they notice
this thing that people say they notice
this thing that people say they notice about you constantly
about you constantly
about you constantly has it ever influenced the opportunities
has it ever influenced the opportunities
has it ever influenced the opportunities that you’ve been afforded do you think
that you’ve been afforded do you think
that you’ve been afforded do you think well kayla talks about her hair how much
well kayla talks about her hair how much
well kayla talks about her hair how much she loves it she loves doing it she
she loves it she loves doing it she
she loves it she loves doing it she loves the process of you know
loves the process of you know
loves the process of you know washing it rebooting in her products and
washing it rebooting in her products and
washing it rebooting in her products and making it back to how it it should be
making it back to how it it should be
making it back to how it it should be how it should feel but when she goes out
how it should feel but when she goes out
how it should feel but when she goes out into the world she puts a big bun on her
into the world she puts a big bun on her
into the world she puts a big bun on her head and a lot of people recognize a
head and a lot of people recognize a
head and a lot of people recognize a silhouette of Kayla’s big bun on top of
silhouette of Kayla’s big bun on top of
silhouette of Kayla’s big bun on top of her head she does this because she
her head she does this because she
her head she does this because she understands that should she leave her
understands that should she leave her
understands that should she leave her hair out naturally and walk around
hair out naturally and walk around
hair out naturally and walk around people would judge her very differently
people would judge her very differently
people would judge her very differently people might not take her nearly as
people might not take her nearly as
people might not take her nearly as seriously and she acknowledges that fact
seriously and she acknowledges that fact
seriously and she acknowledges that fact she takes an extra step to make sure
she takes an extra step to make sure
she takes an extra step to make sure that you all are more comfortable with
that you all are more comfortable with
that you all are more comfortable with what she looks like that bun is for
what she looks like that bun is for
what she looks like that bun is for society to judge and she notes that
society to judge and she notes that
society to judge and she notes that without it a lot of the different things
without it a lot of the different things
without it a lot of the different things that she goes into different meetings
that she goes into different meetings
that she goes into different meetings different spaces would be very
different spaces would be very
different spaces would be very interactive be quite different without
interactive be quite different without
interactive be quite different without her tying up her hair in a more
her tying up her hair in a more
her tying up her hair in a more controlled manner and lastly do you
controlled manner and lastly do you
controlled manner and lastly do you believe that humans as we were
believe that humans as we were
believe that humans as we were physically constructed were done so
physically constructed were done so
physically constructed were done so equally created equally well Jordan
equally created equally well Jordan
equally created equally well Jordan talks about the fact that this idea of
talks about the fact that this idea of
talks about the fact that this idea of equality in general this concept of
equality in general this concept of
equality in general this concept of inequality is an idea that we put on
inequality is an idea that we put on
inequality is an idea that we put on ourselves because in her mind there
ourselves because in her mind there
ourselves because in her mind there should be no reason why in this day and
should be no reason why in this day and
should be no reason why in this day and age anyone should be limited prohibited
age anyone should be limited prohibited
age anyone should be limited prohibited or banned from doing anything or living
or banned from doing anything or living
or banned from doing anything or living a life that they want to live solely
a life that they want to live solely
a life that they want to live solely based off what they look like she brings
based off what they look like she brings
based off what they look like she brings in ideas about the blind and how for
in ideas about the blind and how for
in ideas about the blind and how for many of them what if what if we allowed
many of them what if what if we allowed
many of them what if what if we allowed the blind to build a city on their own
the blind to build a city on their own
the blind to build a city on their own how differently would that look we as a
how differently would that look we as a
how differently would that look we as a society or so are so concerned with
society or so are so concerned with
society or so are so concerned with bringing in people with disabilities
bringing in people with disabilities
bringing in people with disabilities into the ways in which we think they
into the ways in which we think they
into the ways in which we think they want to be back into society but let’s
want to be back into society but let’s
want to be back into society but let’s give them the reins to do what they want
give them the reins to do what they want
give them the reins to do what they want let’s let them take that 50 and
let’s let them take that 50 and
let’s let them take that 50 and contribute back to society how
contribute back to society how
contribute back to society how differently would that look this is just
differently would that look this is just
differently would that look this is just one of the projects I’m working on as
one of the projects I’m working on as
one of the projects I’m working on as part of my thesis but I also had the
part of my thesis but I also had the
part of my thesis but I also had the opportunity of going to Cuba this past
opportunity of going to Cuba this past
opportunity of going to Cuba this past month with a photography class and while
month with a photography class and while
month with a photography class and while I was there I was actually shocked I’ve
I was there I was actually shocked I’ve
I was there I was actually shocked I’ve been there before in 2015 I was shocked
been there before in 2015 I was shocked
been there before in 2015 I was shocked by how much the tourism industry had
by how much the tourism industry had
by how much the tourism industry had pervaded and sort of seeped into the
pervaded and sort of seeped into the
pervaded and sort of seeped into the everyday everyday culture of Havana I
everyday everyday culture of Havana I
everyday everyday culture of Havana I realized that I didn’t have the energy
realized that I didn’t have the energy
realized that I didn’t have the energy or the want to put a camera on
or the want to put a camera on
or the want to put a camera on somebody’s face because I realized that
somebody’s face because I realized that
somebody’s face because I realized that I had to acknowledge my own identity in
I had to acknowledge my own identity in
I had to acknowledge my own identity in this space I am NOT a Cuban I’m a
this space I am NOT a Cuban I’m a
this space I am NOT a Cuban I’m a tourist
tourist
tourist how can i as a photographer acknowledge
how can i as a photographer acknowledge
how can i as a photographer acknowledge that fact and still be a documentary
that fact and still be a documentary
that fact and still be a documentary photographer still capture the line the
photographer still capture the line the
photographer still capture the line the color the texture the culture of Havana
color the texture the culture of Havana
color the texture the culture of Havana of Cuba as a space that was once so
of Cuba as a space that was once so
of Cuba as a space that was once so magical to me
magical to me
magical to me I felt like the kid who had gone to
I felt like the kid who had gone to
I felt like the kid who had gone to Disneyland and peeked behind the curtain
Disneyland and peeked behind the curtain
Disneyland and peeked behind the curtain and saw all the dusty cogs moving the
and saw all the dusty cogs moving the
and saw all the dusty cogs moving the second time around it took me a week and
second time around it took me a week and
second time around it took me a week and I struggled with it but eventually I
I struggled with it but eventually I
I struggled with it but eventually I started to realize that perhaps I could
started to realize that perhaps I could
started to realize that perhaps I could place myself as subject in a number of
place myself as subject in a number of
place myself as subject in a number of different images maybe I could capture
different images maybe I could capture
different images maybe I could capture that line texture and color without me
that line texture and color without me
that line texture and color without me being in them necessarily or without
being in them necessarily or without
being in them necessarily or without somebody else being in them but by
somebody else being in them but by
somebody else being in them but by showing that perhaps I am touching this
showing that perhaps I am touching this
showing that perhaps I am touching this space let me show how expansive my reach
space let me show how expansive my reach
space let me show how expansive my reach as a tourist can go and so 355 images
as a tourist can go and so 355 images
as a tourist can go and so 355 images later these are just a few I captured a
later these are just a few I captured a
later these are just a few I captured a van in a very unconventional way and I
van in a very unconventional way and I
van in a very unconventional way and I hope that this shows that I am not just
hope that this shows that I am not just
hope that this shows that I am not just trying to understand myself as I am
trying to understand myself as I am
trying to understand myself as I am singular in this space I’m understanding
singular in this space I’m understanding
singular in this space I’m understanding how my body interacts with others how my
how my body interacts with others how my
how my body interacts with others how my body is not a body unless it is
body is not a body unless it is
body is not a body unless it is interacting with others and so I say
interacting with others and so I say
interacting with others and so I say this for everyone to take a moment take
this for everyone to take a moment take
this for everyone to take a moment take a pause and understand that we cannot
a pause and understand that we cannot
a pause and understand that we cannot solely just understand who we are but
solely just understand who we are but
solely just understand who we are but who we are on the grand scheme of things
who we are on the grand scheme of things
who we are on the grand scheme of things if we want to use our eyes to really
if we want to use our eyes to really
if we want to use our eyes to really understand the world we can’t go around
understand the world we can’t go around
understand the world we can’t go around blind thank you
blind thank you
blind thank you [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment