Getting close …
I have so many new images that need to be posted on the website, but no time to do it. I’m really looking forward to finishing this paper and all the grading I need to do. Even then, I still won’t necessarily be able to work with the images, but at least I will have a chance to move on to other things (i.e. the holidays, travel, gifts and all the stress that goes along with these things).
Thoughts on food and waiting
I’m currently waiting for Photoshop to batch resize images for me. I’m on the second of my presentations for tomorrow, so I thought I should share a bit. I’m probably only writing for myself at this point, but I’m ok with that. I have spent so much time writing a paper recently that I am excited even to be working on the boring process of editing right now. Also, I just pulled out the Flaming Lips “Soft Bulletin” album that I haven’t listened to in quite a while. This is one of my favorite albums ever. If you don’t agree that is fine, but I question your sanity, and if you haven’t heard it, you need to as soon as possible. Beyond that, I’ve been thinking quite a bit about food recently. I’ve been thinking about a self-portrait series about identity politics. Frequently I’ve noticed that people have very strong reactions to me based on my diet. I’ve never tried to be judgemental or force my beliefs on anyone, but when people hear I’m vegan they have any one of a number of responses:
• get defensive and project their insecurities
• become very judgemental and show how little they know about nutrition
• try too hard to worry about what I “can” eat (i.e. at a restaurant)
• act very uncomfortable
• act overly interested and share anecdotes about someone they once knew who was once a …
• start inspecting everything I have on my plate
• try to find out what everything I’m wearing is made of, in order to see if they can catch me being a hypocrite
• act like I’m an inconvenience
• try too hard to fine something for me to eat
• tell me they want to make me eat some meat or cheese
As I’m sure you can tell, this all gets quite old. I’m fascinated at how strongly people can react to what I choose to, or not to eat. I’m sure there is a great deal of material here to work with, I haven’t quite figured out where I want to go with it. I guess that’s all I really wanted to share. Now, back to editing.
Books, papers, and a lot of writing
I’m spending far too much time reading and writing about art and theories and not enough time creating. At least I occassionally take breaks with my studiomate and make unnecessary drawings. Here is a detail of a paper plate that Mike and I destroyed about a month and a half ago. He was using pens, I was using tape, then he was using tape and I was using pens. Since then, we have created a few collaberative pieces. From the plate we drew, painted, and taped out door, then some smaller drawings, and now one of my photos. It is a good way to counteract all the theories that are currently afflicting our brains.
Epiphany
My Power Animal is a Paramecium.
Howard Zinn
I just got back from his lecture. It was a nice, informative way to avoid writing about art historiography while re-energizing my liberal views of political history. Now I need to add his books to my “to read” list.
