historyconnoisseur

[historyconnoisseur]

Unit 3 Critical Reflection

What is your genre model for your guide? Include a working link to your genre model.

The genre of my guide is a guide presented in a blog form. Within my guide I am expressing information about Pop art as well as the controversy around it. My goal with providing the reader subheadings is to guide them and keep them engaged with the blog. The genre model I chose does not match my blog. I decided not to follow my genre model because I did not include a video into my blog. I also chose to not follow my genre model because as a reader it made me overwhelmed with information without the subheadings.

Describe the style of your genre model (tone, detail, language). How did it influence the style of YOUR guide?

The tone in my genre model was informative and wordy. My genre model was straight and to point so there were not many details. The language in my genre model was straight to the point and referenced the video at the bottom of the blog. My genre model influenced the style of my guide by allowing me to find ways to get my point across while still being detailed and precise with the information I am including.  

Describe the design of your genre model (media, structure, look). How did it influence the style of YOUR guide?

My genre model did not include any images, which influenced me to add pictures. Adding pictures will allow the reader to be more engaged with the topic and visualize what I would like them to understand about the Pop art controversy. The video at the bottom of my genre model also inspired me to include photos because the genre model chose to include a video rather than photos. The genre model I used was straight to the point, which I appreciated, but there was no color or engagement which made it a bit of a slow read.

Describe the sourcing used in your genre model (how is outside source material used). How did it influence the sourcing in YOUR guide?

The genre model I utilized is the Austin Art Market which is a virtual art market to display and promote visual art. My genre model is credible because it is run by art connoisseurs that specialize in visual art. My genre model influenced me to find credible art connoisseurs as well as art history pages which I could use when investigating and creating my guide.

What is your rhetorical situation? Define your audience (make sure to include demographics, values, etc.), purpose, content and perspective as a writer?

My audience is art enthusiast and connoisseurs who appreciate the history of art and the way art shapes communities. My audience is most likely all sorts of races due to pop art being for everyone! The people who are reading my guide are conscious of inclusivity and the importance of including all races, especially in art.

How did your audience affect a choice you made in your guide? Give me a specific example, quoting your guide?

My audience affects the choices I made in my guided because I had to make sure someone with no or little knowledge about Pop art could understand the controversy. By adding subheading like “who are the stakeholders?” and “what is the controversy” readers are about to feel and be guided as they learn new information.

How did your purpose affect a choice you made in your guide? Give me a specific example, quoting your guide?

By wanting my readers to conceptualize and build upon their scope of understanding about pop art I chose to include pictures. My purpose was to have readers understand that pop art included many artist. By providing readers with various art work from artist they typically do not hear about in relation to pop art my readers are building on their scope of understanding and learning more about pop culture.

What is your perspective as a writer? How did it influence your guide? Give me a specific example?

As a writer who has never wrote a controversial guide I was not aware which approach I wanted to take. I worried about getting personal because I know those were explicitly not the rules. Within my article I included subheadings so my readers could begin to build on their scope of knowledge about pop art. The subheadings allowed me to stay organized as a reader, which I hope my readers will feel the same way.

How did you use The Method or Notice/Focus/Ranking in your guide? Walk me through your process with specific examples.

By conducting research and highlighting words that were repetitious I was able to understand and conceptualize the history of pop art. In many of the articles words like rebellion, modern, and voice were used several times. Noticing those words allowed me to conceptualize the pop art movement and present it within my guide in that manner.

How did you decide to choose this controversy? Why? What did you learn about it? What was the most interesting you learned about this controversy?

I decided to choose this controversy because I have encountered many people who love pop art but often do not know the history behind it. I also chose this controversy because I wanted to learn more about the different artist that formed the pop art movement but are often not mentioned.

What was hard about writing a guide?

It was hard to write a guide that spoke about a controversy without choosing a side. Remaining emotionless about the controversy I created my guide about caused me to have setbacks during my writing process. The setback caused me to research more and more about Pop art to ensure I was make all artist voices heard.

What was the best part of this project?

The best part of this project was learning more in-depth history about pop art. I also enjoyed learning about the different artist who are not apart of the mainstream pop art movement, their art was intriguing and deep.

[historyconnoisseur]

Pop Art controversy

What is Pop art?

Art always has a way of bringing people together and creating community. After World War II, a war that transformed and sparked change amongst many communities is visible by the art created. An art form that brought optimism to many after the war was pop art. Pop art is known for its popular and commercial culture, which was often seen in the western world. The pop-art movement began as a rebellion against traditional forms of art and the societal norms around art and popular culture. Pop art was popular globally amongst all racial groups.

“Pop Art was brash, young and fun and hostile to the artistic establishment. It included different painting styles and sculptures from various countries, but what they all had in common was an interest in mass-media, mass-production, and mass-culture.”

What is the controversy?

Pop art is known by those who lived during the rise of it and those who inquire about it today. How pop art is presented and spoken about often creates the illusion that the only contributors to pop art were white males. While Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, and Richard Hamilton are recognized as the original pop artists, more artists are within the pop art movement. Due to the written Anglo-American history of pop art, 68 artists from 28 nations go unrecognized and appreciated, which causes there to be controversy. 

Why does it matter?

Inclusivity. The art industry in recent years has become more inclusive, but this could have always been the case if different groups of people were recognized for their contributions to the mass popularity of pop art. Not mentioning or involving artists that contributed to the movement of pop art lessens their recognition, thus causing history and movements to be white-centered. Removing white people from the center of the pop art movement allows all artists who contributed and established pop art to receive recognition and feel valued as artists and people.  

Pop art around the world

“Surprisingly, there wasn’t much communication between Pop Artists in different countries, even neighboring countries, but it’s fascinating how often they came to similar conclusions.”

An aspect of pop art that is often overlooked is the camouflaged history involved in pop art. Within the art, artists would have political images and slogans to show their feelings toward the various wars, juntas, and transformation of nations after world war I.

In Finland, the artists used pop art to express political and against the grain ideals. 

Finland’s Raimo Reinikainen subverted the star-spangled banner with photos of American atrocities in Vietnam. 

In France, pop art was used to be political as well as include topics like war, femininity, and rage. 

‘At last, a Silhouette Slimmed to the Waist’ by French artist Bernard Rancillac shows female torsos clad in corsets, above US troops humiliating a soldier of the Viet Cong.

British artists used pop art as their mode of expression in this search for change. Through Dada collages and assemblages, British artists created art that would provoke and catch the attention of the larger masses.

‘Just what is it that makes today’s homes so different, so appealing?’ 1956 (collage) by British artist Richard Hamilton. 

In America, pop art evolved as an attempt to reverse the popularity of Abstract Expressionist painting.

’32 Campbell’s Soup Cans’, 1962 painted by American artist Andy Warhol. 

Who are the stakeholders?

Art distributor: Art distributors sell and buy art. The controversy of pop art is important to art distributors because they need to be aware of the history behind their art. Art distributors can develop and change the narrative when it comes to pop art. By buying and selling art from less known pop artists, they can raise awareness to the artists that are often not recognized or appreciated. 

��The Pop Art movement is important because it made art accessible to the masses, not just to the elite. As the style drew inspiration from commercial figures and cultural moments, the work was recognized and respected by the general public. Finally, there was an art form that felt not only pertinent but accessible to everyone. In some respects, Pop Art was ‘art for the people.”

Pop artist: Today, there are contemporary pop art artists that continue the movement alive. This controversy is important to the newest artist of the period because they need to establish themselves in an industry that has already been established and painted in a white-centered way. 

“Many contemporary Pop Artists continue to keep the movement not just alive but thriving. popular Pop artists today include the likes of Neo-Pop artist Jeff Koons, the iconic Alex Katz, and the immersive, Japanese visual artist Yayoi Kusama.”

[historyconnoisseur]

Unit 2 Reflection Prompts

What was the genre model you used as a reference point for your interview blog? Attach a link to it here.

For my genre model, I chose an interview about Andy Warhol. The interview style was interesting because it was noticeable that Andy does not like to answer personal questions about his art. Andy shows that he is uncomfortable being asked questions about his art because his creativity is more personal than anything else. In the interview, a variety of Andy's art is shown and his style of acknowledging the subjects and objects we choose to ignore and creating its art. Within the interview, the interviewer asked questions to people who have worked and have seen Andy’s rise in the art field. The interview design shows that the interviewer tries to make Andy comfortable by following Andy's lead as he asks the questions. Andy’s art process in his factory (as everyone calls his studio) is shown, and with the use of music, the interview is kept upbeat and entertaining. Overall, Andy’s body language was stiff, and he did not uncross his legs, showing his seriousness. The video's overall sourcing came from the fact that in the 1960s, Warhol was a well-known artist and creator. The questions were straightforward. In the areas that Andy did not know how to answer, he repeated the interviewee, which made the interview humorous and derailed from Andy's uncomfortableness. 

What was the style of your genre? Tone? Detail? And how did you model that in the presentation/packaging of your interview?

The style of my genre was informal because I know Steven, but it was also formal because I wanted to ensure that I was getting to know Steven as the Artist. The tone of the interview was optimistic and informative. Steven is a very optimistic soulful person who is daring so it made the interview intriguing and motivating. The details within the interview were getting to know Steven with his various lenses, such as father, husband, son, brother, full-time worker, AND artist. I modeled this throughout my interview by ensuring that I used Steven’s exact words and photos of Steven’s art that will show the audience who Steven Perez truly is.

What was the design of your genre? What was the look? The format? The use of media? How did you model that in your own? 

The design of my genre was to interview an artist and understand his aesthetic with art as well as the art industry as a whole. The look was professional while, on the other hand, informal. Within my interview, I was able to get to know Steven as well as get to know his creative side, which the audience is also able to know. The format allows the audience to get to know Steven while also following his art as they get to know his opinions and thoughts on the artistic industry. The use of media was chosen because Steven chose three pieces that mean the most to him. The first image is of Nipsey Hussle, who is an inspiration to Steven. The second image is watercolor with detailed fine lines that resemble faces. Steven described it as the various emotions and angles we see when we place ourselves in the world. The last image was created by Steven in Summer 2020 when there were riots and social justice marches all around the United States. I modeled the media in my blog by placing them in areas that correspond to Steven’s response to the questions. For example, Nipsy Hussle is an inspiration to Steven, so I chose to put it after he told me about his influences and supports within his artistic journey. 

How did the digital delivery mechanism of a blog affect your design?

The design of Tumblr did not allow me to present my interview the way I wanted to. On the other hand, Tumblr allowed me to place all the information I wanted to in a reader-friendly way while also integrating media and gifs to keep the audience engaged.

What type of source material did you use, and how?

I used my genre model to approach my interview with Steven. By using my genre model, which was an interview with Andy Warhol, I was able to notice ways to make an interviewee comfortable as well as how to keep the interviewer engaged, thus keeping the audience engaged

What was your rhetorical situation (audience, purpose, content, and writer’s perspective? Identify each clearly and specifically and talk about how each affected what you said and how you said it?

Audience

The audience of my artist interview consists of appreciators of the art world that range in age, race, and gender. My audience is also young artists that appreciate and support local businesses. My audience could also be individuals interested in going more in-depth with their own artistic selves, as Steven is both inspirational and relatable. 

Purpose

The purpose I chose to do this interview was because Steven is inspiring to people of all ages and his integrity and soulful way of being is exactly what the art industry needs. Steven is a father, a husband, works a full-time job, and still makes time for his artwork, which makes him relatable as well as inspiring to all people. 

Content

The goal of my content was to interview an artist that is wholesome and inspiring while also providing hope to art appreciators. My interview and overall analysis were meant to provide artists, art appreciators, and those with like-minded interests with an interview that will give them hope and move them soulfully, as Steven hopes to do with all his art. 

Writer’s Perspective 

As a writer, I had to analyze my notes after my interview to better convey the overall purpose of the interview. I also had to self-reflect on my reasons for interviewing Steven as I analyzed and choose answers that truly conveyed Steven through the lens I got to view him during our interview. 

Were there ways you did not meet the reader expectations of your blog?  If so, explain.

I believe I did not provide the reader with enough information on Steven’s artistic career from a young age which could change the perception of Steven that readers may create. By providing my readers with information on Steven’s background they could feel more connected to his art, which I should have done. 

What was the biggest thing you learned about genre and/or rhetorical situation in this unit while working on your interview project? And how was it similar to or different from your review project from the first unit?

The biggest thing I learned about this unit is that conducting an interview requires you to ensure that the person you are interviewing is comfortable with displaying their work as well as interview. Given that I had conducted an interview and then the artist did not feel comfortable having their information displayed I had to conduct another interview which takes time and effort to ensure it is done correctly. Conceptualizing the interview and deciding the information to include within the interview was an element that is different from the review project because although I had to conceptualize in both projects, the interview project required me to have to conceptualize and analyze my interviewee’s responses to ensure I was painting a picture that was understandable and entertaining to the audience.

How did you use The Method and/or notice, focus, and ranking to draw interpretations about the interview for your audience? Where did you put this information when presenting/packaging your interview on your blog?

I used The Method while drawing interpretations about the interview by noticing repetition and contrast. I looked at patterns, binaries, anomalies, and strands to gain a deeper understanding of how Steven’s words mattered. One pattern I developed from this was the word "create". Steven put emphasis on creating and diversifying his form of art to ensure that his art remains daring. With The Method, I was able to notice that being a daring artist is a part of Steven’s artistic style, and through his work it is visible. I placed repetitious words such as “create”, “evolve”, and “soul”  throughout my blog and within Steven’s answers. 

[historyconnoisseur]

Interviewing Steven Perez, a natural-born artist who expresses his soul through his art

“He can paint anything he believes” -Serena Perez daughter age 5

Steven Perez was born in Manhattan and raised in the Bronx by Dominican immigrant parents whose dream was to establish their children in the metropolis they still call home. Throughout his life, Steven Perez has always shown a gift for the arts! At the age of seven, he began drawing his favorite cartoon characters on notebooks as he watched them move through the tv screen. Steven’s artistic talents go further than his art; he is also a poet, two-year state champion in his high school basketball career, and most importantly he is a father. 

Influenced by J Cole, a Hip-Hop rapper who uses his words to share powerful stories that exemplify the pursuit of success while inspiring his listeners to build themselves up regardless of their background. Steven’s art is a representation of his subconscious thoughts which illustrate his soulful aspirations.

What is art to YOU? 

Art is daring, it’s a diverse activity involving creative imagination to express my subconscious thoughts and ideas. Art is everything that is good for the soul.

When would you say your artistic journey began?

I would definitely say that my journey as an artist commenced at about the age of seven. Watching Dragon Ball Z (anime cartoon) sparked the love to draw. 

Who has supported you most in your artistic journey?

The people who’ve supported me most are my family and close friends, even before I was actually any good they definitely believed in me from the beginning. 

Do you have an artist influence? If yes who?

I definitely have multiple artist influences, but at the moment the most impactful artist is George Condo. An artist who works in painting, sculpture, and printmaking. 

Steven is inspired by Nipsey Hussle’s focus on "giving solutions and inspiration" to young Black men like him. Nipsey denounced gun violence through his music, influence and community work. He spoke openly about his experiences with gang culture and worked on helping young Black men in Crenshaw and the LA area. 

How do you navigate the art world?

I try to navigate the art world by staying informed mostly. There are tons of artists all over the place so I try to keep an open mind to different types of art forms. I also follow social media pages of artists and other art related pages.

What about being an artist is your favorite thing? 

My favorite thing about being an artist is it gives me an excuse to be crazy, to push boundaries, and create endless content. 

What about being an artist is your least favorite thing?

I would have to say that my least favorite thing about being an artist is how easily others try to define who you are. I am constantly evolving and changing so to define me is to limit me.

What is your personal favorite kind of art?

My personal favorite type of art at the moment is surrealism, simply because it allows one to be free in terms of concepts. 

Are there any current art trends you are following?

No current art trend that I am following at the moment. I learn and appropriate as much from everyone around me but following trends is something I tend to stray away from. 

How do you price your artwork?

Each piece of art is different which requires different processes and materials. I price my pieces around the amount of materials I used and the size of the canvas.

Where do you see yourself taking your artistic career? 

I see myself taking my artistic career as far as I let myself. Honestly I don’t know where I'm headed as an artist but I do know one thing, whether it brings fame or not I will continue to create art.

[historyconnoisseur]

Unit 1 Critical Reflection

Identify your Rhetorical Situation for your Critical Reflection (Audience, Purpose, Content, Writer)

Audience 

i. My audience consists of history connoisseurs as well as historians. My audience is also children, parents, teachers, and overall people interested in learning the history of others and themselves. Given that everyone has a history, all my audience groups contribute to the unique history I analyzed and reviewed.

Purpose

i. I chose to analyze the exhibit that highlighted the history of race in America because of the recent turn of events in our country and my identity being shaped by my Americanness. I wanted to present resources and knowledge about other race’s history to amplify my audience’s perspective on American history.

Content

i. The goal of my content was to inform and emphasize how important it is to learn about others' history and our history. My review and overall analysis were meant to provide teachers, students, and history connoisseurs with insight on a glimpse of history that is told from a different perspective than what is taught at schools. 

Writer 

i. As a writer, I had to further breakdown my thoughts to better convey the overall purpose of the review. I also had to self-reflect on my values and reasoning as I emphasized certain ideologies and expressions so I could better educate my readers. 

Identify your Genre (Category) and the three main elements (Style, Design, Sourcing)

Genre: The genre of my art review is history. It is a history genre because it is about my own History as well as the History of Japanese Americans, African Americans, and overall the impact of a variety of races on American history. 

Style: The style of my art review was formal as well as informal. It was formal because I used facts and information from the National Gallery of Art. It was informal because I included my own information as well as personal pronouns. 

Design: In the design of my blog, I incorporated hyperlinks that directed viewers to the exact location of where I inquired the information as well as photographs that came directly from the site I hyperlinked. The photographs I added to my blog gave the viewer a visual as well as a better understanding of the topic and overall historical context. 

Sourcing: For my blog, I used both secondary and primary sources. The secondary source I used was the National Gallery of Art which I cited a variety of times through hyperlinks. The primary source I used was myself, given that I shared personal details about my historical and cultural identity. 

Freewrite to the following prompts to generate ideas:

What did you learn from this assignment? About yourself as a writer? About yourself as a learner? About Genre? About Rhetorical Situation? About your art?

I learned a variety of things from this assignment. The first thing I learned is that organization and taking notes is key when one does an art review. The second thing I learned was that reviews should be detailed and provide the viewer an “ah ha” as they read your review (depending on the review). I learned that as a writer, I do not write as detailed as I thought I did, and after writing this review, I am not a bit more comfortable with detailed writing. As a learner, I learned that I could not learn all parts of an assignment in one session. How Professor Moss structured our unit 1 project allowed me to work through each part and not get overwhelmed at the end of the unit. History is a genre I enjoy, but writing a history review is a lot different than what I thought it would be. I discovered that history is personal, which is why I needed to integrate my own history into my writing. The rhetorical situation was not as complicated as I thought it would be, although I believe if I were to do another piece of writing with a similar rhetorical situation, it would be strutted better. The art was the most enjoyable part for me. Being able to earn about Japanese American History and its impact on American History was very rich and intriguing to learn. I was able to educate those around me, which is something I really enjoy. 

What moments in your research writing process best illustrate each of these things you learned? For example, if you learned that the reader’s expectations of genre or finding a model to analyze helped you write your own review, give specific examples of how.

 By organizing my thoughts and how I wanted to write my information, I learned about the importance of organizing my thoughts and ideas. By going to office hours and talking to Professor Moss, I discovered the value of details and integrating personal details into art reviews. By finding a model to analyze, I noted different ways in which art reviews are structured and how each review is unique and personal to the writer. 

How did you meet the reader’s expectations of your genre? Give examples

I met the reader's expectations of my genre by providing historical dates as well as images that provided the reader with insight on the historical topic. For example, I included the actual photo captured by Dorothea Lange, which engages the reader with the art and history. I also provided the reader with a photo of Dorothea Lange, which builds on the reader's historical understanding and interpretation of my blog. 

How did you alter or veer away from these expectations? Give examples.

 I altered the expectations by providing the reader with various historical images to give the blog more historical information. By providing the reader with an image that represents the middle passage, I was able to broaden the reader's perspective, which hopefully will allow them to interpret the main art review, which was focused on Japanese Americans. I also veered from my genre model used for class because I chose to write from a historical perspective rather than a humorous perspective. Although both my genre model and my blog highlight racial inclusion in history, I made my blog more personal as opposed to the genre model I used as an example that chooses a humorous approach. 

How did your audience affect your choices?

My audience affected my choices because I had to provide background on myself, other races, the photographer, and the actual art I reviewed. I provided various backgrounds to set the tone for inclusive history, which is essential with the diverse audience my blog aims to reach. 

How did your purpose affect your choices?

My purpose affected my choices because I wanted to provide my readers with history, but I also had to set the tone to ensure the history was interpreted and appreciated. 

How did your perspective as a writer affect your choices?

My perspective as a second-generation immigrant and college student affected my choices. Overall, I was writing from a person whose history was not established in this country, nor is it taught in schools. Many Americans can relate to my perspective due to the Melting Pot that exists in America. Overall, I personalized and emphasized my perspective in my blog to give the reader a better sense of the various lenses I used to review my chosen art. 

Which publication did you choose to imagine writing for, and how did that help you figure out your rhetorical situation?

I choose to imagine writing for Times Magazine. Given the historical background, I imagined myself writing for Times Magazine, where I would be informing educated and non-educated people who enjoy learning about perspective. This helped me figure out my rhetorical situation because I focused on an audience that was diverse and had the goal to learn about perspective. 

What from this experience/process would you like to apply to future assignments or moments of communication inside or outside of this class?

I would like to apply the peer review work we did to other classes. As a future educator, I enjoyed how Professor Moss would choose group leaders and then ask them to ensure the group was using their time wisely to equally review everyone's paper. I think peer reviewing and overall sharing your work with your peers can help remove the pressures students could feel sharing their ideas with their professors. 

[historyconnoisseur]

Art Review on "Japanese-American owned grocery store, Oakland, California" captured by Dorothea Lange

Dorothea Lange, Japanese-American owned grocery store, Oakland, California

     The history taught in schools is often focused on the dominant white culture, which sparked my interest to learn about my own history at a young age. History is not only an important subject in school, but it is also an important aspect of our everyday lives because it shapes all of our interactions, identifies, and overall the way we perceive ourselves as an individual within society. My culture has always been an important aspect of my identity, and as I entered college, I began to integrate my culture into my everyday life more and more. As a second-generation Dominican who is the third person in her family to attend Syracuse University, my cultural identity is something I hold very close to my heart and my achievements. Coming to Syracuse was a cultural shock due to Syracuse University being a predominately white institution. As I began assimilating to Syracuse's culture, I became more aware of different parts of my identity that are important to me. From speaking Spanish frequently to eating Dominican foods at least once a week, my cultural identity has shaped my everyday life and the way I perceive myself to the world. History allows there to be perspective which ultimately is what allows all humans to coexist and develop identity. 

     Due to COVID, many art galleries have created online gallery viewings that allow art enthusiasts to view and appreciate art from the comfort of their homes. An art gallery is filled with several exhibits that could be useful for various people, especially individuals like myself that see art galleries as resources to learn about the history of others and myself. As I was looking for an art gallery with rich cultural history, I stumbled upon The National Gallery of Art, located in the heart of Washington D.C. The National Gallery of Art's web page is updated frequently and provides various art from American and European art, colonialism, racism, and discrimination. For Black History Month, which is throughout February, the National Gallery of Art displays various art forms that address and acknowledge the institution and topics around African American History. Once on the site, I scrolled down and read the words "Honoring Black History Month," which led me to a resource-based for teachers which focused on Uncovering America and the various racial identities that form the American history and experience. Once I pressed on the resource link, the words "Uncovering America" were in blue and red bold letters with "Race in America" as the exhibit's subheading.  

Kerry James Marshall, Great America

     The opening of the "Race in America" exhibit begins by inviting the viewer to question how art affects race. The source takes it a step further by asking the viewer, "How do power and privilege affect the way we express ourselves?" As I read that question to myself, I began to think of the different privileges and powers I have and do not have as an Afro-Latina who was raised in a middle-class home by a single mother who had no college education. The National Gallery of Art provoked me to question several parts of my identity with only a few seconds of viewing the website. As I continued to scroll through the "Race in America" exhibit, I began to question whose history is often told and celebrated. The "Race in America" exhibit utilizes the painting by Kerry James Marshall, Great America, to open up the discussion about African American history and the privilege often stripped away from African Americans when U.S. History is told as American history but does not include all aspects of the dialogue. Marshall's painting embodies the Middle Passage and the dark and eerie history African Americas endured when they were forcibly transported across the Atlantic Ocean. Beginning the discussion with Marshall's piece of art gives teachers and other historians access to history and perspective, which could be utilized to begin discussion and to provide students and others who are interested in history with information that can give them background on the various photographs selected for this exhibit. 

     The "Race in America" exhibit has a total of sixteen images which all represent races and topics that have contributed to American history and the establishment of race in America. One of the images on display at the National Gallery of Art in the "Race in America" exhibit that sparked my interest was "Japanese-American owned grocery store, Oakland, California" by Dorothea Lange.

Dorothea Lange is a European Artist known for her photos of migrants during the Great Depression era. Known for her thought-provoking and emotion-filled photographs, Lange traveled throughout the United States to photo document the various ways people were living throughout the Great depression. Between 1935 and 1939, Lange primarily traveled around California, the Southwest, and the South to document the hardships of migrant farmers who had been driven west by the twin devastations of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl.

Dorothea Lange, Japanese-American owned grocery store, Oakland, California

     My interest was intrigued when I first viewed this image because I was not sure how to correctly interpret the message portrayed by the photograph. The photograph displays a grocery store with a large sign that reads "I AM AN AMERICAN." When I first viewed the image, the first thought that came to mind was that the store was owned by a white man who was prideful of his Americanism. My initial reaction was based on the fact that Americanism has been portrayed to exemplify whiteness. The exhibit uses a variety of images that countered my thought processes and exemplified the various races that have contributed to the Melting Pot that influenced the American nationalistic pride. As the exhibit discusses, history is often displayed in a Eurocentric white-dominant lens, which removes power and acknowledgment from other races such as African Americans and, in this photograph's case, Asian Americans. As I began reading the description of the photograph, I realized that the image was a representation of a grocery store owner who is Japanese American and is also prideful of their American heritage. Given that the photograph was captured in 1942, the large sign that reads "I AM AN AMERICAN" displays the magnitude of emotion, pride, and sense of finding belonging experienced by Japanese Americans in Oakland, California, during that era. 

     The description of the image provides a brief history of the treatment of Japanese Americans during the Great Depression in 1942. As a history minor and overall history connoisseur, after viewing the photograph and reading the brief description, I felt compelled to research the migration and settlement of Japanese Americans during the 1940s and overall the Great Depression. 

     After Pearl Harbor, the United States endured xenophobia toward Asian Americans. As the description highlights, photographers were encouraged to capture America after Pearl Harbor in hopes of promoting internment camps. "More than 100,000 Japanese Americans were imprisoned in camps, and more than half of them were U.S. citizens." Learning that the United States imprisoned U.S. citizens caused me to feel a sort of disconnection with the term American and U.S. Citizen because imprisoning an individual based on racial and ethnic biases is not ethical, nor does it seem American, or is it? As I continued to research and interpret the large sign placed by the Japanese American, I began to ponder how the idea of nationalism in the United States has caused those who are not a part of the dominant culture to assimilate to constantly fighting for their rights and freedoms up until the present day. 

     The National Gallery of Art went a step further by asking the viewer two questions in the description of the photograph. The questions read: 

"What might have compelled the grocery store owner to put up this sign?"

 "Have you ever had your "Americanness" questioned?"

     I believe that the grocery store owner placed the sign to send a message to others that although they are Japanese, they are also American. I also feel like they felt compelled to put up the sign because, during the time period, Japanese Americans were experiencing racial targeting and were being imprisoned in Internment Camps regardless of their citizenship status.

     As a second-generation Dominican whose first language is Spanish, I have been questioned for my Americanness in ways I did not realize. In my first semester in Syracuse, I was asked if I was born in America because I "sounded Spanish and spicy," which I answered by correcting them on their oversight of my identity. Growing up in a predominantly white town caused there to be questions about my identity and social-economic standpoint, but the questions were about my family. My father was born and raised in the Dominican Republic, and my mother was born and raised in Harlem, New York. From a young age, I have been aware of the different parts of my identity that establish my place in society, as well as the way I view myself. I see myself as an Afro-Latina that is powerful, intellectual, and intricately a representation of my historically cultural identity.

[historyconnoisseur]

About Me

Hello! My name is Daslin Peña. I was born in New York City and raised in New Jersey, and when I turned 14, I moved back to the City. I am a second-generation Dominican. I attend Syracuse University, and I am studying Inclusive Elementary Education with a minor in History. I enjoy history, civics, and overall all things social studies! I aspire to become a history teacher for elementary and secondary school students, and as I teach, I plan to enter educational policy. My overall goal is to transform the history curriculum in the United States so that students can value their history and others' history.