Concerned Citizen

Artist Statement

It's hard to feel that the arts are slowly filtering out of the school system when you live in Provo, Utah. Music especially seems intrinsic in the Mormon culture, with every other child able to play the piano or sing angelically. However, more and more arts education is leaving mainstream school systems in favor of more "practical" skills such as sciences or athleticism.
In our reading in class this week, it says "Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefit." It continues on to discuss the progression of cultural rights in general and their ability to allow self-expression in ways that make sense to us. However, if this cultural and media-literacy is to disappear from schools, that ability to express in any particular medium that might benefit one specific person the most deeply will disappear. For example, in this class I often find myself frustrated by my lack of previous instruction and skill, and if I had come into it with more outside knowledge, I might feel more prepared to tackle these projects. However, with my limited arts education, despite extracurriculars all through grade school, I still find myself unable to express the intentions of my mind.
While this is a very concentrated example, and many people are not arts-minded and would be frustrated in an educational system that forces any sort of medium down their throat they aren't naturally comfortable with, the exposure to this kind of culture can only benefit students as a whole. Though perhaps a general knowledge of classical music or historical paintings won't help a surgeon as he operates, it just might allow him to put a family at ease with small talk using such facts that are separate from the medical situation entirely. The knowledge of these artistic pieces can create an empathy that a scientific background alone could not possibly allow.
Our concerned citizen, Daysha Lassiter, speaks about her worries of an ever-shrinking emphasis on the importance of arts educationally, specifically that of music education. As a junior in her pursuit of a Bachelor's degree in music, she speaks of the benefits she sees in musical education on students as an emotional output that would be deprived in an artless education. Multiple scientific studiesback up her theory on the benefits of musical education especially, showing increased test and language scores for those who participate in musical endeavors as well as the typical school work. We felt this issue was incredibly relevant, and Daysha's conviction was powerful enough to adequately address this issue.
When we filmed Daysha, we didn't want to focus on much other than her and the little pieces of her through her surroundings. Like with "Rusty" that we watched in class, we wanted the focus to totally on her, and felt her words were more important than any sort of film picture could be. We didn't want to over pack it with b-roll footage that might cause wandering concentration, and felt using primarily establishing personality shots did more towards that than some of the other clips we had would.
Though large scale political movement may not be possible, many people like Daysha are urging for the return to funding and aiding arts programs.  VH1, a cable TV channel devoted to music, has created the Save the Music Foundation which provides educational and scholarship opportunities for children unable to find it in their local schools. Through these movements and those that continue to come with increased passion and public movement, we might be able to bring arts education in its entirety to schools.

Protest Poster

Artist Statement

          For years, Americans have had a dark and gloomy picture of hunger and pain hanging over the image of the African continent. Commercials, blogs, and websites all add to the thunder clap that booms so steadily from the dark skies of American’s African imagination. While the issues they discuss are real, Africa is not a land doomed to overcast skies. There is a bright light that shines steadily, and the light emanates from none other than the land and people themselves.

          In my protest poster I explored this idea that Africa is a land void of happiness. In class we watched a talk given by Chimamanda Adiche, exploring this same idea. I was heavily influenced by this talk because I too have lived in Africa and understand some of the reactions she described in her talk. A more poignant example she described was while she would discuss with her college roommate. Her roommate was astounded by her native language and was amazed by the fact that she knew who Mariah Carey was. I felt that this lopsided perception is prevalent with the majority of Americans, and felt the need to explore it more fully.

          In preparation for this project I sought out some of the media that is fueling this gloomy idea. I found a website called “Save Africa’s Children,” that is a non profit organization made to help the suffering children. Their homepage is smothered with pictures of young children with tears in their eyes and unhappy countenances. One of the pictures that caught my eye clearly was a young baby looking directly into the camera with the words “Give Hope, Give Faith, Give Life, and Help Save Africa’s Children, Give Now” bordering his face. Another piece of media I found was a series of commercials done by the organization “Save the Children.” Their commercials focused in on a single child, sharing his name and where he was from, while quiet serene piano music is heard with the voice of a narrator glazing over the images. Finally, I found a CNN article titled “Why Africa Still Needs Aid” by Bob Geldof. At the top of the article is a picture of many people gathered around a well to fetch water, and the artist of the piece adds to this image by giving us several statistics about African life, such as “40 percent of Africa’s one billion population still live on $1.25 per day or less.”  While it would be impossible for me to argue and try to say that these organizations or viewpoints or not valid, I can say that they are not the whole truth.

          In my piece of selected several pictures showing the natural beauty of the African land. Beautiful waterfalls and rivers dot the land, while the sunsets cast a blanket of peace across the countryside. In the background of the pictures, I included one of a river with miles of crops growing on its banks. Agriculture is one of the most lucrative businesses in Africa, and millions of people benefit from their own gardens every single day. From this many people have their own source of food, and while they aren’t eating steaks, they are eating. I also included several pictures of happy people, especially happy children. Anyone who has stepped foot on the continent has instantly fallen in love with the pure innocence and happiness of the children. I picked these images to capture this notion. Although millions of children die to malaria and other diseases each year, millions more live and become respected members of their various communities. At the center of the poster I placed a clock tower found in Bo, Sierra Leone. Often when Americans imagine Africa, they instantly think of half naked people running about with spears, living in huts. Africa has several large cities and is developing its infrastructure. The clock tower is a symbol of that progress. I also placed a picture of the sprawling city of Freetown, Sierra Leone in the background near the top. The city is filled with clubs, supermarkets, restaurants, and is home to over a million people. The people you find there are vibrant and full of life.

          When I posted this image on Facebook, many people responded in a positive manner. One comment made was, “the world makes you think that Africa is a different place and that a people without much fiscal sustenance must have horrible lives and can't enjoy life without money and technology.” Another person who had also lived in Africa said of the poster, “It is showing your definition of paradise. Paradise is happiness, children, smiles, and enjoying the moment. Happiness is enjoying your surroundings. You don't need money or fame to be in paradise. I agree with you. I have never been with a happier people or been happier myself. Paradise.” It’s important to understand that there isn’t one side to this complex group of people.

          In conclusion, it is very clear to me that there is much more to Africa than dying children and tribes of primal hunters. It is a growing civilization that is ripe with booming modernism and  happy people. While there is still much to improve in the land, we mustn’t forget that there are millions of people who are happy with the lives they have, and happy with where they are going.