Last but not least here is my final post of the semester.
I want to say first of all, that I had a wonderful time in the class. I was sooo lucky and blessed to have met so many wonderful people and such a chill understanding teacher that really tried to relate to his students personally. The class had such a vibe that I immediately felt like I was part of the family. My friends who I invited to the super Pachanga ;) especially my friend from Brazil had a wonderful time singing at the top of his lungs like he was part of the family from that one night as well :)
It was a special group. I hope to keep these friendships beyond this class.
This last piece, I admit, is not as flashy as all my other pieces; there is no primary colors, let alone any color except the nuances of graphite, and only slight texture.
However, this last piece is perfect for summing up my journey in this class.
I started off hesitant, rusty on my Spanish, and quiet because I was afraid to embarrass myself in front of these thought-to-be native Spanish speakers. I was wrong. I realize that each person in this class was a fusion of cultures, identities, and dilemmas and also triumphs that I could deeply relate to.
The conversation that we had in class discussing the "stuttering" that people had was memorable, as well as the importance of our name, and how the pronunciation of it dictated different meanings and identities to people.
First let me expand on the stuttering that everyone talked about. My case was a little different. I would be able to speak and read and write both English and Japanese since I was little. However, the extent to which I was literate in Japanese is still slightly hard to discuss. Because I don't sound foreign in either language there is an automatic assumption that I am fully fluent in both languages. However, I can't say that I am. I am trying to maintain my Japanese language and culture, even as I know that American culture and language is ingrained deeply within me. It is confusing to say the least. My Japanese culture is something that I hold on to and identify with. However, in reality, it is a culture that I only know so much of, and can live through my family, Japanese friends, and when I go to Japan. However, I also know that it is a culture that I am never part of, and never will be fully part of. It makes me sad to think about it, but I have accepted the fact that I am a fusion of both cultures, and I am making a way for the median between the two cultures. Everyone who is a mixture of different cultures has their own definition of how involved they are with one culture and the other. There are millions of definitions of "Japanese American" for every single person that claims they are this identity. It's hard to dictate how involved one will be though.
Also, the "name" topic that we discussed in class is a big part of this dilemma. In America, my name is Naomi (Neigh-oh-mee). <Not Nahee-oh-mee..... like some people mistakenly call me -_-> In Japan, my name is Naomi （なおみ／直美／ Also known as: Nah-oh-mee）.
Which name do I prefer? I personally am at a loss to decide. I am both. I have the American part of me that says "Neigh-oh-mee" but the Japanese part of me that says "Nah-oh-mee". I had friends who pressured me to decided, who still question me for which name I prefer but honestly, I'm fine with both. They are both a part of my identity, and although it may seem indecisive I decide to be indecisive. haha. I stand tall for both my cultures. Some people in class thought that by saying our name in an American accent, it meant we were succumbing to the American culture. However, perhaps that person identifies more with their native culture. If so, then perhaps people saying their name in an American accent would dictate that they are succumbing. But for others, like me for one, it is different.
How does this relate to my art? To this class?
Well, for the last week I did some research on Lila Downs.
The most important fact about her that influenced my artwork was her identity search. She once felt ashamed at her identity as part Native American. She was embarrassed when her mother spoke in her Native tongue. Eventually though, she accepted that identity of herself. I took these pictures offline, to show her different faces, representing her face depicted in the mainstream sense of what "beauty" is, thinned eyebrows, dark eyeliner, long hair, versus the pictures depicting her with braids, fuller eyebrows, less defined make up, jewelry that hints at her Native American culture.
It reminded me of myself. I used to dress according to popular Japanese culture when I was younger, and now I dress admittedly more American than Japanese, but also with Japanese modern styles at times. She shares my journey of finding oneself amid clashing cultures.
My art mixes the face of Lila downs with symbols from Japanese culture, Mt. Fuji, sakura petals, the rising red sun symbolic of the Japanese flag, along with Native American cultural influences including an image of a lady in mid step during a traditional dance from Oaxaca.
It is an ultimate image of relating myself personally to one of the singers that we looked at in this class.
It's funny because I came into this class wanting to know more about my mother's culture and her view about it, but I came out knowing and having a stronger grasp of who I am. Amid all of these challenges in searching for myself, and understanding where others are coming from, and making art to represent these feelings, I feel like the biggest challenge was overcoming my fear of the Spanish language barrier once more, and overcoming my fear a little more of opening myself up to other people. This class has granted me the opportunity to make art and challenge myself to expand materials, styles, and ideas of art, while understanding more about Mexican culture (which I really love to do), and keep improving myself as a person at understanding and being open to other people and cultures. Also, I feel like I better understand my mother a bit more, and possibly her struggles and feelings amid her journey as her younger self born and raised in Mexico, through this class. Overall, I am thankful, for you and for everyone who made this journey happen.
Gracias amigos. ¡Hasta luego!
I want to say first of all, that I had a wonderful time in the class. I was sooo lucky and blessed to have met so many wonderful people and such a chill understanding teacher that really tried to relate to his students personally. The class had such a vibe that I immediately felt like I was part of the family. My friends who I invited to the super Pachanga ;) especially my friend from Brazil had a wonderful time singing at the top of his lungs like he was part of the family from that one night as well :)
It was a special group. I hope to keep these friendships beyond this class.
This last piece, I admit, is not as flashy as all my other pieces; there is no primary colors, let alone any color except the nuances of graphite, and only slight texture.
However, this last piece is perfect for summing up my journey in this class.
I started off hesitant, rusty on my Spanish, and quiet because I was afraid to embarrass myself in front of these thought-to-be native Spanish speakers. I was wrong. I realize that each person in this class was a fusion of cultures, identities, and dilemmas and also triumphs that I could deeply relate to.
The conversation that we had in class discussing the "stuttering" that people had was memorable, as well as the importance of our name, and how the pronunciation of it dictated different meanings and identities to people.
First let me expand on the stuttering that everyone talked about. My case was a little different. I would be able to speak and read and write both English and Japanese since I was little. However, the extent to which I was literate in Japanese is still slightly hard to discuss. Because I don't sound foreign in either language there is an automatic assumption that I am fully fluent in both languages. However, I can't say that I am. I am trying to maintain my Japanese language and culture, even as I know that American culture and language is ingrained deeply within me. It is confusing to say the least. My Japanese culture is something that I hold on to and identify with. However, in reality, it is a culture that I only know so much of, and can live through my family, Japanese friends, and when I go to Japan. However, I also know that it is a culture that I am never part of, and never will be fully part of. It makes me sad to think about it, but I have accepted the fact that I am a fusion of both cultures, and I am making a way for the median between the two cultures. Everyone who is a mixture of different cultures has their own definition of how involved they are with one culture and the other. There are millions of definitions of "Japanese American" for every single person that claims they are this identity. It's hard to dictate how involved one will be though.
Also, the "name" topic that we discussed in class is a big part of this dilemma. In America, my name is Naomi (Neigh-oh-mee). <Not Nahee-oh-mee..... like some people mistakenly call me -_-> In Japan, my name is Naomi （なおみ／直美／ Also known as: Nah-oh-mee）.
Which name do I prefer? I personally am at a loss to decide. I am both. I have the American part of me that says "Neigh-oh-mee" but the Japanese part of me that says "Nah-oh-mee". I had friends who pressured me to decided, who still question me for which name I prefer but honestly, I'm fine with both. They are both a part of my identity, and although it may seem indecisive I decide to be indecisive. haha. I stand tall for both my cultures. Some people in class thought that by saying our name in an American accent, it meant we were succumbing to the American culture. However, perhaps that person identifies more with their native culture. If so, then perhaps people saying their name in an American accent would dictate that they are succumbing. But for others, like me for one, it is different.
How does this relate to my art? To this class?
Well, for the last week I did some research on Lila Downs.
The most important fact about her that influenced my artwork was her identity search. She once felt ashamed at her identity as part Native American. She was embarrassed when her mother spoke in her Native tongue. Eventually though, she accepted that identity of herself. I took these pictures offline, to show her different faces, representing her face depicted in the mainstream sense of what "beauty" is, thinned eyebrows, dark eyeliner, long hair, versus the pictures depicting her with braids, fuller eyebrows, less defined make up, jewelry that hints at her Native American culture.
It reminded me of myself. I used to dress according to popular Japanese culture when I was younger, and now I dress admittedly more American than Japanese, but also with Japanese modern styles at times. She shares my journey of finding oneself amid clashing cultures.
My art mixes the face of Lila downs with symbols from Japanese culture, Mt. Fuji, sakura petals, the rising red sun symbolic of the Japanese flag, along with Native American cultural influences including an image of a lady in mid step during a traditional dance from Oaxaca.
It is an ultimate image of relating myself personally to one of the singers that we looked at in this class.
It's funny because I came into this class wanting to know more about my mother's culture and her view about it, but I came out knowing and having a stronger grasp of who I am. Amid all of these challenges in searching for myself, and understanding where others are coming from, and making art to represent these feelings, I feel like the biggest challenge was overcoming my fear of the Spanish language barrier once more, and overcoming my fear a little more of opening myself up to other people. This class has granted me the opportunity to make art and challenge myself to expand materials, styles, and ideas of art, while understanding more about Mexican culture (which I really love to do), and keep improving myself as a person at understanding and being open to other people and cultures. Also, I feel like I better understand my mother a bit more, and possibly her struggles and feelings amid her journey as her younger self born and raised in Mexico, through this class. Overall, I am thankful, for you and for everyone who made this journey happen.
Gracias amigos. ¡Hasta luego!
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