Introduction Post 1 - Madison Padilla

photo of me ✨

    

    Hi class, my name is Madison Padilla, but I also go by Maddie. Some basic info about me is that I'm a sophomore, 20 years old, and majoring in Fine Arts and Crafts here at NJCU. I'm Puerto Rican and Polish as well. I'm quite an introverted person and not very talkative, but I enjoy many forms of art, like drawing, painting, and ceramics. I'm a big fan of gaming, anime, and different genres of music (K-pop, electronic, hyperpop, R&B, pop, etc.). Art is subjective and free, and I enjoy exploring various feelings and emotions that come from it, both through my own work and the works of others.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anonventurer/. I don't use it often, but feel free to follow me. 

Here are a few photos of my art.

Political Art: During IShowSpeed's tour in Africa this past month, he has received many pieces of art from artists directly during his live streams to different countries. I watched his most recent visit to Namibia, and this artwork comes from a man who says he made it out of circuits! (sorry the quality is not very good, but it's a great piece, so I wanted to share it lol.)

Quotes and Responses: 

Understanding Patriarchy by Bell Hooks

1. "Separatist ideology encourages women to ignore the negative impact of sexism on male personhood."

I'd like to think this quote argues that sexism applies to both men and women and hurts them as well. Men are also pressured by sexist ideologies. It suggests for women to ignore this damage. A system cannot be dismantled by being ignored and affects everyone involved in some way.

2. "Patriarchy demands of men that they become and remain emotional cripples."

I feel this quote emphasizes that while patriarchy allows men to retain power and status, it strips them of their ability to express emotion. A social construct of men not being allowed to show their emotions because it is "unmanly." The system forces men to conform to it and act in a way that is expected of them. 

What Memes Owe to Art History | Artsy

1. "Narratives matter...Pictures don't speak for themselves."

This quote really focuses on the meaning and context behind what you see. A picture may show something, and you can give a rough guess on what the story is, but narratives provide the importance behind it. Knowing the proper narrative behind an image before you look at it already gives you incentive to believe the context in the story. 

2. "Performance brought art into the street and public spaces, leveling the gap between artist and audience."

I feel this quote really demonstrates the importance and power of performance art in our society. Traditionally, art is confined to spaces like galleries and closed environments. However, art moving to the street and public spaces allows it to interact with the world directly. Anyone can be involved in it. Also, I feel like the method of performance art pushes and confronts ideas that are controversial, like with reflections or protests. 

Memes Are Our Generation's Protest Art | VICE

1. "At their core, all memes, regardless of their politics, are a tool for expression."

I like this quote because a meme is the ultimate tool for expression because it can function for all people regardless of language. This is also a public act in a sense, because you don't need to have training to create a meme, just an idea for it and maybe some template. It is easy to create meaning in something with a simple image as the main grabber and a caption for the intent. A meme can allow you to connect with others and find those with similar ideas to you. 

2. "Memes can spread far more quickly than the songs or art projects of previous generations, and there’s such a low barrier to entry that anyone can make them; they can go viral in a matter of minutes."

This quote shows that it has become significantly easier to reach more people in media today. While songs or art projects can take long to create, memes are way simpler and rely on that relatability factor. And it works. More people can interact with it as a meme as well, not like a song or an art project from a consumer standpoint.