Chapter 4 - Culture
Quote 1:
“Think of it this way: culture is to us as an operating system is to a computer. You can power up a computer with electricity, but without an operating system the machine just whirrs away, never booting up.”
My interpretation is that “culture” is what allows humans to function and understand the world, just like an operating system allows a computer to run. Similar to computers there are also many variations of computers and new systems just like cultures in our world.
Quote 2:
“In this way, all art is political, whether the artist intends it to be or not. And a great deal of art is politically conservative, rejecting and expressing the worldviews of those who are best placed, politically and economically, to patronize the arts and determine standards of competence and beauty”
My understanding of the quote is that a lot of art ends up being politically conservative as it often reflects the tastes and values of the wealthy or powerful. They're the ones who fund, support, and decide what counts as “good” art, which is also the reason why there is constant controversy when it comes to auctions.
Interview: Shaun Leonardo (Hispanic Executive)
Quote 1:
“I was offering a spectacle of violence and that identity of hyper-masculinity and aggression that is so often anticipated from a black body, and this notion that, as a black and brown body we move through the world and serve as a mirror for white peoples' projections.”
My understanding of the quote means that Black and Brown people are often judged based on stereotypes, especially being seen as aggressive or hyper-masculine, and are also expected to reflect what others, especially white people assume about them, this is further-more related as in “modern america” Black and Brown people are the main minorities getting hunted down and arrested for their skin tone, all based in stereotypes.
Quote 2:
“By being able to really exist in your own body and understand that you do not need to be defined by an experience in this case, arrest and incarceration it allows you to move forward with a little more sense of joy.”
My interpretation of the quote means that when someone stops letting a negative experience such as arrest or incarceration define who they are, they can feel more free and find more happiness in their life. Similarly this can be found in stories and experience such as the idea of letting go and forgiveness in order to move forward.
Performance Art Piece
Title: “Reflection”
Concept/Issue Addressed:
This performance is a bit personal for me as it's about self-reflection and personal exhaustion. It represents the experience of balancing work, school, and family responsibilities while dealing with financial pressure and uncertainty for the future. The mirror becomes a reminder of both struggle and self-awareness, where the performer acknowledges their exhaustion but also uses words of affirmation to keep moving forward and stay grounded.
Performance Description:
The performer stands in front of a mirror (or any reflection) and engages in a quiet self-reflective performance about exhaustion, identity, and perseverance in adulthood. Through spoken reflection and small physical shifts, they move from acknowledging fatigue and pressures to rebuilding self-motivation and emotional resilience.
Instructions / Script Draft:
Instructions for performer:
Initial reflection:
Look at yourself in the mirror. Do not pose. Just observe.
Let out a small sigh.
Say quietly: “I look tired.”
Pause. Let that sit.
Naming the weight (culture / expectations):
Still looking at yourself, add: “I feel like I’m always supposed to keep functioning anyway.”
Slight shift in posture—shoulders slightly heavier.
Then: “But as a Hispanic, I'm too “young” to just shut down.”
Acknowledging outside projections:
Stare a little longer, as if noticing judgments in the reflection.
Say: “Sometimes I feel like people only see what they expect from me.”
Pause. “Not me… just what they assume I am.”
The breaking point (honesty + vulnerability):
Look away from the mirror for the first time.
Sigh softly: “It’s a lot to carry.”
Long pause. Breathing becomes noticeable.
Self-interruption:
Look back at yourself, but more gently now.
Say: “But I’m still here.”
Then, slower: “I have work to do and family to support.”
Rebuilding self:
Straighten slightly.
Say: “I am more than capable of handling both.”
Pause.
“More than what people expect of me.”
Final self-support (quiet motivation):
Maintain eye contact with your reflection.
Say, firmly but softly: “I can keep going.”
Then: “Its not easy but I can keep going.”
Ending:
Hold your gaze for a few seconds.
Sigh slowly: “Man… I need a coffee”
Audience Participation:
The audience acts as silent witnesses to the performance, reflecting the external pressures and expectations the performer is describing. The audience silently watches the performance and represents society’s expectations. The audience does not speak or intervene, but their observation emphasizes the tension between private vulnerability and public perception, making the performer’s shift toward self-motivation more powerful.
Inspiration from Shaun Leonardo: Self-Portrait (2010)
Like Shaun Leonardo’s work, this performance uses the body as a way to communicate meaning. The physical struggle of carrying one's emotional pain, making invisible struggles visible, also contradicts the stereotypes of Hispanics being portrayed as violent and overly masculine. It also creates space for reflection and conversation, similar to how Leonardo’s performances engage audiences with difficult topics.
Final Reflection:
The whole script is inspired by Leonardo's self-portrait as the script is one in it of itself. A portrait of what my life is like as working is essentially my life and there's no time to rest as the world keeps getting harder. It's set as a way to remind myself of the words I use to get through the day, while also serving as a sort of self-awareness for my lack of rest.
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