This course explores the ways in which objects and material culture embody personal narrative. Moving back and forth from ephemeral traces of events and experiences to the culturally invested luxury goods that create legacy to the objects that facilitate daily life, this class will use, as its primary references, examples that draw from queer and African American cultures to underscore the potential of objects to tell the stories that not only reflect majority traditions and experiences but those of the disenfranchised, the details of whose lives are often obscured. In addition to readings that will provide background for class discussion, student will be asked to play the roles of detectives, archeologists, and curators at various sites around New York City. Each student will also be asked to create an annotated material record that reveals the public and private lives of one individual. That record may consist of texts, objects or any variety of media chosen or designed by the student. This blogs serves as an archive for the work done in the context of this course and related materials that become relevant to this exploration.

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

LGBT Ally Scholarships


Recently there was an outcry on the internet (tumblr) about the existence of scholarships given to LGBT allies, rather than just members of the LGBT community. Many people spoke out about how it was unfair to give money to people who simply lend their support rather than endure the discrimination and hate faced by the other members of the community. However, an interesting point was made. An ally student applying for these scholarships could be the child of an LGBT couple. In which case, they have spent their lives experiencing the same discrimination and hate as their parents. It brings an interesting thought to question - are the children of LGBT couples allies, or are they something more? They certainly endure a different level of discrimination that someone who simply believes in equality for all people. Yet, unless they identify as LGBT themselves, it's almost as though what they go through is unseen and forgotten.

Posted by Briana Lynch
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)