Project 1 - Contextualization
"Generally, to contextualize an idea, statement or event is to place it within its larger setting in which it acquires its true and complete meaning. Contextualization aids comprehension. For example, an arithmetic problem may not seem very practical until it is seen within a story problem;"
https://www.gotquestions.org/contextualization.html
Art and Social Studies
This year I am taking three classes in two periods compared to a normal Apollo year where we take three classes in three periods. I wanted to take three classes in two periods for the extra credit, but because I am going to have less time to do work I had to figure out the best way for me to get work done. In this project I really learned that combining two of the subjects together was the best thing for me to do. I was able to get good grades for all three classes and I was able to make some really good work.
I decided to combine Art and Social Studies for my first project. I made a design for a quilt and I accompanied it with a write-up explaining all of the contents of the quilt. I looked at three different African artists from three different countries and I used shapes and ideas to explain the context as to why these artist make the work that they do.
In doing research, I learned about the civil war in the Ivory Coast, I learned about some of the challenges that many people in Nigeria go through, and the overall reason why African artists make the work that they do and how their environment and how society affects them and their work.
I decided to combine Art and Social Studies for my first project. I made a design for a quilt and I accompanied it with a write-up explaining all of the contents of the quilt. I looked at three different African artists from three different countries and I used shapes and ideas to explain the context as to why these artist make the work that they do.
In doing research, I learned about the civil war in the Ivory Coast, I learned about some of the challenges that many people in Nigeria go through, and the overall reason why African artists make the work that they do and how their environment and how society affects them and their work.
English
English was the subject where I looked at why African art and artists are overlooked. When I was coming up with ideas for my first project I really wanted to look at how African American artists have affected the world in honor of Black History Month. However, I couldn't find much information at all, if any, about how African Americans have made a big impact on the world with their art. This led me to wonder why. Why are artists of color, more specifically, African and African American artist's, not recognized for their work?
I decided to write a set of poems that talk about, and look at the reasons why African artists are often seen as inferior when it come to their work. I was encouraged by Mrs. Goodrich to look at the way, and the techniques that I used to write my poems. So, I looked at two different African poets and was inspired by their work. I even used one of the poets writings in my own work.
All in all, this project wasn't really about learning something new. It was more about expanding my knowledge on things that I was already aware of. However, the thing that I learned was just how expansive and real the lack of understanding of Africa and its artists are.
I decided to write a set of poems that talk about, and look at the reasons why African artists are often seen as inferior when it come to their work. I was encouraged by Mrs. Goodrich to look at the way, and the techniques that I used to write my poems. So, I looked at two different African poets and was inspired by their work. I even used one of the poets writings in my own work.
All in all, this project wasn't really about learning something new. It was more about expanding my knowledge on things that I was already aware of. However, the thing that I learned was just how expansive and real the lack of understanding of Africa and its artists are.
Context of Poems
"How Can You See"
- I want this poem to talk about the colorism that many artists go through. It's not new for people of darker skin tones to be discriminated against. This is why many artists from Africa are overlooked. A lot of the artists that I was researching have darker skin, and because the world tends to view people with lighter skin as better, these artists have to suffer. I called this poem "How Can You See" because I wanted to get across of the message of how can the world see someones skin tone from their work. For example, a painter can paint a beautiful picture but when it is revealed that the painter has a darker skin tone, then people don't want to buy the work. They are not invited to join museums or shows. All because of something that had absolutely no relation to their work. No one can look at a story and say what skin tone the writer was unless the writer puts it in the writing. So, how can you say that someone being a darker skin color is not deserving when you are looking at or reading their work and you can see that it is good. Instead, the world chooses to put their skin color ahead of their work, and chooses blind themselves of their talent and potential. All because of bigotry. This is just one of the challenges that darker skin African artists face. This directly relates to how African works of art are neglected and often viewed as inferior.
"Why Say So"
- This poem is about how we have a narrow-minded perspective of Africa and it's people. Africa is a big continent, with many countries. However, the world has developed this perception that Africa is just a third world continent filled with war and poverty. The world tends to forget that there are countries in Africa with beautifully functioning cities, and beautiful architecture. There are inventors, artists, actors, influencers, creatives, and so many other important people that live and work in Africa. There are so many beautiful things about the continent but we tend to look at the negative. African artists are often mistreated in the industry because assumptions are made about them just because they come from a certain continent. I used the lines form the poem by Alexis Teyie because I loved the way that she wrote and the way that she put her words together to create such a beautiful poem. I was able to recontextualize her poem to fit the message of my poem. I used her verses to show that African countries have gone through some very rough times but they are still standing. They are still surviving and evolving. The line, "How can a mammal living have no brain as you say", means how can a continent that is still standing be as ignorant and primitive as we think. After all, it s still standing and there are things that are vital to our lifestyle that comes out of Africa. We use their resources, people, ideas, and culture but we still think that they are primitive and inferior.
"Unfortunately Equal Merit"
- "Unfortunately Equal Merit" is a reference to how in the western world many people believe that it is unfortunate if we have to view everyone as equal. Or, if we have to give everyone an equal chance. This poem talks about how in the western world, there are old hierarchies that put other people down like African artists. When the western world was being colonized, the people that came rearranged many things including the perspective and culture of the world. All of the sudden, anything that wasn't from the western world or European was wrong. These ideas of what is right and what is wrong in the world still live to this day. For African art, it is considered wrong because it different and unique form the art in the western world and Europe. The systems that are in place that believe these hierarchies put African artists and their creativity down due to feelings of superiority. Many people are told to hide who they are, and to change who they are to fit the societal pressures to look and be a certain way. The same is for art. In the western world art is supposed to look one way in order to be widely accepted. This limits so many creative people who create work that is original to who they are.
"Maarufu Mara Moja" ("Instantly Famous")
- "Maarufu Mara Moja" means instantly famous in swahili. In the western world we have the resources to easily become instantly famous. We have our phones to share videos, make skits and to post on the internet. Many people are able to view the work/things that we do and we have the potential to be instantly famous. This is not the same for some of the young artists that are in Africa. As previously mentioned, Africa is a big continent with many countries. There are many countries that completely contradict the primitive ideas that we have of Africa but there are still countries that suffer from poverty, problems in the government, systemic issues, and war. There are young children in these countries that have dreams to be big but they just do not have the resources. This makes it even harder for them to get their work out because they not only have to power through the challenges that their countries and governments put in front of them, but they also have to power through the challenges that the world puts in front of them as well. They have to work twice as hard just to get seen. It is also very interesting that in the world, if a dark-skin African artist is doing well, and is on the level as many of the international artists, we think that is it too good to be true. That they shouldn't/can't be as good or as successful as everybody else. That they must suffer. But, when there are artists that are suffering who aren't doing as well, and that need assistance to get their voice heard and their work out, the world turns their back.
- I want this poem to talk about the colorism that many artists go through. It's not new for people of darker skin tones to be discriminated against. This is why many artists from Africa are overlooked. A lot of the artists that I was researching have darker skin, and because the world tends to view people with lighter skin as better, these artists have to suffer. I called this poem "How Can You See" because I wanted to get across of the message of how can the world see someones skin tone from their work. For example, a painter can paint a beautiful picture but when it is revealed that the painter has a darker skin tone, then people don't want to buy the work. They are not invited to join museums or shows. All because of something that had absolutely no relation to their work. No one can look at a story and say what skin tone the writer was unless the writer puts it in the writing. So, how can you say that someone being a darker skin color is not deserving when you are looking at or reading their work and you can see that it is good. Instead, the world chooses to put their skin color ahead of their work, and chooses blind themselves of their talent and potential. All because of bigotry. This is just one of the challenges that darker skin African artists face. This directly relates to how African works of art are neglected and often viewed as inferior.
"Why Say So"
- This poem is about how we have a narrow-minded perspective of Africa and it's people. Africa is a big continent, with many countries. However, the world has developed this perception that Africa is just a third world continent filled with war and poverty. The world tends to forget that there are countries in Africa with beautifully functioning cities, and beautiful architecture. There are inventors, artists, actors, influencers, creatives, and so many other important people that live and work in Africa. There are so many beautiful things about the continent but we tend to look at the negative. African artists are often mistreated in the industry because assumptions are made about them just because they come from a certain continent. I used the lines form the poem by Alexis Teyie because I loved the way that she wrote and the way that she put her words together to create such a beautiful poem. I was able to recontextualize her poem to fit the message of my poem. I used her verses to show that African countries have gone through some very rough times but they are still standing. They are still surviving and evolving. The line, "How can a mammal living have no brain as you say", means how can a continent that is still standing be as ignorant and primitive as we think. After all, it s still standing and there are things that are vital to our lifestyle that comes out of Africa. We use their resources, people, ideas, and culture but we still think that they are primitive and inferior.
"Unfortunately Equal Merit"
- "Unfortunately Equal Merit" is a reference to how in the western world many people believe that it is unfortunate if we have to view everyone as equal. Or, if we have to give everyone an equal chance. This poem talks about how in the western world, there are old hierarchies that put other people down like African artists. When the western world was being colonized, the people that came rearranged many things including the perspective and culture of the world. All of the sudden, anything that wasn't from the western world or European was wrong. These ideas of what is right and what is wrong in the world still live to this day. For African art, it is considered wrong because it different and unique form the art in the western world and Europe. The systems that are in place that believe these hierarchies put African artists and their creativity down due to feelings of superiority. Many people are told to hide who they are, and to change who they are to fit the societal pressures to look and be a certain way. The same is for art. In the western world art is supposed to look one way in order to be widely accepted. This limits so many creative people who create work that is original to who they are.
"Maarufu Mara Moja" ("Instantly Famous")
- "Maarufu Mara Moja" means instantly famous in swahili. In the western world we have the resources to easily become instantly famous. We have our phones to share videos, make skits and to post on the internet. Many people are able to view the work/things that we do and we have the potential to be instantly famous. This is not the same for some of the young artists that are in Africa. As previously mentioned, Africa is a big continent with many countries. There are many countries that completely contradict the primitive ideas that we have of Africa but there are still countries that suffer from poverty, problems in the government, systemic issues, and war. There are young children in these countries that have dreams to be big but they just do not have the resources. This makes it even harder for them to get their work out because they not only have to power through the challenges that their countries and governments put in front of them, but they also have to power through the challenges that the world puts in front of them as well. They have to work twice as hard just to get seen. It is also very interesting that in the world, if a dark-skin African artist is doing well, and is on the level as many of the international artists, we think that is it too good to be true. That they shouldn't/can't be as good or as successful as everybody else. That they must suffer. But, when there are artists that are suffering who aren't doing as well, and that need assistance to get their voice heard and their work out, the world turns their back.