The Tyrants Fear of Songs

Date

2019-05

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Abstract

I began to use empathy as a starting point for some of my work seeing how it could be a useful tool to challenge a social status quo whereby we can trivialize the challenges of others. In the Outsiders exhibition, I used my own empathy to address a plight seldom spoken of: the plight of innocent victims of war. Namely, the civilian casualties of the US-led invasion of Iraq. My contention was that they existed as a statistic – half a million innocent casualties – but that we should be seeing them as individual people with their own lives, ambitions, and loved ones. Using myself as the personification of that experience, I used my empathy to seed empathy in the viewer. My struggle became emblematic of the Arab struggle and in that moment compassion strips away surface treatment and exposes the human beneath. Through everyday objects and actions, a kinship can be formed with the viewer; however, with the added elements of strain and sadness, I hope empathy is evoked, and the action becomes theoretical, which in turn invites thought and introspection. A beard being shaved is a normal, reversible action, but coupled with sustained eye contact and a solemn demeanor an element of loss is conveyed and the idea that the conversation is about more than just a beard starts to become apparent.

Description

Thesis completed in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Fine Arts degree in the School of Art and Design at the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, Alfred, NY.

Keywords

MFA thesis, Refugee, Prayer Mat, Beard Shave, Arab, Depopulation, Suitcase, Sculpture-Dimensional Studies

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