The brief:
Retell my favourite story or part of a story in 4 different ways:
*Photography Series
*Typography series
*Drawing Series
*Audio/audio-visual
For many years, my favourite book is 'small great things' by the fantastic author jodi picoult. this book resonated on so many levels for me - following each character's own personal journey whilst also travelling on my own roller coaster of emotions, reassessing my own thoughts and actions.
picoult follows 3 characters through out this book - a white supremacist, a black nurse and a middle aged white lawyer.
The book is based on a quotation from martin luther king:
"If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way"
My intention with the typography series was to represent the three main characters. We get to know the in depth details of their lives, thoughts and actions. at the end of the book all three characters have travelled along their own journey.
The lawyer representing Ruth (the nurse) claimed on a number of occasions she was not racist and 'didn't see colour'. Ruth's response to this claim was "you say you don't see colour. But that's all you see". At the end of the book, the reader see that this character is a reflection of themselves. Mild racism is still prevalent, even today, and this book recognises that despite it not being direct and intentional, the undertones of racism still run through society.
Ruth, the nurse, was told under no circumstances to touch a particular baby. When she sees this baby struggling to breathe and losing life, she hesitates before taking action. This hesitation causes the baby's death and subsequently the trial. Ruth Acknowledges throughout that she struggles on a daily basis by indirect racism. The quote I chose to use was, i felt, a very powerful message. How can we start a conversation about colour and racism when we've only ever seen and experienced one side.
The white supremasict character, Turk, was very well represented. Throughout the whole book he stands by his strong beliefs. at the very end, having lost not only his baby, but his wife, home and family he realises that perhaps the people he has blindly been listening to might not be talking the truth - this revelation was a difficult one for Turk, but he acknowledges that perhaps "the truths you've been told aren't actually true"
For my photography series, my intention was to represent the average reader's journey through the book. When reading this book I had a strong belief in myself and my own actions - I would never consider myself to be judgmental or racist. However at the end of the book, learning what Ruth was dealing with on a daily basis I realised that subconsciously, we all may do certain things or act a certain way without even being aware of it.
I wanted this series to reflect stepping into someone else's clothes - reading the three sides in this story means you are constantly conflicted - agreeing with a white supremacist, stepping into Ruth's shoes, recognising yourself in the lawyer.
I also wanted to reflect another level to this series - the male character, Turk. As a strong believer in white supremacy, he finds himself in someones else's clothes and at the end of the book he is completely transformed.
I also wanted to continue the black and white theme followed on from the typography series to connect the two.
Turk Bauer is one of the main characters. Initially the reader is not supposed to agree with Turk's beliefs and not be able to connect to the character.
We find out that his brother was killed in a car crash - the other driver was black. After this, Turk found himself following a number of white supremacy groups. he set up his own website and blog called "The Lone Wolf". He became more and more lost in the world of white supremacy.
when he finds out his wife's midwife is black he refuses to let her help his wife or touch his baby and this is where the book begins. I wanted to express his life and background in a very abstract way.
the intention is to want to find out more about this character and leave the interpretation open.
For my final piece, I wanted to create a powerful audio / Visual message.
This book highlighted to me how strong the influence of White Supremacy is around america and, surprisingly, in a number of European countries too.
The book is based on martin Luther king's words and so i felt he needed to be heavily featured. on martin Luther king's memorial in Washington dc are the words:
"Darkness can not put out darkness, only light can do that"
This powerful message is included in my video alongside multiple clips of neo-Nazi's or white supremacy all of which happened within the past 5 years.
This shocking message needed to be portrayed - how backwards the views are and how powerful one man can be against hatred.
