Blog 23

1.       In what ways do you “construct” your identity? In what ways do you “perform” in your daily life?
The ways in which I construct my identity is to not be public with my emotional state outside my close circle of family and friends.  I try to maintain a positive and helpful attitude when I’m around others, often times ‘performing’ because I am dealing with personal issues that don’t always allow me to feel the way I used to.

2. Describe some ways in which your personal culture and social environments are “constructed”.

Some of the ways in which I construct my personal culture at this time is through photography, by attempting to look at common everyday items and try to find visual interest in them to share in my pictures.  Additionally I try to listen to music that is different from my usual genre.  Observing art and different types of movies, trying to broaden myself culturally.  My social environments consist of peaceful surroundings, staying away from those who cause friction or have angry temperaments.  I don’t attend events that are violent such as wrestling or boxing and when I go to the movies they are generally lighthearted and provide a positive message.

3. Describe some ways in which your physical environment/space is “constructed”.

I have created an environment that is calm, comfortable and safe.  I have purchased furniture that is soft and welcoming.  I wear clothes that are comfortable as opposed to fashionable and dress up only when necessary, unlike the 25 years I worked in an office.  My world has become one of peace and tranquility as often as possible.

4. In your daily life, what would you consider to be “real” and what would you consider to be “constructed/fabricated”?

The part of my life that is real is the fact that I lost my job after 23 years, recently divorced and purchased my own home.  What feels constructed is my financial stability and appearing to be okay to the outside world when I am working through the fallout of the previous year and all that entails.

5. Describe a narrative tableaux that you might create to be captured by a photograph. A narrative tableaux can be defined as “Several human actors play out scenes from everyday life, history, myth or the fantasy of the direction artist” ( Constructed Realities: The Art of Staged Photography Edited by Michael Kohler , 34).

I would create a photograph using models in an art class.  They would all be painting at easels and there would be a nude model posing at the front of the class.  Some artists would be covered in paint, on their faces and smocks while others would look baffled and overwhelmed with the project.  Other painters would have smug looks on their face as if their work was superior to those around them.  It would be a scene of contradictions with the calmness of the model who is posing and very relaxed.

6. Describe an idea for a photograph that includes a miniature stage or still life. A description of such an image is “The tableaux reconstructs events as in the narrative tableaux, but in miniaturized format, using dolls and other toy objects” (Kohler, 34).

Since I am leaving for Florida in 3 days I would create a photo using a shoe box, sand, small palm trees, a chaise lounge and a doll representing me, lounging and living the good life.  I would paint a picture of the ocean on the back of the box with windsurfers and choppy waves and sun reflecting off the water.  It would feel fresh and reviving and would put the observer in a happy state of mind.