Breakfree 2.0
Our Inspirations:
Stereotype Activity
To begin our study of stereotypes, we did an activity in class in which we had four different races (white, black, mexican, and asian) written on posters throughout the room and us students had to write any word/phrase/stereotype we had ever heard about that particular race. This activity uncovered many institutionalized stereotypes in society and gave us a basis for what we had to work to undo. An institutionalized stereotype is the accepted preconception about a person based off of their race/religion/gender/etc that has been ingrained in our minds by society. At our exhibition we re-created this activity as shown to the right.
Whistling Vivaldi Reading
Whistling Vivaldi was the first reading we did in our study of breakfree. The story is about an African-American guy describing how whenever he used to walk down the street people would cross to the other side to avoid him and limit eye contact to little to none. People would do this because they stereotyped him to be dangerous because of his race and gender. In order to combat this stereotype, the man one day decided to whistle a classical song as he walked down the street. The response to this action was incredible: people stayed on the same side of the street and even talked to him because they deemed his whistling a sign of education and deemed him no longer dangerous. This reading was really eye-opening for me because it made me so angry that the man had to prove himself for others to treat him as an equal as opposed to people just having an open mindset in the first place. We also learned about stereotype threat which is a stereotype being so institutionalized into a group that if anyone in the group doesn't fit the stereotype they are outcast by their own group.
Project Description
We had two parts to this project: one was to delve into a characteristic that we are personally discriminated against for and create an artistic piece to represent that characteristic and show how we have broken free from the stereotype, and the second was the group task of creating a video. For the group project, we had to research the historical background and analyze the patterns that particularly affect an underrepresented group. We needed to connect with an expert on the topic and perform a social experiment that helped the participants to breakfree. The goal of these videos was to empower the underrepresented group and also promote a “breakfree” experience for that group.
Writing Process:
Personal Piece
Most of my personal journey throughout this project was exploring how being a woman affects how I am treated in this world. I found when filling out my "That" Card, creating personality maps, and talking to my classmates that being a woman is a really defining part of my character (not just for the obvious fact of it being my gender) and that I take pride in being a woman and want to have just as many opportunities as any other gender. This project helped me to be more confident in speaking up about the issues I face everyday being a woman in America.
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In today's society women are always told who to be - whether those demands come from modern media (physical beauty and "lady-like behavior) or from disrespectful people who see women as unequal to men. These institutionalized stereotypes force women to act/look certain ways to not be shut out and shamed by both men and women. I wanted challenge these institutionalized views of women by writing and performing a spoken word about how women are viewed in society and ultimately how they should be viewed - however they want to be.
"That" Card
"That" Cards are index cards with the stories of times we personally were affected by stereotypes or discrimination because of our race/religion/gender/etc. On one side we wrote about the specific moment we faced discrimination, and on the other side we created a visual containing three key words from our story to represent our topic. These cards allowed us to connect with our project on a more personal level because not only were we able to see the prevalence of discrimination in our own lives, but also in the lives of our peers. A photo of my "That" Card is below.
Group Video Project
My group chose to do our video on the affects of using social media and how it is used nowadays as a place for people to compare themselves to others and define their views of themselves based off of numbers (social media popularity) instead of as a creative platform. The first step in our video production was writing our proposal which can be found below.
After turning in our video proposals, we presented our idea to the class and received feedback. Below is the powerpoint we used for our presentation:
After receiving the critique from the class, my group decided to scrap our original video concept and start from scratch. We knew we wanted to convey the same message, but we needed a more solid video idea. Once we found a concept we liked, we created a storyboard.
Finally after a few short, stressful weeks of filming and editing our final video came together. I am truly proud of this video and I hope that it inspires everyone to question our current use of social media. Our final video is below.
Reflection
1. What does Breakfree mean to you?
Breakfree to me has two meanings. The first is finally being comfortable with who you are and not being afraid to embrace it. Society has trained us to hide key parts of ourselves in order to fit in with the majority. We have been told to confine to standards set by society and people who have been deemed the "norm" who are unwilling to acknowledge that a person's differences make him or her unique. But to Breakfree is to challenge these standards by showing off your defining qualities and speaking up about why they are important. The second meaning of Breakfree, to me, is the act of switching your mindset from the negative stereotype about a certain group that has been drilled into your head by society to a more open, accepting mindset. It's not our fault that we have these prejudices against people we don't even know because society literally brainwashes us to believe these claims, but it is important to exercise this meaning of Breakfree in order to detach ourselves from these hateful judgements and spread more love and open-mindedness into this world.
2. What was the most challenging part of the work around Breakfree for you and how did you overcome it?
The most challenging part of the work around Breakfree was accepting the fact that even though I consider myself an incredibly progressive and judgement free person, I too have been brainwashed in certain areas by society. As a female, when I walk alone I typically avoid strangers - even crossing the street sometimes to be further away. I never thought of this as a prejudice until my teacher explained that she does the same thing and that one day she didn't cross the street and ended up meeting a man who is now someone she considers a friend. I realized that I was guilty of crossing the street specifically to avoid men while walking alone out of fear; which, is a prejudice that every man is dangerous. I am still working to breakfree from this institutionalized stereotype I have been brainwashed to believe by thinking twice every time I think about crossing the street.
3. What have you learned and gained so far in our studies approaching Breakfree not only on a personal level but also academic understanding?
On a personal level, I have learned much more about myself and what issues I care about. This project also helped me to gain more confidence in sharing the traits that make me unique and in speaking up about my opinions on difficult topics. I can successfully say this project has re-affirmed my label as a feminist because I have been able to study in depth how all of the stereotypes in history have affected the treatment of women today. On top of learning about the stereotypes surrounding women, I also learned about the stereotypes around immigration, African-Americans, Mexicans, and Asians and I have been able to use this newly acquired knowledge to identify even the subtlest discrimination and have the facts to explain why it is wrong and hurtful.
4. Where are you at with Breakfree now - what is your current thinking of it and what are your hopes for it?
When the project was introduced, I was already interested in the concept because it was helping to change the hate in this world to love - which is a positive benefit for everyone. But during my own breakfree process I have come to realize that Breakfree is even more than that: it's about changing both your mindset about others and becoming comfortable with yourself. These two aspects make the project all the more important in creating a world in which there is love - from a person to another and from a person to his or herself. Because of this, Breakfree is an incredible concept that I think needs to be spread among more people. I hope that we can go viral with our message and that others follow in our footsteps and take their own #Breakfree journey.
Exhibition
We did our exhibition at Queen Bee's in North Park. The venue was absolutely perfect for the vibe we wanted to create: a relaxed, art-exhibit kind of feel. I really liked how we had the chairs set up in a coffee shop style around the stage as opposed to rows. I felt this set up really made the performances feel more intimate, therefore, more powerful. I felt our exhibition was one of - if not the best - exhibitions I have ever been apart of. On top of the atmosphere being so natural, I felt like people really enjoyed being there and seeing the incredible work we had produced. I also enjoyed performing my spoken word because not only was I passionate about it, but I could see how receptive other people were to it. I could tell that what I was saying was resonating with people and it was an incredible to watch my hard work make a difference. Below are some photos of our exhibition.