Daddy and the warlord, a documentary by Clarice Gargard and Shamira Raphaëla

Source: school, a reading in 2019 by Shamira Raphaëla organized by my school.

My school often offers readings from upcoming artists and I love going there. It is an endless source of new information, inspiration and perspectives. Shamira Raphaëla was one of the speakers I attended in first year. She showed us the documentary which she made with Clarice Gargard and I fell madly in love with both women. Ever since I’ve been following both Shamira on her journey with documentary making and Clarice with all the different cool and inspiring projects that she does.

A. Made by a black woman

Ponts des Arts, the original lock bridge

Source: memories, conversations

When I thought about this category the first thing that came to mind were things like religion, traditions and culture overall. These things are created by enormous communities. The Ponts des Arts is just one small example of all the things that us humans created together. The reason I chose this one is because the collaboration of people who visited the bridge and decided to put a lock on it ended up being a very well-known design in itself, whereas most cultural events remain more visually abstract.
I never went to see the bridge myself, but I’ve known it from other people’s travel stories.

B. Made by a public/community or doesn’t have a clear author

C. Made by a minority in the country in which you live

Ik zie alleen maar kleur, a photo series by Larice Schuurbiers

Source: street, herself

Larice Schuurbiers graduated from my the major I am currently following when I was in my first year. I don’t remember how I came to know the project that she was working on, I just remember I really liked het vision. Her parents are mixed, her mother is white and her father is black, that has given her in our current society a number of challenges, which inspired her to create “Ik zie alleen maar kleur”. Although I loved her project, nothing hit me like her perspective on the world.

D. Made by a queer person

Self-portraits, Matt Grubb

Source: book, VICE THE PHOTO ISSUE 2019

As an owner of numerus photobooks and -magazines, this was the first thing I reached out to the minute I started the assignment. I knew that black women, queer people, local minorities and people who are not able-bodied were not very well represented in the photography industry, but still it shocked me how little the group ended up being. I ended up finding a few people who would fit into any of the categories and decided to go with Matt Grubb. I know quite some other queer artists by heart as I am very interested in that community, but I chose Matt because I really liked how his self-portraits were almost like a self-assessment

Prototype, music and video made by Viktoria Modesta Moskalova

Source: internet, YouTube

This one has left a huge impression on me. I found the video when I was about 15 years old and by that time I had never known anyone personally who was not able-bodied and so the media and my imagination were fully in control when it came to my idea of people with a physical disability. Obviously that idea was very stereotypical and far from the truth: I assumed that those people couldn’t be independent, confident or happy. Then I stumbled upon her video on YouTube and it completely took away my false assumptions of the physically disabled. I love how she created an alternate world in which her disability is desirable and how she showed that she also benefits from it. That because she only has one leg she can choose to wear her alternate leg as a fashion or design piece, something two-legged people could never do. It gives a new perspective, because instead of showing how she is similar to non-disabled people, she celebrates the differences.

E. Made by someone not able-bodied

Portuguese bird fridge magnet

Source: object, my fridgedoor

I’m not quite sure why I picked this object in the first place. Memories, memorabilia, family and my personal life are all of course very important to me but

F. A piece of design or work that is a memory, memorabilia, family, personal

none of that seemed to match the art/craft or design idea.

But when I searched my room, looking for something, anything I saw this little bird sitting on my fridge and decided that this would be it. I started thinking of ways it could be relevant and after some thought it just seemed to fit all the criteria. It is designed and handcrafted by the mother of a guy I used to be in love with. After we both came back from vacation (he was Portuguese and went back to his family in Portugal) he gave it to me as a souvenir. After he moved back to Portugal and we spit up I kept it as a memorabilia.

POLITICS OF LOCATION

POLITICS OF LOCATION

POLITICS OF LOCATION

POLITICS OF LOCATION

POLITICS

OF

LOCATION

After reading Rich’s Politics of Location I did a lot of thinking and re-reading, trying to make sense of all the complicated words she just put in my head. I am slowly starting to understand her more, but I do not feel comfortable yet to use this theory, which I still feel like I do not completely understand, to form my opinion about the artist I chose for Amy’s project. Also because some of the artist are just briefly introduced to me.

What I am comfortable with saying is that Rich’s piece has made me understand even better why Amy’s assignment was so difficult for me. That my body has given me a frame of reference that I have not always been so aware of. That that frame of reference is for the most part white and non-disabled. And that the sources that I would use first to find artists are also primarily white and non-disabled. I have always tried to be actively inclusive, but that is almost impossible if I am not aware of my pre-set frame of reference and therefor am not acting on making that more inclusive.

I will put more thought on this subject. After all I really enjoyed reading her piece and although I might not fully agree with her, she has giving me some really important insights so far and I think that re-reading it over some time might give me a new level of understanding for her writing.

POLITICS

OF

LOCATION

MACRO

VS

MICRO

Karl Marx and the conflict theory

Superstructure
A superstructure by definition is an extension on top of an already existing building. Therefor it is completely dependent on and created to fit that first building. Marx states that the economy is our building and all else (politics, religion, culture, etc) is the extension of that building. He says that the way we live is designed based on our economy and is still completely dependent on it.

The superstructure reminds me of conversations I had about online privacy. After reading the book ‘Je hebt wél iets te verbergen’ (You DO have something to hide) I realized how money driven our world is. Some of the people I know are hostile towards technology because they think it is used by our government to spy on us. Which is not a nice thought. But even a more depressing thought is that who we are and what we do is less important than the money that that information would make someone if they were to sell it. Worse is that it is worth only a few eurocents.

I do believe that all we know is some sort of superstructure based on an economic system, because all the data about my personality, experiences, interests, knowledge and even the most private of thoughts or fears, which are never told but only typed into Google, is worth less then a few eurocents. Just imagine how the world would be if only that one business model would not exist.

Modes of production
Modes of production is an economic system, like capitalism or communism and is an combination of ‘forces of production’ and ‘relations of production’.

Well obviously the mode of production in The Netherlands is capitalism because our entire economic system is based on supply and demand and there is very few limitation to a business’ growth.

Forces of production
The forces of production are the materials, objects and labour that is necessary in order to be physically able to produce. But it also seems to include the system that is used to produce, for example mass production.

Honestly my knowledge of the economy is far to little to apply this to our current capitalistic society.

Relations of production
These seem to be the (social) regulation around labour. What do people get in return for their labour? This is seen as the key ingredient for social constraints and defines how and by who the surplus is used.

Well I think that one of the most obvious characteristics of capitalism is that the main goal is economic growth. Whether that is as a business or as a country and so our relations of production are set to serve that goal and that is also how the surplus is spent and why the wages are kept rather low.

Means of production
The means of production are the materials, tools and facilities needed for labour or production. It does not include labour itself. If the working class does not own the means of production than they are not able to produce independently so all they have to sell is their labour itself and therefor they are dependent on whoever does own the means of production.

This is a tricky one, it really depends on the field you are in and what the means of production are for that field. For example if I were to be a cleaner it is not as hard to gain control over the means of production as it is if I were a factoryworker, because of the difference in cost to equip yourself with the means. But in our society it is becoming harder, even for cleaners, to gain that independence because you have to compete with large businesses who are able to advertise themselves on a scale that, for someone who works independently, is not even thinkable. I think that advertisement is some sort of new form of means of production and that means of production is a lot harder to obtain than a bucket, sponges and some soap.

Hegemony
A hegemonic culture is a culture in which certain ideas preserve the inequality between groups. These ideas are influencing all parts of society and are often not questioned.

I think we live in a hegemonic culture, without a doubt and I think Black Pete is a perfect example because he has been influencing our culture and our stereotypes and behaviour towards black people, but he was never questioned. At least not by the majority while I grew up.

Not to mention the discussion about whether he should stay or not, which lasted years, was really a fight over power. ‘My traditions will not be taken by them’. Most people who fought to keep Black Pete did not do so because his disappearance would hurt them so much. But because it was not their decision, they don’t want the other group to have power over their traditions. Actually it isn’t even about the traditions. They don’t want the other group to have power over them. They fear a form of inequality, but that behaviour is preserving the inequality that is already existing.
If that isn’t hegemony I don’t know what is.

Conflict theories
The conflict theory states that there is a constant change in society created by the fight of all groups over the power of resources. This fight is never ending, because if a different group were to take the control and therefor changing society, other groups would rise to take the dominant group down and regain control.

This I do believe and I do feel like this is happening at the moment, but I’m not sure if this is also a result of our mode of production. Because as long as there are conflicting interests this fight over power is not going anywhere. And even in the most simplest of societies there is reason for this conflict. Do you chose freedom or certainty? Individuality or community? And without compromising or reinforcing some form of those core values there is no society.

At the same time, without an economic system there is also no society. This is starting to feel like a ‘what was first the chicken or the egg’ kind of paradox, only is it not about chickens nor eggs, but about economic systems and conflicts.

So my conclusion is that we indeed live in a society driven by conflict because and over power and that that is not going to change. Which again is a very pessimistic worldview.

Structural Functionalism by Emile Durkheim

Structural Funtionalism
It sees society as a machine with lots and lots of different moving parts (working people) that all need to fulfil their function in order for the machine to work. If some parts start working a little more or less or differently the machine is able to adapt, but if the parts are moving in the opposite direction the machine will break and thus it will try to prevent that from happening.

Rapid change would break society, but instead slow progress is more desired and achievable.

This theory does not look at people as individuals but as small parts of a bigger picture.

Manifest function
The original goal for an institution. Manifest functions can vary but are always serving to maintain society.

Latent function
This is the ‘side effect’ of the manifest function. It can either be good or bad.

Institution
Something made to maintain society and prevents rapid change. Institutions are always slowly progressing.

It is hard thinking of a collective that is not an institution. Schools, hospitals, governments, community centres are all institutions. For me personally school is the most important one, it has helped me finding my interests, shaping my worldview. But also my experiences in high school is still very noticeable influencing my life today. Some of my closest friends I met there and also the addiction I am still fighting daily (no worries, it is nicotine!) I got in high school.

I think the current pandemic also showed both the importance and persistency of institutions in our society yet the fragility of society itself. It is incredible how, even in case of an absolute disaster our institutions continue to serve its purpose, one way or another. But the balance that is needed between the working institutions also proves to be very fragile as we try to balance out healthcare, social needs and economy and they all seem to have different needs but the same priority.

Social Facts
These are the things that influence the lives individuals on a daily basis, but cannot be influenced by an individual. Unlike institutions which are visible systems, social facts are more difficult to see. They are like an invisible wall which is not noticed until someone tries to run into it. Social facts also help maintain society, although they are not always intentionally created.

Consensus vs Conflict theories

Consensus theories
This believes that there is agreed on shared norms and values in society and that the people within that society have very similar needs and desires.
Structural Functionalism is a consensus theory.

In contemporary society evidence for the consensus theory is often found in social solidarity. For example in adjusting social norms and values over time and the support and solidarity during the Corona pandemic.

Conflict theory
Believes there is a conflict in society within two or more parties over power and resources/
Marxism believes these parties are divided by social class, where feminists believe we are divided over gender.

In contemporary society the conflict theory is often found in inequality. For example racial inequality, gender inequality and poverty.

Consensus vs conflict
Consensus believes that power is obtained by using the right tools and hard work, where conflict believes it is maintained and passed on within a certain group.

Symbolic Interactionalism by George Herbert Mead

This is the idea that people react on events, objects, ideas and other people and assign meaning to things to decide how to act.

There are three tenets for symbolic interactionalism
1. Action depends on the meaning we give something
2. Meanings can vary per individual
3. Meanings can change

Symbolic interactionalism looks at individuals as if they are the same importance as a society on a whole.

How I feel about the different theories

I feel like this theory embraces parts of both consensus and conflict theories. Because meanings can vary per person there is room for conflict. On the other hand it suggests that those meanings can change and that social interaction can have a part in changing those meanings, thus making it possible for humans to agree on certain values.

I like how this theory is less of a determinism theory and also gives creates space for change. Personally I believe that people are often very fluid, many things can create them to change whether it is disastrous events or slowly gained insights. I also think that micro level is more relevant for me as I do not intend to change society through bureaucracy.

However the macro level theories seem to interest me more, because I have not discovered that field yet and I do feel like it might help me give me a better understanding of society as a whole and even though I avoid bureaucracy I do think that it is important to try and understand the ‘system’ we are trying to change. Also reading the macro theories has given me a better understanding already of why change is so difficult. Where, although I was not familiar with the theory before, the symbolic interactionalism didn’t really feel like an eyeopener. More like something that I already felt, but didn’t understand quite enough to explain.