Women are the Animals in the Government's Zoo

Recently I was at the Bronx Zoo with some friends. I began thinking about this concept of a zoo, and what it means for these animals. Here are some photos (and please excuse the ones that are clearly not that great as a result of a) me not having brought my baller Nikon, and b) having to take it with glass between us):

GORGEOUS!

Amazing!

Just hanging out, NBD.

first date, maybe?

This dude has an iridescent butt - no lie!

It was actually upon seeing the gorillas (above) that my friend, Amy, had sat down with my partner and started talking to him. I came in during the middle of the conversation and she mentioned that there was a vote taken on some of the animals and whether or not they could/should reproduce. Admittedly, I need to find out more details about this topic, but my interest was peaked and I immediately jotted down a note about it. 

I then started thinking about how it's really very similar that these animals have humans vote on their reproductive system. It's ridiculous that this does not stop at animals: many Congress members in the United States want this to be the case for female humans.

In all fairness, I'm not about to get into a discussion as to whether this is right or wrong for the animals, nor am I going to speculate on how the animals are treated in zoos. I would hope that what I see (which are relatively normal and happy animals) is what it is. Animals rights is an issue for another day for this vegetarian...

Another point I wanted to make is that in these displays (for lack of a better word) the viewers and the animals are given the impression that they are free in their natural habitats. Scenery in the background is created to give viewers and animals the feeling of really being out in the wild. In many cases (especially for the animals who can climb or fly to greater heights) some sort of net ceiling is present so they cannot ascend more than the zoo wants them to and ultimately, they will remain contained. This exactly correlates with the constant power struggle from the conservatives in the United States to keep women and their bodies under the government's control. 

I'm wondering if this is a starting point for me and an exhibition I can create...

Robbie Conal - Guerilla Postering

For those who are not familiar with Robbie Conal, he's a guerilla artist (and from the tips he gives on his website, quite the pro at it, too!) Originally from NYC, Conal always had a love for art and had a reputation for causing trouble and being escorted out of art museums and public libraries. An undergraduate student of San Francisco State University and graduate student of Stanford University, Conal used his education, social concerns and personality to begin making images that expressed his interest in "politics, power and the abuses of both."

He felt that art institutions were frequently unreceptive to this point of view, and therefore took it upon himself to being guerilla postering all over Los Angeles, where he now lives.

On his website he gives great advice about guerilla postering, titled "Guerilla Etiquette and Postering Techniques." Here, he very succinctly states what he finds to be the purpose of guerilla art:

"A surprise for people on their way to work in the morning. Critical ideas where people least expect them. To tickle the general public into thinking along with us about issues we think are important to the health of American democracy, the Constitution, our First Amendment rights, and the future of Hip-Hop Nation."

I especially appreciate the fact that in his advice for people who want to pursue guerilla postering that they do NOT cause trouble with/for the police. He explains that they are only doing their job and that it really behooves the artist to be compliant and not cause a ruckus.

Here are some examples of his work:

One point he makes that struck me particularly because this is the goal of my thesis:

"Empowerment: To take direct cooperative action on an issue that concerns us. For the general public who feel they have no avenues of resistance to the dominant power structure, no community support system, no ability to change their situation. To change apathy and cynicism to optimism."


For my first blog entry which describes the purpose of my blog, please click here. 

Cause Marketing = TOM's Shoes

I'm sure the company TOMS needs no introduction but just for the sake of being consistent I will give a little background on the company. Blake Mycoskie visited Argentina back in 2006, bonded with children he met there and realized that they had no shoes to protect their feet. In an effort to change this, Blake got the idea of creating shoes that, when bought, would also provide a pair for a child: One for One. 

Blake chose shoes for a few reasons:

1. Many diseases are absorbed into the skin in developing nations, and can eventually cause serious harm.

2. Bare feet leave children vulnerable to cuts, and sores that can get infected and have serious health problems.

3. Children without shoes to wear with uniforms cannot attend school. Without school, these children are unable to fully explore their intellectual potential.

This idea has been insanely successful. I cannot tell you how many people I see in NYC wearing these shoes. I have three pairs, plan to get more and I have to say that they are QUITE comfortable.

More recently, TOMS has also started the Giving Sight program. Here is how it works (straight from TOMS website):

What a great idea! Giving Sight is taking place now in Nepal, Cambodia and Tibet. 

One concept that I've been encouraged to look into with my goal of making passive pro-choicers active pro-choicers is cause marketing. I've tried looking into examples of how ideas can be shared, people will make contributions and what would cause them to do so.

I've talked to some people, and one opinion I've received is that people will take action when they feel empowered, and feel as if their action is actually making a difference. If they feel there's not point or "I'm one person" it's not so motivating. However, if they can see the difference, especially quickly, they are more motivated. 

The work of TOMS has been instrumental in helping these children and now adults too. I'm trying to take this inspiration to see if I can also somehow find a way to incorporate this idea into my design solution.


For my first blog entry which describes the purpose of my blog, please click here. 

A nod to the open-minded religious individuals

"Making the decision to have an abortion may have been difficult for you, but God understands that life is complicated and sometimes there aren't clear cut answers to life's most difficult questions."

I wanted to take a moment to recognize those are highly involved in their religion, spirituality and belief in God, but don't hold the same views on abortion as the judgmental ideological crazies you see in front of abortion clinics, yelling at women and telling them they will burn in hell.

There are individuals who are very involved in their religious beliefs who also hold a firm belief that abortion is a personal choice and that each woman should be able to make it for herself.

I wanted to be sure to acknowledge these individuals so as not to alienate them or group them into a mass of religious fanatics when they don't belong there. Just as I think it's incredibly unfair for a religious individual to judge me on my decisions, I don't want to judge others purely based on the fact that they hold firmly to their religious beliefs. The fact is that we don't know how people truly feel or think until we ask. For those who belong to this group, we hear you and we thank you for your openness.


For my first blog entry which describes the purpose of my blog, please click here.                                  

Steinem quote

I did not see any way that I could possibly 
give birth to someone else, and also give 
birth to myself. 

[Gloria Steinem, on her decision to have an abortion.]

Taking inspiration from Gran Fury

Gran Fury artists

As I have been brainstorming how I can create my design solution that will empower passive pro-choicers to take action against the Anti-Choice agenda, I met with my thesis professor last week and he gave me some ideas. One thing he said was that I should look to other important movements to see what they did and tactics they may have used.

My friend, Alenka (she's a designer and she's awesome!), came to Greenpoint about 2 weeks ago and we had lunch. She'd made a suggestion to me to look into Gran Fury, so I did.

Gran Fury was a collection of work by artists who were also AIDS activists. This activism was expressed through agitprop art (i.e. agitational propoganda art.) The name was derived from the Plymouth automobile favored by NYC police. Gran Fury was born from ACT UP/NY (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power, New York.) This agitprop art was expressed via posters, stickers, printed ads, fliers, bus signs and billboards. Additionally, photographs and slides were reproduced and used.

Here are some examples of their work:

Kissing Doesn't Kill

Sexism Rears Its Unprotected Head

Pope Piece

I got my information and images from the NYPL. For my first blog entry which describes the purpose of my blog, please click here.                                  

How Much Time Should She Do?

I've been in contact with David Benzaquen, Political & Legislative Action Coordinator at NARAL Pro-Choice New York, who has been really helpful in directing me to some information that I can use for my thesis.

One website, in particular, that he directed me to was created back in 2008 for the presidential election. NARAL created a website entitled 'How Much Time Should She Do?' This website explores the criminalization of abortion, if made illegal as a result of electing a pro-life President and Vice President.

There are statistics (which at this point are not the most updated, but gives the visitor a general sense), tells the visitor where action is being taken against women to strip their anatomical rights, HOW it affects women and what the user can do to take action.

I found it to be very well organized and not overwhelming in terms of the information given. I find that one thing that may scare people away at times when it comes to very controversial topics such as abortion is the fact that they are bombarded with information so much so, that the user eventually navigates away because there is just too much to digest at once. It was very succinct and well organized.

Under the very first link, 'What happens if...' hosts a video that was taken at an Anti-Abortion demonstration in Libertyville, Illinois (does anyone else see the irony in that?) These people, from what I observed from the video, have all been doing this for at least 2 years. When questioned about what they think should happen to women who get illegal abortions if abortion, in fact, becomes illegal as they feel it should be the answers were even more ridiculous than their cause.

The most common response?

"I don't know. I haven't given that much thought."

Huh, that's interesting. So you've been working for this cause for multiple years and you're positive that you are fighting for the right thing, and yet you haven't given any thought to what will happen to women who get an abortion illegally?

I have to admit that the response that really frustrated me was the response that women should not be sent to jail because the abortion is punishment enough. Why would that change if abortion were legal? I can confidently say that women who have abortions are not doing cartwheels on their way to the clinic, nor are they having abortions and then immediately heading out to the local bar to celebrate. The depression, guilt and grief are very real emotions these women experience as a result of having an abortion.

If you are just beginning to read my blog, here is the first entry that briefly describes the purpose.