Self-Introduction: Mohamed Camara

    Hello, my name is Mohamed Camara. I'm an aspiring graphic designer, and every day we wake up one step closer to death. I just want to do and make art that can move me and others. I'm still learning and discovering more about myself all the time, so there's not a lot I can say right now. While I wouldn’t label myself as an activist, I do believe in fairness and justice for people and systems.

Understanding Patriarchy 

"I tried to warn you. You need to accept that you are just a little girl and girls can't do what boys do"

"Women can be as wedded to patriarchal thinking and action as men"

    In Understanding Patriarchy, Bell Hooks shares her experience growing up in a patriarchal household, where these beliefs were imposed on her and her brother from an early age; beliefs that go back even before her parents’ time. Patriarchy was reinforced everywhere: in homes, schools, churches, media, etc. Even in households that reject patriarchy, it’s nearly impossible to escape its influence because it’s deeply woven into our society. The system teaches that men are supposed to lead, be aggressive or violent, and suppress their emotions because showing vulnerability is a sign of weakness. Meanwhile, women are expected to be feminine and supportive of men. Through her own experiences of trauma and abuse, Hooks demonstrates the impact of living in a patriarchal household. I appreciate how she also points out that patriarchy isn’t solely men’s fault, both men and women play a role in upholding it and must be held accountable.

What Memes Owe to Art History

"Today’s meme culture adopts the techniques of postmodernist movements like Pop, performance, and conceptual art to buck their precedents to subvert the status quo."

“Memes aren’t an innocent process—they carry serious political weight, and not always of the activist variety,”

    Alice Bucknell’s article explores the incredible power of memes and their ability to influence what’s happening today. But, memes didn’t just appear out of nowhere they’re rooted in the work of earlier artists and movements, and were often inspired by them. Bucknell also draws a connection between memes and the known principles of the Guerrilla Girls: using humor can effectively sway people to your side. 

Memes Are Our Generation's Protest Art 

"Most people interact with these images in fleeting ways as they scroll through their feeds, but creating or consuming political memes that align with one’s point of view can be therapeutic. They reflect what’s happening in society, and help justify feelings of rage and fear while helping us feel less alone."

“You can express yourself with one picture of a meme better than a whole page of text, They’re easy to create, reuse, and remix. And what makes them work so well is that they’re so relatable. They make us laugh but have the ability to connect us around a common feeling.”

    The article Memes Are Our Generation's Protest Art by Sage Lazzaro, talks about how powerful memes are and how quickly they can spread. They're simple to make and easy to comprehend, which helps people connect with each other. They also can be seen by a bunch of people faster than any other form of protest. Memes can make people feel like they’re not alone, whether it’s through a political meme or something more personal. Although I posted my two quotes above another statement that stood out to me in the article was “Memes help to articulate specific points, amplify ideas, and intensify emotions,”

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