My name is Scott Bram. I'm an artist who wants to print my designs onto merchandise like shirts, stickers, keychains, the likes. My major is Graphic Design, though recently I've decided to transfer to Hudson County Community College to major in Radiography and pursue art on the side. While I haven't done any activist work, I'm vocal about the issues the LGBTQ+ community and neurodivergent people face, me being a part of both communities. I also collect figurines of my favorite medias. (≧ᴗ≦)
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Understanding Patriarchy | bell hooks:
"My brother and I remember our confusion about gender. In reality I was stronger and more violent than my brother, which we learned quickly was bad. And he was a gentle, peaceful boy, which we learned was really bad. Although we were often confused, we knew one fact for certain: we could not be and act the way we wanted to, doing what we felt like."
The patriarchy denies a woman's right to exist. It controls, binds, represses, and ultimately punishes a woman for daring to be a human. Patriarchy forces society to see women as something below a human and expects them to act as such lest she be punished with violence, and varying degrees of assault. It also, in a sense, hurts men who don't fit the binary of what the patriarchy demands. It can be engraved into children's heads at a very young age. As they are influenced by fear, it alters their lives and potentially continues the cycle of repression and abuse to future generations.
"Clearly we cannot dismantle a system as long as we engage in collective denial about its impact on our lives. Patriarchy requires male dominance by any means necessary, hence it supports, promotes, and condones sexist violence."
People are more likely to ignore things they don't believe are affecting them because, for some, it's easier to ignore problems and live in comfortable ignorance than to directly face these issues. People more than likely know the patriarchy affects them and they're actively experiencing it but would rather ignore it as a means of coping with something out of their control.
What Memes Owe to Art History | Artsy:
"Like performance art of the ’60s, memes are hardwired with an unpredictability and a “hackable” interface or template that can be easily appropriated and overwritten—anyone can make a meme."
Because anyone can make a meme, it's main purpose is to be subversive and at some points unpredictable. Memes can be filled under so many layers that they can become complex to understand if a person does not already have prior knowledge of internet culture. This, in turn, makes memes more of a statement against traditionalism.
"But Wershler noted the limits of political memes in isolation. “Narratives matter.…Pictures don’t speak for themselves,” he said, arguing that memes are not just jokes, but rather have the potential to be more sinister than what meets the eye."
Memes also have the power subliminally deliver messages that carry an agenda to viewers. Regardless of the political position of said memes, the possibility of one becoming radicalized via funny pictures on the internet is very possible. However, it's not taken as seriously as it should be as a common person would only see them as "jokes."
Memes Are Our Generation's Protest Art | VICE:
"Most are rooted either in expressing anger, mocking Trump, or collectively coping with the absurdity and even trauma of his presidency."
Existing in a contemporary society makes it easy for one to hard-wire themselves to seek escapism. Humans more often than not attempt to find others to blame for shortcomings, or seek a way to cope with it though humor. Because of this, memes are another form of protest which will never disappear.
"At their core, all memes, regardless of their politics, are a tool for expression. “Memes help to articulate specific points, amplify ideas, and intensify emotions,” Burroughs said. “Something can be comedic or a joke and still be incredibly poignant.”"
Feelings can be felt through art, and memes are no exception. While the main point of them is to express humor, the subject of the meme can also involve feelings of frustration, sadness, or disbelief. A meme's main purpose is to help one cope through humor.
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