The Girl of Many Identities.
Flash Fiction
You’re innovative when it comes to making something but an introvert when it comes to leaving your house. You’re caring and compassionate towards others but you're self conscious and critical towards yourself. You’re nice and good natured but fearful of the world around you.
Artist Statement
For my self portrait I wanted to capture six parts of my personality. I wanted to choose three positive traits and three traits that kind of clash with the positives. Every good thing has a bad thing or consequence to go with it especially with personalities. For example, one I have is that I’m caring and compassionate but I’m self conscious and critical towards myself. The reason I picked to display these emotions with the eyes, cheeks, and mouth is because these are features that can tell a story without you even saying a word. A tear and a smile could mean that someone is crying tears of joy but a small change like a frown can give it a whole different meaning. People say that your eyes are the window to your soul and I have to agree with that because whether you like it or not you it is very hard to not show emotions through your eyes. Last, for my flash fiction for my portrait I wanted to give a little more understanding that some of these traits can clash. Also, I wanted to do it in second person so that the reader would feel more connected to it like someone was telling a story about the reader and not some imaginary character. I put items in all six spots to represent the trait that goes with it so a light bulb for innovation, a house for being an introvert, a tear to show compassion, blushing to show self consciousness, a smile to symbolize kindness, and a frown to represent fear.
They Say/ I Say
“Higher Education”
Most people think that someone’s personality can change over the course of time. A personality can change because the person wanted to change or because their environment affects them. Also, there isn’t really any good or bad people because good people can do bad things and bad people can do good things. However, some people think that if someone would kill another person that they would always be bad and they couldn’t and don’t want to change. A bias most people have is that if someone does something bad that they aren’t good because a good person would never do such a thing.
Even though most people think that a bad person will always be bad not everyone thinks that way. For example, Coach Perry Reese knew that people could change their personality but they had to try and put forth the effort. Some of his basketball players would do some not so good things and Perry knew that they had just made a bad decision and that they could change. The one bias he didn’t really think about was the Amish's perspective on African Americans. However, Perry Reese didn’t really care if people liked him or not because he had a job that he loved and he wanted to change the attitudes of his basketball players. He knew that the Amish didn’t really like him because he was black but even more so because he was Catholic. Just by being himself he single handedly changed everyone’s bias and possibly personality in that community.
In my opinion, I agree with Perry Reese that people can change but they have to put effort into it. I do think that people can change their personality and bias but I also know that it won’t always be easy. However, I do not agree that most people think that if someone does something awful that they will always be a bad person. It is hard to think that a murderer could turn into a really nice person but it’s not impossible. Everyone makes mistakes and screws up but just because you lie when you’re younger doesn’t mean that you’ll become a terrorist when you’re older. Once again it all depends on if the person wants to change their ways or not because maybe some people like being bias towards certain groups or being always angry. I think everyone should try and get rid of their biases but that is easier said than done especially if you grew up in a family who had a strong bias against something. For example, when I was younger my dad use to be extremely racist but my mom, sister, and me weren’t. He refused to let my mom get us a black baby doll for Christmas because that’s how strongly he felt about it. I never understood why people were racist and I think it’s rude to hate someone just because of their skin color. I have never been and will never possess that trait but it did affect my personality. It affected my personality because that was how I first found out that some people actually have a problem with people with darker skin. Finding this out made me really angry but it also showed me that the world is worse than what I had thought.
P.S- I know my picture is really creepy and weird looking, I apologize.
I like how you combined contradicting personality traits of yourself in your picture to capture the overall image of yourself. It reminds me that in fact we all do have some contradictory personality traits of some sort. I also liked how you added a symbol for each trait to represent it in the picture to show each trait is some representation of you.
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate how honest your self-portrait is. You weren't afraid to put your feelings about yourself out there and that takes bravery. I like how you chose to explicitly show everyone the qualities you see in yourself, and that you accept them. Your flash fiction definitely represents your portrait and your rationale makes sense. The one pager is very centered and focused and has a nice personal touch at the end. Overall, I really like it.
ReplyDeleteThis is really creative! One of my favorite parts about this piece is how there is two sides to everything. We tend to put a mask on when we are out in public. But who sees the real you then?
ReplyDeleteWell written; I can easily connect with it!
I like how you really break apart your flash fiction to explain your thinking. I feel the same way, like my character traits contradict each other. Your self-portrait and flash fiction really lend power to one another, good job! Do you think the symbolism in your self-portrait gives your piece depth? Your I say is very elaborate, and deep. I love the personal example of how you first recognized injustice and how it was in your own home.I can really picture that interaction between your parents. Do you feel as if your own personality has changed throughout your lifetime? For the better?
ReplyDeleteI thought it was very creative showing the opposites to both sides of you, and how you showed it with the picture and the opposite sides of your face. I liked how even though it was simple, it showed a lot about you and your personality.
ReplyDeleteNot going to lie when I first saw your picture I was confused but when I read the piece and explanation the meaning became clear. I love how you tried to involve all aspects of your personality and then went on to explain what different emotions and feelings mean. On to your one pager, it was very well done. I loved when you said " just because you lie when you’re younger doesn’t mean that you’ll become a terrorist when you’re older." Its such a great point and brings a great argument to the piece really showing how you feel about it.
ReplyDelete