Friday, December 1, 2023

Final Intervention - Jenelle Mejia

Mini documentary: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lwRujekVxlHZgEC2P86tPALIxLxdRW3Q/view?usp=sharing

Survey: https://forms.gle/4bPf9uxHBSKgbHuz5

Zine: https://www.canva.com/design/DAF1MJs_jBQ/J0UAZcN14XlCJo-V8VEQTQ/edit?utm_content=DAF1MJs_jBQ&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton

Most important photos:


Summary: 

My project was constantly changing and growing. I began by designing my own t-shirt and creating a zine. This project is very special to me because it resurrected the artist in me. In Stephen Duncombe and Steve Lambert’s book “The Art of Activism: Your All-Purpose Guide to Making the Impossible Possible”, they describe the power of art. Duncombe and Lambert explain, "This sublime power of art to circumvent our rational minds and affect our emotions, bodies, and even spirit, has been recognized for millennia." (Duncombe & Lambert, 2021). They also explain the importance of building community, “But it is people who make up those movements, and if change is to be far-reaching and sustainable, then all of us must be the movement.” (Duncombe & Lambert, 2021). I am passionate about informing people on the retail/fashion industry and helping them become conscious consumers. I love breaking down the stigmas that surround shopping at thrift stores. Working on this project was very therapeutic and helped me find some peace throughout the week. My passion stems from the ablility to develop personal style when people don’t limit themselves to fast fashion.


Once the zine was finished, I felt like my message got lost. The zine felt performative and didn’t have enough information. I decided to create a video and survey. I shared the survey and video by email and posted them on the NJCU student forum. Duncombe and Lambert explain the importance of offering different narratives, “If we really want to bring about revolutions in thinking and being we need to disrupt the stories people already have and help write new ones.” (Duncombe & Lambert, 2021). The video explains how fast fashion creates excessive amounts of waste and impacts other countries. One solution to reducing the environmental impact of fast fashion is by buying secondhand clothing. The survey was created to better understand people’s shopping habits. The questions ask people to describe what they consider while shopping. The survey results didn’t surprise me.


There is this thing about poor people wanting to look rich and I hope one day it just dies out. There is no blueprint for success but collectively we’ve decided that expensive clothing is the standard. Symbolically expensive clothing, jewelry, hair, and makeup are the standard for success. The fashion industry is elitist, fatphobic, and racist. The whole industry needs to be torn down and restructured. What I’ve learned from my job is that people don’t shop based on quality. The beauty of thrifting is that you can buy quality clothing at a quarter of the retail price. The average consumer shops based on what they see on social media. People will buy an article of clothing just because it has a brand name or is connected to an influencer/image. The average consumer can’t tell which pieces of designer clothing are real or fake. The market is flooded with knock offs that are priced at a high fashion level. Customers don’t consider where/how their clothing is made or who they’re giving their money too. Always ask questions and research the businesses you’re supporting. Most importantly, never get paid for freelance work in product. Know your worth. Your work as an artist will always be worth more than a couple pieces of clothing.


Works Cited:

Duncombe, Stephen, and Steve Lambert. The Art of Activism: Your All-Purpose Guide to Making The Impossible Possible. O/R, OR Books, 2021.



Artists/Projects:

Marina Abramovic - “I could never go back to the seclusion of the studio and be protected by the space there.” - Marina's fearlessness inspires me.

Shaun Leonardo - His artwork inspires me because it goes against the stereotypes of masculinity. 

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