NT - Blog #5

“This possibility of failure is part of a deconstructive element in your work, in the sense that much photography does not require people to think about audience while your work does. And that's part of its genius and power. So much photography doesn't lead people to think deeply about the work, to interrogate it. And the value of most prominent white photographers is not determined by audience response to their work. Yet folks will tell me, "Well, I'm troubled by Carrie Mae Weems's work because it doesn't work with the audience." The assumption is that there is one correct response, rather than multiple responses” (page 84).


    This quote piqued my interest because I feel like it is a common experience to see white people viewing art made by people of color and for it to be reduced to just that. This addresses the different standards set for white people vs everyone else. Some are troubled by the work of black people with no merit. As I have been growing into my young adulthood, I have realized that many people don’t consider every possibility when analyzing works, people, situations, etc. Usually, people let our specific biases guide our opinions and perspectives. Breaking away from your biases allows you to be human and see others as you see yourself; that's why it's confusing how people stick to it so strongly. This makes me believe there is no correct response, and always multiple. Everyone's response has a sequence of events preempting it.


"What are the sights of it? What should it have to look like? What does it have to challenge? To whom is it challenging? You know, who's it for? All those kinds of questions are constantly shifting for me. The moment that I think that I have it locked down is the moment in which it flips; you can't talk about the pros without talking about the cons. You can't talk about the "positives" without talking about the "negatives." And you can't talk about the truths without talking about the untruths” (page 86).


    I believe this quote speaks to the importance of intersectionality and logic. Only addressing one point of view skews the ability for logical reasoning to occur. It denies access to truths, which blurs the lines between what is true and untrue and, therefore, which premises of an argument are logical or not. This quote also helped me realize that creating confusion can be used as a tool against someone. If someone is confused or deluded about the reality or logical failings of a situation, they cannot make a fully informed decision anymore. The choices they make will be warped due to the withholding of context. When people lack intersectionality in their arguments about race, gender, etc., the argument lacks structure. How can you address blackness, queerness, etc., without addressing the impacts of years of history? Half of the context would be missing. People need to be questioned and provide context.