Term of Award
Spring 2023
Degree Name
Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.)
Document Type and Release Option
Thesis (open access)
Copyright Statement / License for Reuse
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Department
Department of Art
Committee Chair
Jeff Garland
Committee Member 1
Melissa Huang
Committee Member 2
Casey Schachner
Abstract
My work is an exploration of identity as a BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, Person of Color) body traversing through the generational histories of my family and the struggle of cultural loss to our assimilation of Whiteness. Through the multi-faceted medium of performance, my work uses physical and mental spaces of self and technology to understand how the body functions as a screen. Our bodies house projections of generational expectations that have trickled down from the past into the present. These projections shape our own unique identities along with the personal experiences we gather as we move through the various spaces of our life. My performances dissect these spaces and the systemic bias that consumes them, helping me unlearn and put an end to my own performative acts that cater to Whiteness. This honesty can be seen throughout my most recent works which give me a space to heal and reconnect with my cultures in everyday life.
Recommended Citation
Ash, Jalen R., "Sana Sana: Unlearning Generational Expectations Through Performance" (2023).
Research Data and Supplementary Material
Yes
Included in
Art Practice Commons, Contemporary Art Commons, Cultural History Commons, Fine Arts Commons, Latina/o Studies Commons, Native American Studies Commons, Performance Studies Commons
