“American History 2000 – 2012” – POLITICAL?
It’s interesting to hear how people describe what they see.
The first time I heard that “American History 2000 – 2012” was a political piece I was shocked.
What I see is a series of collages of visual images and events that WE witnessed. The images I collected for 12 years represent key events and emotional reactions. These images and words were presented by the MEDIA and PR firms to the American people. We saw them on TV, billboards and the internet, in newspapers, magazines, and tabloids. We saw them whether we wanted to or not.
“American History 2000 – 2012” is about News and Advertising. It’s about the stories we were told.
The fact that “American History 2000 – 2012” has been tagged political makes me realize that POLITICAL is the first layer, people visually respond to. Each panel from 2000 – 2011 has multiple layers of images that represent a spectrum of events, issues, advertising and reactions.
Why when people look at “American History 2000 – 2012” do they associate POLITICAL as the key word? This project is a mirror. It’s not meant to influence our political stance.
I feel when people put a political label on something it’s meant to pick a side. In our culture that is separated by two primary political parties, Democrats and Republicans we assume we have to choose one side or another. What this work does is shine light to what American Society has been exposed to. It does not sway towards one side verses the other. It’s objective and it tells stories about what we were told, what we did and how we reacted.
Sincerely, Gaye