The Viole(n)t Era: Misperception and Mischief of the Media

I, the artist and middleman, am here to not just necessarily give you my truth and interpretation of life but to share the things, people, and cultures that I've come to love and become affiliated to my audience through my art. Whether or not you are emotionally invested in it is up to you.  Speaking of which, who is my audience? This question bore no significance, let alone crossed my mind over the last 4 years, until now. We humans are now living in a digital age composed of technological feats that have never been seen before. It has now occurred to me that my audience may in fact be individuals of all ages, who continue to push the boundaries of technology and social media while studying it. However, I also understand that it is not enough to merely study patterns in technology regarding how it makes our lives better; I must also understand the detriments of this technological age as well. From my personal experience, technology has acted as a gateway to escapism from the troubles of reality, running from my interactions with family and nature. These attributes are what I hold dear to me and will continue to interpret into my art.  I will convey this message through my paintings (oils and acrylic), whether on canvas or clothing to bridge the gap between my audience merely viewing my art and establishing an understanding of it. While we live in an era of misinformation and media biases, I sometimes use that subject matter to bring forth my message, which is to be true to yourself, even in a society where it’s frowned upon to do so.

Thesis Committee Members:

Professor Alexander Bostic, Chair

Professor Jenna Altomonte

Professor Jordan Kornreich