Nishae Williams/self-introduction

 Introduction post:

Hi! My names Nishae Williams. I’m a freshman pursuing a fine arts major at the moment. In the near future I plan to transfer to Kean to pursue a major in fashion design. A goal I hope to accomplish within the next few years is the complete my first set of clothes, wether it be a brand or etc. Other than the basics, I do consider myself an activist when it comes to my beliefs and opinions in certain topics.

What Memes Owe to Art History:

Quote 1: “Memes resist today’s norm-culture in the same way the performative turn of the 1960s disrupted Modernism.”

Quote 2: “Memes aren’t an innocent process—they carry serious political weight, and not always of the activist variety”

Short response: This article basically summarizes that memes shouldn’t be considered as simple jokes floating around the internet. Memes contain impactful information about world changing events and bring them into the spotlight. By spreading quickly online, meme spotlight important events and hold them in attention as different perspectives take the light.

Understanding Patriarchy- Bell Hooks

Quote 1: “Men who have heard and know the word usually associate it with women’s liberation, with feminism, and therefore dismiss it as irrelevant to their own experiences.”

Quote 2: “ Until we can collectively acknowledge the damage patriarchy causes and the suffering it creates, we cannot address male pain.”

Short response: patriarchy harms not just women, but men as well. It plays a role in shaping life experiences and relationships. Bell Hooks reminds the people that change inquires acknowledgement of these damaged. When we can reconcile them, then we can begin to discuss and start the healing process together.

Memes are our generations protest art:

Quote 1: “Under Donald Trump specifically, Burroughs says, memes have grown in popularity as a way to express political opinions, similar to how George W. Bush’s presidency gave rise to liberal blogs.”

Quote 2: “Memes can spread far more quickly than the songs or art projects of previous generations, and there’s such a low barrier to entry that anyone can make them; they can go viral in a matter of minutes.”

Short response: Memes have been a modern tool for spreading all sorts of information for quite some time. They make activism accessible and easy to use for all parties with easy internet access. They spread quickly, and due to that they have replaced older forms of protest art for this generation.