Identity

We were ask to write a Statement of Intent that contextualise;
What you want to explore?
Why it matters to you?
How you wish to develop your project?
When and where you intend to begin your study?
We need to describe our chosen theme about Identity & Community, subject-matter (topic, issue), artists (inspirations, references) and final outcome (photobook, film). And plan our first photo-shoot as a response to our initial ideas.

Remember Your culture: American Latinos in Jersey

What reminds you of your culture , how would you represent it? Identity and community is a very interesting theme since there are multiple ways to interpret it. After all, we all have diverse communities and identity. So we have variant opinions on this subject. When I was little I travelled and lived in many countries where the cultures were distinct. I had the opportunity to meet different communities. Today those communities are part of my identity. With this project I will have the opportunity to represent the cultures I grow with. I would like to focus on the Mexican culture because this culture represent me more and I think it would be fascinating to play with fashion. Today Mexican’s are represented in a certain way in the medias. The media portrayed Latin women as exotic and hot-blooded passionate in both love and in war arose In he cinema she is spicy, combative and hypersexual. She always speaks her mind she has no filter and often loud she has a temper that’s barely under control and she often violent and destructive when she’s angry. Latin men are very often represent it like mafias or are in gangs. There is Physical stereotype as well, e.g. in the medias we usually see Latin woman with tan skin, brunette hair, pouty lips and her body is voluptuous. And sometimes if when we don’t fill those categories we are not consider Latinos. The aim of this shoot is to make fun of these stereotypes and show that they are ridiculous because they shouldn’t define if you are Mexican or not. It reminds me a bit of Sherman’s work, more specific in ‘untitled film skills’. Sherman does self-portraits with various costumes and poses. She represents female stereotypes found in film, television and advertising – all of her photos are in black and white. What is special about her images is that they don’t come from recognizable films, nor from specific actresses’ interpretations, but they do show the types of personalities they have in general. Martine Gutierrez is an artist I find intriguing for my project. Her series “Indigenous Woman” is a reflection of her high-fashion and glamour. Her project is a mixt of humour/absurdity and fashion. It is something I would like to recreate in mine, making links to stereotyping of Mexican culture. She is her own model, photographer, stylist, creative director a challenge that I plan to do. Another photographer similar in the fact that they make their own self-portrait to show their own identity is Zanele Muholi. I find their project inspiring and very beautiful, I think I will be able to learn a lot.

Plan

1. what? I’m planning to do several shoots(16) in different locations, (different stories) of Mexico in a fashionable and Stereotypical way.
2. why? Its important to me to show that being Mexican doesn’t involve on those stereotypes and make fun of those stereotypes. Mostly just show my culture plus I’m able to work with fashion something that appreciate a lot .
3. how? I’m planning to do self-portrait because I want my project to about my point of view on my culture.
4. when? I’ll start to do my shoots during Christmas holidays.
5. where? I want each photo to be a different story so for me it would be more suitable if I do each photo in a distinct location, They mostly be in house but I want to be spontaneous so anywhere that reminds of Mexico or I think is a perfect place for one of my stories would be great.