Blog 5

Adrian Piper’s “Decide Who You Are, Anita Hill” was my choice because it may be read rhetorically in a variety of ways. It was the one that stood out the most from the rest. A number of text appear above a portrait of a young Anita Hill in the first artwork. There are countless red-word statements related to various social and political movements. The first two that came to mind were the Black Lives Matter and #MeToo movements, both of which I believe encapsulate what this piece is trying to express. “Surely you’re exaggerating a little,” “you’re being irrational,” or “what’s the issue?” You’re being paranoid” sounds like someone is gaslighting someone else. The two movements I described deal with power dynamics in specific societal settings, such as between men and women, white people and black people, and affluent people and poor people. Piper’s usage of a picture of a black small girl accurately reflects what women and black people go through as they grow into adulthood. Art has the potential to have a significant impact on social and political issues in our society. Art begins a discussion and allows people to express their thoughts on the topics presented. Like Piper’s artwork, it can elicit a variety of responses and inspire others to think deeply about the issues depicted in the artwork and possibly take action to address them. Other pieces of art that support diverse causes can help stimulate conversations and put attention on other critical topics, like this art piece does with the #MeToo and Black Lives Matter movements. The text could also be interpreted as a social issue. It can be compared to a wealthy and impoverished individual. There is a man and a woman, as well as race. The statement “What’s the matter?” reminds me of the Black Lives Matter campaign. You’ll get over it” refers to the racial mentality that pervaded the movement in the United States.