Self-Portrait Project
Flash Fiction:
Some people say that you’re kind, you just see it as looking outside your own perspective. You know that not all of your friends have been loyal and have talked behind your back, yet you defend them and you always make amends. You want to yell and scream because despite all of them being older than you, they’re the ones acting childish. You’re tired of the games and apologizing first when you know that deep down - you have nothing to be sorry for. He flakes, she blames you for her faults, and he chose his relationship over friendship - in the end they’re all the same. They say that you’re their best friend and then as soon as something doesn’t go their way - well, you know what happens. But, you’re tired of being told you have no backbone because you’re “too nice”. Once upon a time, you being so nice was their favorite quality because they took advantage of your kindness. They took advantage of you.
Artist Statement:
I’m not normally an angry person and to make such a petty flash fiction isn’t really like me, I don’t often like showing my weaknesses, much less write about being taken advantage of by people. I must admit I began writing this flash fiction piece without much thought and what came out in my writing was my internal anger that I didn’t even realize I had. It’s not my goal to sound like a cocky person, like I haven’t hurt people before in my own way. My goal was to find somebody who could relate to my situation I suppose. I have to many trust issues to have relationships with people so I cling onto the friendships that I make and yet they still hurt me in the end. I didn’t know what to for my self-portrait project at first, it was difficult to decide what to when what was all that was on my mind is that I just wanted to get this project over with. I’m not always good with explaining why I did what I did, sometimes I see things and write things and they will just make sense to be there. I wrote the words because they related to my flash fiction piece and I hoped that they would make the most impact, diverting from the fact that I write being made a fool of throughout the whole flash fiction piece. I crumpled the paper to add a dramatic affect to the portrait and I used a dark background to make an obvious dark mood to the piece. I also added a filter to help define the portrait into something more dark and angry and it also defined the aspect of the paper.
Reflection:
Most people will admit they have biased opinions yet most people wouldn’t change their opinions - even if their biased opinion was proven otherwise. People even have biases they didn’t even know that they have. Even as someone who doesn’t like judging people, I admit it’s having a bias is almost natural.
In the Hidden Brain episode, “I’m Right, You’re Wrong” by Shankar Vedantam who talks about how we as humans only look at the facts that prove our biases we have. “The facts don’t always relieve our anxieties, though. They only harden our views.” (I’m Right, You’re Wrong). The facts are often what we learn and ignore - the emotions are what we feel about it, overall making the biased opinions we didn’t even realize we have.
In the Ted Talk, “How do we overcome bias? Walk boldly toward them” by Verna Meyers talks about our biases opinions and how we overcome them. “I leaned on a bias I didn’t even realize I know I had.” (Overcome Bias) People often don’t realize they have a bias or that it is one. These unknown feelings are developed during the nurturing stage of life, people won’t even realize it’s a bias because it’s all they knew.
I agree with both sources and the information they gave us b biased opinions. As humans we are constantly disagreeing, weather that be politically or over a TV show. It’s a normal to have biased opinions but it doesn’t mean people can be a jerk because they think they’re right. It just means they’re incapable of looking outside their own perspective. It’s practically human nature to disagree with someone or to have your own biases. Opinions are meant to clash.
I really enjoyed reading this! I felt the mood of the piece just by reading it and I will say I have to relate to this! we have all made crappy choices in friendships/relationships, however it doesn't mean your friends should get to take advantage of your kindness! life is a balance and it seems like you might need to show them that you can be mean as a reminder that you aren't going to be there for them if they walk all over you. Be the person you want to be for you, not for them!
ReplyDeleteI can really relate to your message. Being open about our weaknesses is something a lot of people today struggle with. It's hard to spread kindness while also keeping your guard up. I enjoyed this because you did a great job of expressing your feelings and the complications you face when you're just trying to be a nice person.
ReplyDelete100%, Syke. I feel like you both are people who understand how important kindness is in this world.
Deletei really like they way you did your self portrait. the dark background makes it much more dramatic and it goes very well with your flash fiction.
ReplyDeleteI also have a problem with being too nice, and it usually never works out in my favor. Your flash fiction impacted my thoughts on how much I get taken advantage of due to my kindness and the inability to tell someone no. It really takes a tole on me, but I always bounce back to yet again give the person my undivided attention. The anger you felt while writing this piece was visible, and it added to the overall effect of the piece. Your portrait was also a nice contributor. I like how the paper was wrinkly; it also helped me visualize the anger you feel about this situation.
ReplyDeleteI can relate to not being able to stand up to my friends, even when I see something is wrong. I really liked the effect of the photo, with the filter and the crumpled up paper. I liked how that made me visualize how you might feel used, or crumpled up, by these people that you have a hard time standing up to.
ReplyDeleteI can really relate to your flash fiction. People take advantage of my kindness and do me wrong all of the time. I like how you balled up the paper and put it back to emphasize you being used.
ReplyDeleteYour self-portriat really caught my eye. I liked how you made it really meaningful and putting it on the piece of paper like that was really creative.
ReplyDeleteAdia,
ReplyDeleteHaving read your writing before I can see that your flash fiction was distinctly darker as you say. Each of our writings reflect only one piece of ourselves, this was one I haven't seen as much. Maybe that's way you say you wrote about an "internal anger that I didn’t even realize I had."
What was consistent was that you always take into consideration your perspective and point of view into account as well. It's a good habit to be in but can sometimes cause us to give people the benefit of the doubt when it's not entirely earned. In that way, I could see connective tissue throughout. It also clearly caught the attention of some of your peers who go through some of the same processes.
I think you highlight an important point about bias as well which is that we all have them but it doesn't mean you get permission to be a "jerk" about it. Maybe we focus too much on agreeing as a final goal when we should really focus on trying to understand. Hm.
Thanks, A.
Ms.B