Browse Exhibits (10 total)
The Role of Fiction in Transforming Society: Feminism and Wave Theories
Over the years in the American feminist movement, art, specifically fiction, has played a vital role in the transformation of our society. Feminist literature is not a major genre in our culture, and feminist fiction holds even less power. However, women writers have produced influential works, and said works have had major beneficial impacts on the feminist movement. I expect these types of benefits will continue to progress in future years in an effort to achieve equality. In fact, I am betting on it. It is my ambition to create feminist influenced fiction, myself.
Working theories into creative work is important. And so, I commend the women, and men, who have accomplished this task in the past, and I invite others to continue this labor in the years to come. As our age of technology advances, we much take advantage of our worldly access, and challenge ourselves to be more creative in the presenting of our stories.
This exhibit will give tribute to some of the major North American activists who created works of fiction and it will shed light on the role of feminist fiction in a technology-based movement.
Ableist Embodiment in Representations of Feminine Power
We often think of oppression as the "big three": sex, race, and class. However, this leaves out those who belong to what is sometimes called America's largest minority. In 2008, 1 in 5 Americans reported having a disability (ADA). I became familiar with disability as an axis of oppression through the classes Introduction to Disability Studies, Women and Disability, and most recently Allies and Activists.
The inspiration for this project came from an idea I had while journaling for Allies and Activists. As I was searching for ideas for this journal, I looked up and directly at what I called my feminist wall. Among many other posters, I saw Wonder Woman and the classic Rosie the Riveter posing with "We Can Do It!" written above. I wrote, "I am just starting to realize how much I unintentionally reject disability in my everyday life and how this rejection is closely linked with being a woman. These two role models, Wonder Woman and Rosie the Riveter, are the embodiment of ability. The phrase “We can do it!” is more ableist than I ever realized, and the image of Rosie focuses on her physical capabilities.” In my final project for the class, I ended by posing the question, "As a feminist and someone who is attempting to be an ally to the disability community, how do I reconcile the portrayal of strong women as necessarily able-bodied and even “super” with the need to empower women of all abilities?"
Wanting to answer this question, I looked to the powerful and superwomen in the media who were also displayed on my wall. This exhibit will explore how the symbols of Wonder Woman and Rosie the Riveter perpetuate ableist and sexist ideas of female power and empowerment through their physical embodiment.
The Then & Now: Intersecting Sexuality Education & The Power of SLP Women
Upon reflection of my own academic interests, as a student I have decided to intersect my passions of speech-pathology and sexuality studies. At first this task seemed nearly impossible, but through historical research and analyzing data I began to see the connections. This capstone project serves as a 'then' and 'now' piece. Reflecting on the past, or the then, a critical lens is taken with how the Speech & Hearing Clinic at Miami University began while also focusing on the role on women during this era (the 1950s). Then comparing these observations with the emergence of the upcoming Sexuality Education Studies Center and discussing the historical and cultural need for sexuality education. Overall, this capstone projects focuses on academic and personal interests, while looking at the intersectionality of seemingly singular topics during multiple decades.
The Power of Music: Black Feminism and the Liberating Impact of Black Female Music
I have always been an avid lover of music. Music has been the vehicle in which I have discovered who I am as a person, and along with that, I have discovered my place in this thing called feminism. Without music I would still be a very lost little black girl who in essence wanted to change herself. Because of my love for music and the importance music holds in my life, I have decided to center my capstone around Black Female Artists. Mainly because these are the artists who showed me that's ok to be black, that it's great, even. These artists showed me what it meant to hold power in myself and I'm super excited to create an entire capstone dedicated to them. This exhibit will analyze the works of these Black Female Artists and it will exemplify the ways in which their works have influenced my personal feminist identity.
Crossing Borders: Understanding Identity in Latinx Youth
English: This exhibit is a study about the various facets of Latinx identity, specifically in Latinx youth and young adults. It explores the implications of relationships, identity, and empowerment throughout history up to our present day. Latinx activism plays an important role in terms of identity in the early 20th century, continuing into our day and age.
Addressing the term "Latinx" is something of importance as well. What is the difference between "Latinx" and "Latino/Latina?" A goal of my study and this exhibit is to explain the fluidity of identity, as the term Latinx seeks to include more than just a binary view that we may see, specifically those who are transgender, queer, non-binary, gender non-conforming, or gender fluid, for example.
Identity is not stagnant. It does not have only one meaning. Examining the meaning of identity throughout examples of activism and political climates beginning the the early 20th century shows the parallels of expression, as well as the changes that have been made. My exhibit brings forth images of people that use their identities in some form of activism, encouraging others to listen to their stories and their contributions to our society while investigating our very own communities.
Español: Esta exposición es un estudio sobre las diversas facetas de la identidad Latinx, específicamente en la juventud Latinx y los adultos jóvenes. Explora las implicaciones de las relaciones, la identidad y el empoderamiento a lo largo de la historia hasta nuestros días actuales. El activismo Latinx juega un papel importante en términos de identidad a principios del siglo XX, continuando en nuestro día y edad.
Abordar el término "Latinx" también es algo importante. ¿Cuál es la diferencia entre "Latinx" y "Latino/Latina"? Un objetivo de mi estudio y esta exposición es explicar la fluidez de la identidad, como el término Latinx busca incluir más que una simple visión binaria que podamos ver, específicamente aquellos que son transgénero, queer, no binario, de género no conforme, o fluido de género, por ejemplo.
La identidad no está estancada. No tiene solamente un significado. Examinar el significado de la identidad a través de ejemplos de activismo y climas políticos a principios del siglo XX muestra los paralelismos de expresión, así como los cambios que se han hecho. Mi exposición presenta imágenes de personas que usan sus identidades en alguna forma de activismo, animando a otros a escuchar sus historias y sus contribuciones a nuestra sociedad mientras investigamos nuestras propias comunidades.
Transformation of Female Representation in Advertisement from 1900s to Now
This exhibit will examine the changing representations in advertisements from the 1990s to now. It will also analyze the current 'femvertising' campaign and make future suggestions on what we, as feminists, can do to improve future media representations.
Creating a New Norm: Women and Interpersonal Violence on Campus
Exhibit By: Hunter Taylor
TW: This exhibit contains information regarding interpersonal violence, rape, sexual assault and gender based violence.
This project analyzes how policies and educational practices surrounding the topic of interpersonal violence and sexual assault have changed since the late 70's at Miami. Through the examination of Take Back the Night, mandated reporting policies and current training of residential staff I have created a solution based project that I hope raises awareness and serves as a useful tool in creating a more safe campus.