Unit 5 Objectives:
- Evaluate personal values and paradigms around body decoration and physical beauty.
- Investigate how physical appearance affects definitions of identity and belonging.
- Analyze values and belief systems of physical appearance across cultures, sub-cultures and generations.
1 example piece of work:
1 reflection on the piece of work:
This week was such an interesting topic. Until I did this discussion assignment I did not realize how influential your attire could have on what other people think about you. Everything from clothes, accessories, hair, and even tattoos and piercings give a first judgement of yourself to others. I felt uncomfortable having to watch people without their permission and decide what i thought their values were as people. You cannot help but make a first judgement even if it is not true. The three people I came across were vastly different. I had an older woman and a younger woman that i both thought valued beauty as they used many accessories and makeup to be “presentable”. Then there was a middle aged gentleman that I felt really valued family due to his clothes that were filthy which looked to be that way from working. I took a closer look at my own adornment. I just dressed and styled the way I wanted to and did not realize that it can effect the way that people see me. By assuming other people’s personal values it made me think more about my own personal values.
These judgements could even be so far off. I was discussing with a fellow student about somebody that they observed. She saw a man out on the street with destroyed dirty clothes holding a sign for help. A first assumption would be that this man is homeless. But then I thought about this story I read. There is this man named Dobri Dobrev that lived off of a very little amount of money from his retirement. He stand out on the streets of Bulgaria and collects money from people and donates it to his church. His appearance looks as if he is homeless but he is not, just simple. He values religion so highly that he puts it before luxury. He found his identity and where he belongs through his values as a person.
The left picture below is my tattoo. If you read my Personal Adornment Essay you can see that this is adornment that expresses who I am as a person and what I value. The picture on the right is typical attire for myself. I am most comfortable in jeans and a hoodie which is one of my main main “styles”.
Future Goals:
I hope to improve on not making rash assumptions about people when I first meet them based on their appearance. I hope to find more stories like the one up above about Dobri Dobrev where it is a surprising turn from typical stereotypes. I believe everybody is entitled to be who they want to be and express who they are through their attire and body decorations.
Here is a link to Unit 5’s main page to view other works done for this unit:
Table of Contents:
Portfolio’s Main Page
Unit 2: The Nature of Human Values
Unit 3: What is Art for?
Unit 4: Is Food Art?
Unit 5: The Art of Personal Adornment
Unit 6: The Aesthetics of Horror
Unit 7: Creative Spirituality
Unit 8: Art, Technology, and Games
Unit 9: Remixing Culture
Bibliography