1 Stephanie Duke

1 Stephanie Duke - LBST330 30 September 2019 Fields of Interest Assignment Some of my emerging fields of interest include: Political Art and Resistance Censorship and Protest Art Poetry, Language, and Identity Gender Identity and Performance Fall 2016 - ENGL290 - Creative Writing: Letter and Line - Roger Farr This course focused on learning about different styles of poetry and ways of expressing ourselves through written word. Lessons included ways on how to broaden our expression through choosing different language, how to express visual creativity through written mediums, and how to cultivate a personal identity through what we create. Spring 2017 - WGST250 - Gender and Pop Culture - Maureen Bracewell During this course we analyzed various forms of media and saw how media affects our current world. We analyzed television and movies to quantify the lack of representation of women in areas such as science and technology. Through journals and reflections we were shown how this effects our own personal view of the world, and our everyday perceptions of women and various other marginalized identities (queer, plus-size, racial disparity). Fall 2018 - LBST200 Refocusing Knowledge: Introduction to Research Methods - Sean Ashley & Josema Zamorano Learning to process information and how to conduct an ethical research assignment was one of the key components of this class. Learning not only about quantitative research but also the importance of qualitative research, something which I believe is paramount in my 2 studies. A field trip to the North Vancouver archives provided invaluable experience on how to look at historical objects and the importance of doing hands-on research. Spring 2019 - AHIS320 - Art, Activism and Citizenship - Sandra Seekins Through analyzing different forms of art such as performance, painting, and collage we discovered how different people have expressed their political views. There was a strong focus on indigeneity and feminist work. The discord between achieving political rights representation and the lack of willingness by governments to grant equal rights was exposed through different mediums. Spring 2019 ENGL300 - Writing Rhetoric and Style - Andrea Actis Focusing on creating a final essay that reflects something personal to us was extremely rewarding during the course of this class. We worked through exercises allowing us to deepen our connection with the course material, which included works by Audre Lorde and Evelyn Hampton. Working from a feminist and intersectional viewpoint, and recognizing the differences between classically taught literature and the importance of looking beyond those voices was integral to the course. Some extracurricular activities which relate to my emergent field of interests are participating in art therapy, creating my own art and exhibiting it through festivals, writing poetry and studying what different styles of poetry are. Participating as a volunteer at Vancouver Comic Arts Festival (2018) and at CanZine (2017), and exhibiting my art at the latter (2018, 2019) showed the impact my art can have on the community. Self-publishing 3 zines has long been an interest of mine, and becoming a member of the Toronto Zine Library helped me develop my skills as a creator and exposed me to different styles and possibilities for creation. Many zines are published by people who wouldn't otherwise have a voice in mainstream media, so having an alternative underground form of media helps cultivate community. All my life I have been politically engaged, starting from the exposure of political ideals like anarchism and socialism through the punk music scene. I often participate in marches and I've also worked for Elections Canada trying to understand the behind-the-scenes processes of politics and our democracy. Volunteering for the NDP and Green Party helped develop my ideology. I'm able to understand the dynamics of oppression and capitalism, and their effects on democracy. As a member of marginalized communities such as the queer community I've met many other people who have stories and experiences expressing themselves beyond what is typically found in our society. The Dyke March (2017, 2018, 2019), East Side Pride (2019), Drag performance (April 2019-Current) have all helped me learn about various forms of expression through protest, performance, and direct action. AHIS401 - Finding the Political: Art and Personal Reflection Is everything an artist creates inherently political? It generally reflects the artists mindset and point of view. What does art tell us about the world? What are the social responsibilities of the artist in showing their perspectives? Does the audience have to reinterpret the art once it is in the world, and how may interpretations differ as one considers 4 their personal experiences? This essay was valuable in uncovering the importance of artists in activism and showing the wide array of perspectives found through varying styles of art. Aspects of Dada Photomontage, Pop Art commentary on society, and the role of artists such as Malevich, who worked in opposition to Lenin during Russian Avant Garde, were all of notable importance. Artists who rebelled against academia and political standards all contributed to the furthering of artistic practice. Naomi Klein was one political author who helped me to understand the role of artists during times of political strife, noting that the purpose of creativity is to generate new alternatives and ideas which will help develop a new way of thinking. Understanding that the suppression of artists during authoritarian regimes shows how vital creativity is to creating a better climate for those looking to express themselves. ENG300 - Telescopic Memorial In much of my academic work, I found it hard to integrate my own personal experiences into the course material. This essay was a way for me to take be personal manner of writing which we had been discussing through the semester into my own final essay. It was an exposition of emotions as the 11-year relationship I had with my partner was dissolving. Using art and creative writing mixed with segments of discussion I was able to thoughtfully express the present situation and its impact on me. It also allowed me to process feelings that were difficult to express in other ways. Using myself as a research tool gave me the ability to understand the importance of expressing my unique point of view. It has been difficult for me in the past to be creative while experiencing stress and depression, but it was important for me to learn how to work through those emotions and produce a piece of creative writing I am proud of. 5 LB200 - Primary Sources Analysis Assignment on Wayne Eastcott This analysis of a book I found in the archives of Capilano University shows the process behind the art of Wayne Eastcott. The complexity of his work and his use of technology in the 1970s has him recognized as having a large impact on the development of Xerox machines and digital technology. Eastcott worked to develop various forms of digital creation through analysis of technology. Different modes and methods of experimentation deepen the artists relationship with technology, and in turn, promote discovering unique ideas and concepts. It highlights how artists must conduct their own research of materials and technology while developing the skills to create works which portray their worldview. This was the first time I had considered how much research an artist must do to deepen their own skillset; that they wouldn't just sit down and paint or sculpt without doing the work vital to pushing their own artistic boundaries. Understanding machinery and challenges faced through trial and error over periods of time would certainly allow an artist to evolve their practice into new and exciting works. Knowing how to analyze primary sources makes understanding the coding behind art an easier task. Artists sometimes hide the meaning behind their work, suggesting that viewers can create their own subjective meaning. More frequently, art is explained by the creator with precision, and understanding their intentions allows us to recognize the work's true meaning. 6 There are several possible lines of Investigation I could proceed with during my tutorials and research projects. There are several artists who have been influential to me as a feminist, and I believe studying their methods would give me further insight. Louise Bourgeois works with painting, sculpture, tapestry, and poetry. Her works on topics like motherhood and isolation are deeply personal but also universal concepts. Watching interviews and reading about how she created her works would help me uncover new methods, or sources of creation. Juxtaposing her works next to writers such as Audre Lorde or bell hooks on the topic of the marginalization of women would make for an interesting project. Intersectionality would be a key component of my research. Looking for similarities in the works of Rebecca Belmore compared to the writing of Roxane Gay, and seeing how language helps women to generate theory and praxis around the issue of hegemony and equality. I would like my final project to include an element of realized creativity. I feel like just trying to understand how mass media influences our creativity is important, but interpreting these ideas into a polished work of art would be an exciting inclusion. I imagine working with photography or performance to best express my ideas. This would allow me to apply my learning into the creation of tangible artifacts. .

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