Select Works
With the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, many users took to social media platforms, specifically TikTok in which more and more content was being created with the boredom of quarantine. Some of these were dance trends, instructional videos or just users commenting on the global state of the world. The underlying `micro-trends' that took charge during this time of distress created a discourse of eating disorders, body shaming, and a negatively distorted self image which served as a precursor to the body positivity movement. A recent micro-trend, however contradicts the aim of the movement and is more commonly known on TikTok as girl dinner. In this zine, I explore the elements of a girl dinner and the hidden negativity surrounding the trend in using Medieval Era references while also touching on a variation of the trend that serves as a remix. By providing additional commentary, I aim to call out the issues of this glamorized trend that has ultimately reversed the goal of the body positivity movement while promoting gender stereotypes.
The concept of rhetoric has been utilized for different purposes throughout the Classical, Medieval, Enlightenment, Modern and Contemporary eras whether it be for education, religion, science, or various issues/events surrounding the topics of each period. Up to today the rhetoric of our time is changing in progressive ways, specifically through music in resistance to a dominant heteronormative standard. Here I look at the different ways that certain LGBTQIA+ music artists over time have shifted the focus of a marginalized community into value. Their ability to challenge norms through lyricism, appearances, and collaboration with one another has contributed to the rhetoric of the LGBTQIA+ community, one in which we can claim with pride.
With roughly 56% of Gen Z people already shopping outside their assigned gender area it is safe to say that gender fluid fashion is increasing in significance. Gender fluidity in fashion allows men, women, and non-binary people to wear the same items without feeling restricted by gender norms. In addition to the exponential rise of gender fluidity or gender neutral fashion specifically with the Gen Z audience, the degree of representation plays a key factor in fashion expression. Alot of individuals including myself have struggled in finding a proper fit or style of clothing without feeling too feminine or masculine, however with that desire comes limitations with the gender binary the ideal body image. As a response to this issue, I have created a social media campaign proposal in order to alter the fashion industry into an inclusive environment for everyone regardless of gender, while also educating those who may not be aware of the issue or the basic terminology of gender. As someone who struggles with finding clothes that don't fit into the two boxes of the gender binary, I hope to help those who are struggling with finding gender fluid clothes as well. I want to deconstruct the labels of male and female that may lead an individual to constrict their self expression or ideas of how they should exist based on gender norms.
With roughly 56% of Gen Z people already shopping outside their assigned gender area it is safe to say that gender fluid fashion is increasing in significance. Gender fluidity in fashion allows men, women, and non-binary people to wear the same items without feeling restricted by gender norms. In addition to the exponential rise of gender fluidity or gender neutral fashion specifically with the Gen Z audience, the degree of representation plays a key factor in fashion expression. A lot of individuals including myself have struggled in finding a proper fit or style of clothing without feeling too feminine or masculine, however with that desire comes limitations with the gender binary the ideal body image. As a response to this issue, I have created a social media campaign proposal in order to alter the fashion industry into an inclusive environment for everyone regardless of gender, while also educating those who may not be aware of the issue or the basic terminology of gender. As someone who struggles with finding clothes that don't fit into the two boxes of the gender binary, I hope to help those who are struggling with finding gender fluid clothes as well. I want to deconstruct the labels of male and female that may lead an individual to constrict their self expression or ideas of how they should exist based on gender norms. In addition to the visual board, I have expanded on the concept of gender fluid fashion here in order to analyze it from a historical standpoint.
Mujeres Malas
The concept of this video was to create a prompt or claim of our choice regarding the Latinx Community, reflecting on the books we read over the semester. As a queer individual coming from a Cuban family in Miami, I wanted to create something meaningful in order to highlight issues surrounding Latinx culture constraints on queer identities and how it has shaped who we are and who we were born to be. I gathered 3 interviewees who also identify as queer and Latinx in order to describe these constraints across different Latinx backgrounds. After editing and composing the video, I created a report to address the lived experiences and reflections that the interviewees spoke of to connect that to my claim at hand.