Self Expression Blog 7

Self expression and creativity help define the person you are. As a woman in certain countries, time periods, cultures, race and social class, we cannot express ourselves in the same way. The quilts were a way for women in Mexico to unite them and use their creativity in something productive. Living in a patriarchal society in Mexico, the women needed outlets for their creative oppression. They poured their energies and frustrations into these quilts. To these women it was a necessity to allow their creativity to shine through just like it was necessary for the patchwork to arise. The quilts also expressed the concept of the American Dream consistently on most of the quilts. These women were not satisfied with the lives they were living and wanted more opportunities. Living the American Dream would provide those luxuries of opportunity. Many of the quilts emphasize crossing the border and starting a new life in America. Mexicans were being oppressed and they were not the only ones black women were unable to do much in their social status. Self-expression was maybe the last thing they were allowed to do. They used their gardening to be imaginative through the floral choice and arrangement. This oppression is something that never entered my mind. Not being allowed to express myself would be one of the greatest hardships. My expression is a part that makes me unique and who I am.

Photography has allowed me to find beauty in the most unexpected places; it doesn’t have to be a breathtaking view to be a spectacular picture. My pictures are an expression of my most introspective thoughts. I am my pictures; modest and unpretentious to the casual observer but filled with depth and compassion on closer examination. My lens is the extension of my soul; it transfers my vantage point of the world into a photo. Perfection and precision goes out the window when it comes to photography; taking chances and stepping out of the box are techniques that I embrace. What I visualize through the lens is my primary inspiration without any outside influence.

Photography unifies people from different cultures and languages without speaking a word. My photos are my voice; they represent an untold story waiting to be heard.  They capture memories, portray messages as well as allow my thoughts and emotions to become a visual reality. A picture freezes a moment in time and the emotion that goes with it. Experimenting with shadows, lighting, contrasts, and angles create distinctive images out of ordinary objects; the colors reflect my moods.

With the advancement of technology, photography serves as a source of meditation and relaxation that allows me to put the everyday stress of school and life in proper perspective. It enables me to step back from the fast pace of society and enjoy the simplistic aspects, to commune with nature, and focus on my inner-self. What started out as a couple of snap shots on family vacations has evolved into an integral part of whom I am and the way I view the world.

            I am lucky that unlike these women I am not oppressed in my society and I am able to express myself with whatever way I choose. Mexicans and black women were not that lucky. They were confined and had to conform to society lowest position on the totem pole. Photography is not the only thing I can use to express myself and show my creativity and personality. I can with clothes, music, and much more. There is much more freedom. I have the opportunities that these women were lacking. I take for granted that I am living the American Dream.