Choosing Bae

7/25/2019 Choosing Bae

1/27

Sara Bautista

Humanities Institute

Due: May 5, 2016@ChoosingBae: A Meitation on !a"ia# Inte##igi$i#ity an %hite Su&rema"y at '%I(s

)@ChoosingBae* is a )+au+oto* series $orn o+ out ne"essity- During my t.o years at

S"ri&&s Co##ege, I ha/e e&erien"e the traumati" rea#iation o+ my o.n uninte##igi$i#ity .ithin

&reominate#y %hite s&a"es- As eorge 3i&sti arti"u#ates in The Possessive Investment in

Whiteness, .hi#e ra"e is a "u#tura# "onstru"t, it oes ha/e su$stantia# so"ia# "onse4uen"es-

B#unt#y, %hiteness a++e"ts us a## an there+ore as an am$iguous#y, mu#tira"ia# %oman o+ Co#or

at the C#aremont Co##eges I am a++e"te- A series o+ un+ortunate e/ents .ithin the #ast +e. .ees

&rom&te this eoration an &ersona# re+#e"tion on themes o+ +rienshi& an the #oss o+7 .ith

%hite stuents, romanti" re#ationshi&s .ith Men o+ Co#or, institutiona# +ai#ure or su""ess o+

u&ho#ing traitiona# stanars +or e#ite +eminine, %hite .omanhoo7, interna# &er"e&tions o+

eterna# rea#ities an eterna# e&e"tations o+ interna#iation o+ these rea#ities-

8he te"hno#ogy o+ the 21st "entury ena$#es so"iety to &ro9e"t onto so"ia# meia the

&e"u#iar su$stantia#ity o+ Ameri"an rea#ity- ota$#y, at+orms #ie 8.itter en"a&su#ate the

e/eryay a&&aratuses o+ ra"e re#ations e&enent on %hite Su&rema"y an ra"ia# ;thering-

Integra# to this ynami" is a#so the +ormation o+ Ameri"an e&e"tations +or .omen an their

+emininity an attra"ti/eness an there+ore their .orth .ithin hierar"hi"a# systems o+ &o.er

.hi"h gi/es &ri/i#ege to these &hysi"a# attri$utes- 8he 8.itter a""ount @ChoosingBae .ith its

a&&roimate#y 125,000 +o##o.ers rein+or"e these emu#ata$#e ientities


2/27

raor shar& .inge eye#iner, $o# eye$ro.s, o/erra.n #i&s, intense "ontour an high#ight- 8he

+o##o.ing "o##age is eemary o+ this aestheti":

8his &arti"u#ar &er+orman"e o+ +emininity em&hasies the im&ortan"e o+ inte##igi$i#ity .ithin our

"ontem&orary youth orientate so"iety /a#orie $y so"ia# meia- %hi#e the manager o+ this

a""ount is anonymous, $ase on the .oring o+ the a""ount(s $io .hi"h es"ri$es those &i"ture

as )+ema#es* not .omen #eas me to $e#ie/e that a man moerates the a""ount as the

termino#ogy )+ema#e* is most "ommon amongst men- I eist etraneous#y an uninte##igi$#y

+rom this rea#ity-

;n A&ri# 16, 2016 I #ost .ho +or the entirety o+ my time thus +ar at S"ri&&s ha $een my

)$est +rien-* 8hese .ere our +ina# messages a+ter +our semesters o+ +rienshi&:


3/27

A+ter this "on/ersation she &ro"eee to $#o" my &hone num$er- %e "urrent#y #i/e together an

anne on oing so again net year in a suite .ith other +riens an then I re"ei/e this emai#

.ith no su$9e"t, no greeting, no sign o++-

8he "on"e&t o+ %hite >ragi#ity eains that .hi#e the ra"ist a"tions o+ %hite ini/iua#s are

ina&&ro&riate an shroue in histories o+ /io#en"e an ra"ia# o&&ression, they o+ten "onstrue

themse#/es as the /i"tim o+ .rongoing- 8his is un+ortunate#y "on+irme in her &etty res&onse to

$#o" myse#+ an se/era# o+ my +riens on so"ia# meia at+orms su"h as 8.itter an Instagram-

8his semester has $een the most &ersona##y "ha##enging sin"e "oming to the C#aremont

Co##eges an there+ore a#so +u## o+ o&&ortunities +or &ersona# gro.th I(## get $a" to that #ater7-

8his semester stress has mani+este itse#+ in mu#tie +orms: heaa"hes, ongoing i##ness, mouth

sores an most re"ent#y hi/es- A )+au+oto* series mimi"e a+ter the @ChoosingBae aestheti"

.as a means $y .hi"h to isay an e"onstru"t my &hysi"a# rea"tions to ongoing is"om+ort

inu"e $y C#aremont an my many intera"tions here- 8he terms )+au+oto* an )+auestheti"s*

em$oy my intentions .ith /isua# art- %hi#e the &hotogra&hs in this series, gra"ious#y taen $y


4/27

Me#issa =rassenstein SC! (16, mimi" the aestheti"s o+ @ChoosingBae they are not entire#y

a""urate, hen"e the )+au-* As&e"ts o+ my aestheti" se#+ are $oth "oherent an in"oherent in

"ontet o+ @ChoosingBae- Coherent


5/27

institution- 8his "ontrast is most eemi+ie $y the +o##o.ing image:

Be+ore this image .as a#tere into the &ie"e no. entit#e );n%hite >ragi#ity, My Bro.n Ass,* it

.as a simy a &hotogra&h o+ myse#+ on the mant#e o+ a S"ri&&s orm &osing .ith this &ortrait o+

a %hite .oman .ith $#one hair an $#ue eyes &ainte ty&i"a##y in a .hite ress &resuma$#y

emonstrati/e o+ the e#i"ateness an +ragi#ity o+ %hite .omen- %omen o+ Co#or ha/e a #ong

history o+ $eing seua#ie, &rimitie, an in+anta#ie in the su&&ort, or &erha&s to "ontrast

that, o+ the "onstru"tion o+ %hite .omanhoo- 'resent in the +ina# /ersion o+ );n%hite

>ragi#ity, My Bro.n Ass* is Dean %or"ester .ho .as the Ameri"an oo#ogist to the 'hi##i&&ines

+rom 1? to 11 uring Ameri"an "o#onia# o""u&ation o+ the is#ans- He &rou"e hunres o+

)yarsti"* &hotogra&hs .hi"h o"umente the su&&ose in+eriority o+ the inigenous &eoes to

that o+ %hiteuro &eoes in "om&arsion o+ stature an sie-


6/27

A nota$#e as&e"t o+ %or"ester(s sur/ey o+ the inigenous &eoes is that many o+ his su$9e"ts

.ere young gir#s .ho he &ose un"#othe or to mimi" the &oses o+ +amous "#assi"a# uro&ean

&aintings- 8here+ore the in"#usion o+ my o.n e&ose $oy is a re"#amation o+ the autonomy

taen a.ay +rom my o.n an"estors inigenous gir#s an .omen- 8his art is there+ore $oth a

re"#amation $ut a#so a e"#aration o+ my o.n autonony, .hi#e "ogniant o+ the inherit "onstrains

sti## &resent $e"ause o+ %hite Su&rema"y-

Another as&e"t "ommon etai# throughout my /isua# art is the in"#usion o+ s"reenshots

+rom oog#e sear"hes, .hi"h nota$#y in this series is )Sarah Snyer, .hy o men o+ "o#or o+

men #ie .hite .omen* 8his &ie"e +eatures si re"ent se#+ies o+ Sarah Snyer, +amous#y %i##

Smith(s son Eaen Smith(s o#er gir#+rien, +rom Instagram "o##age .ith si re&eatitions o+


7/27

myse#+ an $egs the 4uestion to an a#reay assuming oog#e: .hy o men o+ "o#or #ie .hite

.omen oog#e suggeste sear"hes &ro/e the +re4uen"y that su"h 4uestions are ase, there+ore

the &ie"es reasonate .ith a $roaer "ons"iousness than my #imite o.n- In "ontrast to the

imie uni/ersa#ity o+ Internet generate thought, I in"#ue more intimate#y &ersona# thoughts

&resente as a one.ay tet "on/ersation .ith myse#+ as seen in the +o##o.ing t.o &ie"es:

%hi#e my o.n .ors on#y a&&ear on three o+ the &ie"es, throughout the series are 4uoations

+rom songs )B#a" 3i&sti"* $y Chi"ano Batman an )eee Me* $y !ihanna7, "#ass assigne

reaings )8he 'ersistent 'ro$#em o+ Co#orism: Sin 8one, Status, an Ine4ua#ity* $y Margaret

Hunter7, &oetry e"er&ts +rom rai"a# %;C .riters Eohanna He/a,

na angu#y, 'ris"a

Dor"asan Fesia Starr7 an +eature Humanities( Insitute &oets Sesshu >oster an C#auia

!anine7- 8heir .ors s&ea to the i++erent themes eore in the series nota$#y histories o+

/io#en"e, interra"ia# re#ationshi&s, sense o+ se"urity an inse"urity in $oy an a"e,

e&e"tations o+ .oman, an romanti" ynami"s $et.een Men an %omen o+ Co#or-

Se#+&ortraiture is a "on/entiona# metho to eore one(s o.n ientity an its many

ine/ita$#e interse"tions- %hi#e the .omen o+ @ChoosingBae are autonomous in their e"ision

to su$mit &hotogra&hs to the a""ount, these images mimi" an rein+or"e stanars o+ inte##igi$#e

$eauty- 8here+ore, a +aumimi"ry o+ this aestheti" mae sense to "riti4ue $roaer systems o+


8/27

&o.er an o&&ression in Ameri"an #i+e- 8o $e &resente in "#usters, ea"h &ie"e in the series

eores interse"tiona# as&e"ts o+ my ientity .ithin the &hysi"a# "on+ines o+ C#aremont- %hi#e

C#aremont has an o+ten times negati/e e++e"t on my .e##$eing, it is "urrent#y a#so the a"e o+ my

greatest o&&ortunities +or &ositi/ity- As a +e##o. this semester +or the Humanities Institute, the

.or o+ many great thiners has &ermeate my thoughts an my o.n "on"e&tua#iations o+ my

a$i#ity to na/igate s&a"es at the C#aremont Co##eges as an uninte##igi$#e %oman o+ Co#or-

8here+ore, the in"#usion o+ &oems $y Sesshu >oster an C#auia !anine .as o$/ious as their

interse"tiona# ientities .hi#e i++erent than my o.n7 "omi"ate "on/ersations o+ the

"ontrai"tory nature o+ this Ameri"an #i+e-

A#ongsie the /isiting thiners o+ the Humanities Institute, this semester has a#so

&resente ins&iration +rom my &eers- Interra"ia# 3eisure.are is a "on"e&tua# &ro9e"t &art o+

Aisa Stuios .hi"h is a ';C art "o##e"ti/e7 that through "#othing eores the "omeities an

in"onsisten"es o+ #i+e uner the regime o+ neo#i$era#, %hitesu&rema"ist, im&eria#"a&ita#ist, "is

hetero&atriar"hy- %hi#e no "#othing +rom Interra"ia# 3eisure.are is .orn in this series(

&hotogra&hs, the im&ortan"e o+ "#othing an its aestheti"s in the e/e#o&ment o+ im&a"t+u#

imagery is eore through the Ca#/in =#ein uner.ear set- 3ie a## as&e"ts o+ #i+e, imagery is

"ontingent on &o.er- 8he &o.er o+ $rans #ie Ca#/in =#ein are that they signi+y "oherent,

"u#tura# "a&ita# or treniness or the &o.er to etermine an rein+or"e the inte##igi$#e signi+iers

o+ re#e/an"yeminist, an Seua#ity Stuies,* o&&ortunities +or se#+re&resentation must $e "onstant


9/27

in orer to sur/i/e- !e"#amation o+ autonomy through se#+e&ression is a ne"essity in

"om$atting simi+ie an


10/27

8hese &ie"es .ere rea##y mae out o+ ne"essity an +rom here I ho&e on#y to "ontinue to

&ro"ess, hea# an most im&ortant#y +in ha&&iness in a .or# that, a+ter ha/ing "onstru"te me as

so, +ins my )uninte##igi$i#ity* threatening an una""e&ta$#e- I ha/e re"ent#y rea the .or o+

miera"e %omen o+ Co#or Eohanna He/a entit#e )Si" %oman 8heory-* 8he +o##o.ing

image .as one o+ the #ast in the series mae an in"#ues my +a/orite 4uotation thus +ar +rom

Heya-

%hi#e I o not "#aim any +orm o+ )is*a$i#ity Heya maes many "onne"tions $et.een a$#e

ism an "a&ita#ism7, this 4uotation &ro+oun#y resonates .ith me at this time in my #i+e(s &ro"ess

o+ un#earning- nti# this semester, .ith a "om$ination o+ e/ents, I i not rea#ie the etent o+ the

rami+i"ations o+ interna#ie se#+hatre- %hi#e my t.o years at S"ri&&s ha/e &resente enty o+

"ha##enges, they ha/e $rought a$out o&&ortunities +or "hange, gro.th, an se#+#o/e- )Se#+#o/e*

is an interesting to&i" ta#e a$out +re4uent#y in the "o##ege an uni/ersity setting $y Stuents o+

Co#or oing .hat I am no. #earning to #o/e yourse#+, as yourse#+, $oth insie an outsie o+ the

"on+inements o+ %hite Su&rema"y an %estern im&eria#ism o+ my "ountries an my o.n /ery


11/27

$oy- Aitiona##y, Aisa Stuios is +uture+or.ar- 8he ay that this &a&er is turne in is a#so

the +orma# re#ease &arty o+ our art "o##e"ti/e to the 5C "ommunity- A+ter near#y a +u## a"aemi"

year o+ /ision, my $#esse, $eauti+u# an Bro.n +riens an I .i## $e e$uting not on#y our

art.or $ut a#so our .i##ingness to $e /u#nera$#e in a a"e too o+ten raining o+ our &hysi"a#

an emotiona# .e##$eing- %hi#e .e o+ten +a#ter here, .e a#so thri/e- I #oo +or.ar to the

magni+i"en"e that .i## $e mani+este $y myse#+ an my #o/e ones- I ha/e $een saying this a #ot

re"ent#y, $ut this .or# is +u## o+ snaes an ange#s an a ma9or &ie"e in the un#earning &ro"ess is

to $egin to istinguish more "#ear#y an immeiate#y $et.een them- 8his +o##o.ing &ie"e

eemi+ies the #o/e an ha&&iness that hea#s the hurt-

THESCRIPPSCOLLEGEHUMANITIESINSTITUTE

AND

ADISA STUDIOS+ INTERRACIALLEISUREWARE

PRESENT:

@CHOOSINGBAE: A MDIA8I;;!ACIA3I833IIBI3I8FAD%HI8


12/27

S'!MACFA8'!D;MIA83F%HI8

IS8I88I;S'%I(S7

by Sara Gonzalez-Bautista SCR 18


13/27

);%HI8>!AI3I8F, MFB!;%ASS*A meitation on %hite >ragi#ity +eaturing S"ri&&s Co##ege orm art, Dean %or"ester, s"reenshot

tet messages $et.een myse#+ an >#oren"e %a#sh, an a )$arrio* ins&ire +ont-______________________________________________________________________________


14/27

)SA!AHSFD!, %HFD;M;>C;3;!;>

M3I=%HI8%;M*A meitation on ra"ia# +etishiation, the myth o+ )&ostra"ia#* interra"ia# ating, %hite $eauty

stanars +eaturing Instagram +otos +rom @sarah+u"ingsnyer an oog#e suggeste sear"hes-


15/27

)CAF;S8I33SMF;'A3*A meitation on )miera"e* ientity an eterna# e&e"tations o+ interna#iation o+ theserea#ities +eaturing )8he 'ersistent 'ro$#em o+ Co#orism: Sin 8one, Status, an Ine4ua#ity* $y

Margaret Hunter, no&a#es, sage, an the so""er staium inue/o 3en, Mei"o-

)MF%;!DS*


16/27

A meitation on the &hysi"a# mani+estations o+ interna# &er"e&tions o+ eterna# rea#ities +eaturing

S"ri&&s Co##ege orm art, "oo#tet-"om, oog#e sto" images, em&ty s&a"e, an hi/es-


17/27


18/27

)F;!%;!DS*


19/27

A meitation on resonating .ith others( meitations on #i+e +eaturing Humanities Institute &oets:

C#auia !anine an Sesshu >oster, rai"a# %omen o+ Co#or .riters: Eohanna He/a, na

angu#y, 'ris"a Dor"asan Fesia Starr an #yri"s +rom songs $y: Chi"ano Batman an!ihanna-

$y C#auia !anine


20/27

by Sesshu >oster


21/27

by Eohanna He/a


22/27

by na angu#y


23/27

$y 'ris"a Dor"as


24/27

$y Fesia Starr


25/27

)B#a" 3i&sti"* $y Chi"ano Batman


26/27

)eee Me* $y !ihanna +eaturing art $y Bansy

SA!A;JA3JBA8IS8A


27/27

Dei"ate to this 3i+e(s many snaes an ange#s-

Documents

Choosing Bae