For decades, identity politics have played an important role in the contemporary American art. Minority groups who are seeking for their cultural identity are developing arts as the basis for establishing self-identity, cultural identity, gender issues and socio-economic status. They search for deeper meaning through participation in cultural work and they see art as a representation of their cultural and national identity. Identity politics is important in the contemporary American art because it allows minority artists to express their cultural heritage and influence people to acknowledge their existence as well as understand their beliefs and behavior and appreciate their cultural work.
Ethnic -Specific Exhibition
Exhibitions represent distinctive artwork of one’s specific history that strengthens the elements of ethnicity which is a fundamental component of America’s multi-faceted social framework. It can help in defining cultural identity in which culture should not only be written but should also be illustrated. The need for ethnic-specific exhibition is essential because it provides a way to change people’s cultural awareness and beliefs. It strengthens personal expectations and preserves their adaptation of cultural identity. Exploring artistic creativity through exhibition provides a connection to ethnic-specific tradition between the people and the society making them more conscious to issues of cultural interpretations.
African-American Definition of New Americanism
For African-American artists, racial representation through art is one way of identifying their self-expression and culture. The Harlem Renaissance movement in the 1920’s was their road map to define ethnic awareness and Americanism through literature, art and music. They were able to develop new image of themselves as well as their standard of life in America. Through contemporary arts, they became self-reliant, earned self-respect and self-pride which boost their morale. In their efforts to achieve social and cultural independence, they began to develop positive attitudes towards themselves which in turn began to change the perspectives of the American society towards them. The Harlem Renaissance made a great influence on American art and culture which still exists until today.
African-American Painter Jacob Lawrence
The multiple experiences of African-Americans yielded an abundance of contemporary arts which has reflected throughout the evolution of African arts and culture. Some artistic works are inspired by their personal cultural views and influenced by modern arts. One example of such is the widely acclaimed African-American painter, Jacob Lawrence. One of his most impressive works is The Great Migration series inspired by significant events that visualizes the mass migration of African-Americans between the years, 1916-1919 to seek a better life in the North. His narrative painting defines black history and culture in an honest and precise manner illustrating the courageous journey of the African-Americans to successfully come out from oppression.
Impact of Hyphenated Identity on People’s lives or Art
People with ethnic backgrounds need to balance their disposition between learning and adopting the American culture while keeping up with their ancestral origin and tradition. My friend Kim whose parents were of Japanese origin has been very active both in academics and extra curricular activities which made her excel in school. She takes pride in exploring the American culture while keeping her hyphenated identity as Asian-American. Her strong family ties seem to give her a greater sense of happiness and high self-esteem. However, she often complains of being overburdened in helping her family with the housework right after school which she regarded as an obligatory task.
DeCora’s Transcultural Aesthetics
The critics of DeCora’s transcultural aesthetics argued on how Native American art should be considered as “modern” based on the artist’s ethnic origin and its role in illustrating her artwork to the viewers. Hochunk painter, Angel DeCora is the best-known native artist in the United States whose works visualizes the true interpretation of Native American art. However, many of her published works were unrecognized due to their European-American illustrations and designs and were neither regarded as modern or Native American. DeCora’s works should be taken into consideration in the basis that her paintings illustrate transcultural status and aesthetic issues that defines modern Native American experience and which signifies true modern Indian art.
DeCoras’s Repreentation of Indigenous People
Most of DeCora’s illustration on the indigenous Indian tribe defines the roles of Indian women in the Winnebago tribe during the historic period. They represent the cultural changes, inter-tribal trade, ceremonies and gender role equity and the colonization effects of the West. Her work further explains the women’s influence on Indian arts and crafts and their value and how they obtain high status through cultural arts. Other visualizations are the cultural beliefs and practices of women in everyday life, the impact of reformer groups perception towards women’s dominance in Indian arts during the Progressive Era and how the women’s power in Native societies were weakened by the white colonization.
The Walleye Kid
The Walleye Kid is a story about an adoptive kid’s journey in defining her own identity. It represents Korean myth tradition in which Annie, the adoptive child was delivered to her parents by a walleye fish. The interpretation of cultural transitioning from Minnesota to Korea in which the hostile treatment of the people in Minnesota prompted her Shaman to take her back to Korea to learn about her culture displayed a very distinct and artistic choreography. Masked dancers and powerful drum rhythms represent a timeless setting and signify the beauty of Korean culture making the adoption of overall choreography and concept unique and universal.
Korean-American Musical
Korean-American artists are developing art as a definition of their cultural upbringing as well as their issues on identity, gender, ethnicity and politics. As an ethnic minority in the United States and their growing awareness in self-sense, the women of Korea are going beyond the traditional cultural expectations in re-defining their identity. Their arts are created out of various experiences and influences in which their artistic expression made an important contribution to Korean-American arts. Their interpretation of life in the Korean and American environment involves feelings, thoughts and inner self which deeply capture their various experiences on both personal and professional levels.
References:
Caruso, H., (2005). Art as a Political Act: Expression of Cultural Identity, Self-Identity and Gender by Suk Nam Yun and Yong Soon Min. Project Muse. Retrieved from http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/jae/summary/v039/39.3caruso.html
Hirabayashi, J., Hirabayashi, L., Kikumura-Yano, A., Common Ground: The Japanese American National Museum and the Culture of Collaborations. University Press of Colorado, 2005.
Retrieved from http://books.google.com.ph/books?id=Cat3d2XqxCYC&pg=PT31&lpg=PT31&dq=ethnic-specific+exhibition&source=bl&ots=swoXL6MFb1&sig=6Lnr5Ai9Clyir8Ql9iK6k6pyqCo&hl=fil&sa=X&ei=wyztUceYL8uziQfA8ICYAg&ved=0CHoQ6AEwCQ
Hutchinson, E. (December, 2001). Modern Native American Art: Angel DeCora’s transcultural aesthetics. V/Lex. Retrieved from http://law-journals-books.vlex.com/vid/angel-decora-transcultural-aesthetics-56468331
Identity Politics, (February 07, 2012). Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved from http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/identity-politics/
Lawrence, J. The Great Migration. Retrieved from http://www.columbia.edu/itc/history/odonnell/w1010/edit/migration/migration.html
Lewis, S., African-American Art and Artists. University of California Press, 2003. Retrieved from http://books.google.com.ph/books?id=wEKXZ0Fo-IUC&pg=PA59&lpg=PA59&dq=How+did+African+American+artists+define+%22new+Americanism?%22&source=bl&ots=hQ_tYT3FRY&sig=P5GNsF-th62r8CPgK92u082z9mw&hl=fil&sa=X&ei=nS7tUeyqC8meiAeP5oCgDQ&ved=0CDUQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=How%20did%20African%20American%20artists%20define%20%22new%20Americanism%3F%22&f=false
Sengupta, A. (2008). The Hyphenated Identity in Contemporary Multiethnic American Drama. Americana E-Journal of American Studies in Hungary. Retrieved from http://americanaejournal.hu/vol4no1/sengupta
Shope, S., (May, 2009) American Indian Artist Angel DeCora: Aesthetics, Power, and Transcultural Pedagogy In the Progressive Era. Retrieved from
http://etd.lib.umt.edu/theses/available/etd-10132009-112300/unrestricted/Shope_umt_0136D_10058.pdf
Weir, E., (1997). The Walleye Kid: The Musical. Minneapolis. Retrieved from http://www.talkinbroadway.com/regional/minn/minn112.html
