Photography has never been one of my favorite forms of artistic expression, but I respected the works of the artists and acknowledge the fact this this was most likely due to my inexperience with it. Thankfully, these feelings changed quite a bit while chatting with my best friend about the current exhibition at Purdue University’s Fountain Gallery. She commented about how relevant the photos in “Mr. Wild’s Garden” are to the current issues we are facing with discrimination at the university. At first, I did not understand what she meant. These were just photos of some plastic sheeting, weeds, and blurred faces, right? As we continued to discuss it, I finally began to understand the artist’s message and her interpretation of it. Looking at the series now, I cannot believe I was so blind. As I reflected more, I saw a connection between artist David Weinberg’s images and current issues as well as people’s reactions and interpretations of them.
Mr. Weinberg’s images illustrate an imagined reality, blurring the lines between what we remember, what we know, and how our fantasies impact what we see as truth. He recalls an elderly neighbor living in a dilapidated house and creates an imaginary life for him, as he hid among the weeds and feared that this unknown person might “get him.” This common childhood fear of strangers appears harmless at first, but is it really? Is it not this same fear of what we do not know and understand that has carried on into our adulthood? Look at the world today. Although it is not the stranger in the scary house overgrown with weeds, these same feelings of discomfort toward the unknown “other” are evident in the continuation of racism and violence. We do not understand; therefore, we are afraid. Society tends to vilify entire groups based imagined details of their lives. It allows us to put a face to evil rather than taking it for the abstract term that it is. This has been all too apparent in the terrorist attacks in Paris, the speculation about who was behind them, and, more locally, the resistance that minorities have faced at Purdue University when attempting to raise awareness about the ongoing discrimination on campus.
Yesterday was a difficult day around the world for those both immediate affected by the attacks in France and those who watched their television screens in horror as the events unfolded. As governments continue to count their citizens that are dead or injured, I cannot help but wonder why it really matters which nationalities were affected. Why does it matter that one among the dead were from the US and two from Belgium? Are they joined with all those around them? Did their blood not mingle with that of those from different everywhere else? Should this detail impact us differently as various nationalities are introduced to the bloodshed?
Sadly, the answer of this appears to be yes. In all of this, where was the same support for Beirut, the forgotten capital of Lebanon that experienced a devastating loss just the day before Paris? Where are the changed Facebook profile photos and posts showing people’s sympathy and symbolic solidarity? Sure, the number of deaths in Paris were greater than Beirut, but the latter should still be enough to spark outrage. What is the difference here other than location? Is it that Americans felt no impact? Is it that the innocent victims were Arabic and therefore not seen as humans? If death is experienced by other groups, it is distant, but the moment that “one of ours” is impacted, there is a sudden feeling of solidarity. We have become so accustomed to identifying with different groups (nationalities, religions, races, genders, etc) that we forget to identify first and foremost as human beings. Looking from one person to the next, everybody has some sort of difference, but at one point or another, these differences were deemed to be so strong that we had to create a border or barrier to separate ourselves from the “other.” Within each border, people vary, but they are joined by the sameness of belonging to one nationality or group, a group that was merely created and lacked anything concrete aside from an ideal. This ideal has become so important that people look at those belonging to the “other” as being less important. Although they have the same basic human structure, their geographic location, group affiliation, and ancestry makes them different.
Looking at comments people have made in reference to the attacks on Paris makes me weep for the future of mankind. The blame game was played immediately with people speculating that the terrorists were refugees and/or connected to a specific religion among other things. Imaginations ran rampant, and accusations based on stereotypes flew about. The “other” was blamed based on nothing more than these imagined differences, and people fail to see the flaw in this. It is these very imagined differences that separate us as nationalities when reality could join us as people, not people of different races, religious beliefs or schools of thought, but just people united in love and compassion for one another. Instead of looking at what separates us, why are we not focusing on what joins us as species?
Perhaps it is my privilege as a white American woman that allows me such idealism. I have never experienced the pains of being a minority in a system that historically oppressed me or belonged to a religious group that is stigmatized based on a group of extremists. Sure, I can empathize somewhat since being a woman marginalizes me, but I will never truly know what it is like to grow up in a systematically impoverished area, oppressed by those who claim racism does not still exist in 2015. I have been catcalled, assaulted, and stalked to the point of fearing for my life, but I will never know what it is like to be born statistically prone to police brutality and wonder if authoritative figures are there to help me or hurt me based on my assumed religious preferences. I have not felt these pains of others, but I do not lack pains of my own. These are the very pains that fuel my desperate hope and plea for equality across the board, equality for all people.
Instead of acknowledging our flaws as a society and striving to unify against extremism, many choose to alienate others because of these imagined differences. This brings me back to to “Mr. Wild’s Garden.” We are on the outside imagining the details of the lives of others. Mr. Weinberg created a reality for Mr. Wild, but he has absolutely no way of knowing who Mr. Wild was or how he saw the world. Instead of accepting that people see things and experience things differently, people are prone to speculate. These speculations are all too often accepted as fact, and stereotypes are formed. From these stereotypes, we impose our own experiences, perceptions and beliefs upon others based on our own lives rather than trying to understand what others see through their windows. Fantasy is mixed with reality, and many define this as “truth.” But what is truth? Memories fade. Details are forgotten. Experiences are perceived differently.
Truth is nothing more than this exact instant. Truth is how cold my fingers are while typing this, the shaking I am experiencing from anxiety foolishly mixed with a cup of coffee. Truth is the churning in my stomach and the tears in the corners of my eyes as I reflect on the articles I’ve been reading and scenes I’ve been seeing while staying up to date with the attacks in France. It’s the dull aches in the back of my head as I recall my memories from September 11th. Truth is the stiffness of my neck from leaning over reading the articles and social media coverage on yesterday’s rally at Purdue. Truth is the anger I feel while thinking about the narrow-minded comments from privileged members of society claiming that racism doesn’t exist and that Purdue University stands in “proud contrast” to Yale and Missouri.This is all my truth though. It is not the truth for those weeping over the bodies of their lost loved ones in France. It is not the truth of the students reading an anonymous comment stating “I think it’s about time to throw on the banana costume and head for the protest” as they rally against racism that supposedly doesn’t exist, nor is it the truth for Muslims who are all seen as terrorists due to the actions of an extremist group.
Instead of imposing our truths upon others, we need to embrace our differences and flaws on both an individual level and a systematic one. Without exception, everybody possess their own prejudices rooted in stereotypes. This can be taken either as “human nature” or viewed as something that society as a whole can work on. The key to growth and improvement is acknowledging these flaws and learning to get past them. Instead of just imagining what Mr. Wild’s life is like and speculating from the outside, go shake hands with Mr. Wild, have a cup of coffee or tea with him, and try to understand his thoughts and struggles. Don’t view Mr. Wild as the other and fear him; respect and befriend him.
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If you are a Purdue Student and wish to find more ways to get involved, visit https://www.facebook.com/purduesocialjusticecoalition/
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The comments within this blog are in no way associated with Purdue University, Purdue University Galleries, Purdue Social Justice Coalition, or David Weinberg. To see the show for yourself, visit Fountain Gallery at 330 Main Street, Lafayette, IN Tuesday - Saturday 12 noon - 7pm from now through December 5th, 2015.
Photo Credit: David Weinberg’s “Chapter 1, Plate 1”