Abstract

This body of artwork uses symbolism and visual language to explore contemporary construction of identity as influenced by fairy tales and folklore. At the center of this inquiry is the way in which identity and selfhood are created and politicized in a social context. Towards this conceptual aim, both the study of social constructionism as well as theories of narrative identity construction underpin the work. The lens of visual culture serves as the platform for this exploration, which is informed by both the visual and narrative canons of historical fairytales and folklore, as well as the contemporary, more colloquial ‘fairytale’ of modern myth making. The written word, as one artifact of these narratives, plays prominently in the research as well as final execution of each piece. Additionally, the spoken word is utilized in the research of many pieces, as direct dialogues and interviews with the subjects inform the conceptual direction, execution, and ultimately the final presentation. Using a variety of traditional as well as nontraditional media and physical cultural artifacts, this series is a collection of identities that have been shaped by the social narratives of western culture. It asks the viewer to question which narratives they subscribe to, which they break free from, and how those decisions shape their world.

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