"May I speak now?"
When I saw the requirements for this assignment my mind immediately went to this image.
Who created this message? Although it's not an ad, it was created for a public art show by a friend of a friend's daughter. She created this in 2018, prior to the more recent "Black Lives Matter" campaigns that occurred since 2020. If I remember correctly, she created it due to treatment she and other students of color were experiencing at school.
What creative techniques are used to attract my attention? I just think this is such a visceral image. Seeing someone's mouth taped shut is already powerful, and then seeing the tape come off sends a positive message initially ("this person gets to speak") but coupling that with her painting her face white sends a really clear message: "I get to be heard because I look white now". I think the very simple message- "May I Speak Now?" shows her perspective very clearly. The three images next to each other show a clear progression of time. It's a very clear story told in a very bold but simple way, through simple and powerful imagery.
How might different people interpret this message differently than me?
I'm sure an audience of color would connect with this differently. As a white person I saw this and felt like it was a powerful portrayal of a young Black girl showing her perspective and the ways she faces oppression at school. People of color would likely connect to this differently, perhaps feeling a personal connection ro feeling like it speaks for hteir experiences. I think someone from the artist's school, like one of her teachers, would likely feel defensive when seeing this. Essentially she's accusing the school/society of racist practices, and I imagine a white audience of authority might not take as kindly to it.
What viewpoints or world views are included or left out of this message?
This is only one student's perspective, and it's only one Black girl's perspective as well. I don't think she's trying to speak for others, only share her own experience, but this doesn't speak for other students of color or other Black students at her school. This also does speak for the faculty or their perspective on what might have been contributing to the situation in general. There's also clearly a statement being made about whiteness, but it's coming from the perspective of a Black person. There's no perspective about whitness from a white perspective (though I would argue there shouldn't be, in this instance).
Why is this message being sent? I'm trying not to speak for her, but my interpretation is that she feels silenced as a Black person. By painting her face white, she's sending the message that white voices are heard (or allowed to be heard) over Black voices. My memory is that she was experiencing some racism in her school, and she created this piece as a way of expressing that.