In preparation for Junk Dada, our visual arts experience at OSU Wexner Center for the Arts, students have been exploring themes of race, identity and poverty in eye-opening ways. I am impressed with their discussion and reflection.
First, students read White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Backpack by Peggy McIntosh and discussed the author’s purpose and how her statements applied to them. Our class is diverse in terms of gender, race and religion and this activity helped them consider how they their lives might be different if their identity was changed (or how their lives ARE different because they experience inequality). While the topic can be uncomfortable, students were willing to freely share their experiences and thoughts.
Next, they viewed a Privilege Walk Video and completed a Privilege Survey on Google Forms to identify their experience with inequality or privilege in terms of gender, race, sexuality, ability, religion, class, and nationality. Students viewed the results (taking a privilege walk of their own, in a way) and completed a data analysis to identify the most common inequalities in our community.
Once students identify community inequalities, they will choose one and conduct research on the scope and impact of the inequality. Our goal is for them to create a visual piece that inspires awareness and conversation about the issue of inequality in our community, connecting to Noah Purifoy’s use of art as an instrument for social change.
Here are more survey results:
