performance, video, 2014-
In this ongoing series of live performances and video performance, I assume the role of a lecturer and lead the audience through a brief overview of how to navigate, interact with, and discuss the black female body. Through degrading statements and opinions that have been lifted and paraphrased from web forums, real life conversation, and historical texts, I am highlighting the racist and sexist attitudes that circulate around the black, specifically female, body.
In "A Guide to the Black Body" I create a push and pull of trust with the audience as I pursue the character of a young and knowledgable lecturer; trustworthy because of my physical appearance and its obvious connection to the topic. Throughout the piece, I give not only verbal cues, but formal cues about the internalized racism and sexism in this problematic message being taught i.e. bad framing of the face and terrible camera work along with abrupt stops and contradictory thinking.
While I am giving this talk as myself, I take on the role of a lecturer or a definitive source of knowledge on the subject that I am presenting which is the character element of my piece. Through this power-play of audience and lecturer and my self-identification as a black woman along with my regular appearance attached to myself out of character, I am complicating and hinting at the depth of this lecture so that the audience reaches beyond the face value of the performance.
This piece is constantly being shifted and edited in tone, topic, and format. Some performance may lean more on irony and humor than other performances. She's still a work in progress.