OPTIMISTIC by Alisha Hemson

OPTIMISTIC VOLUME 1

grotesque youth culture

Nature is busy creating absolutely unique individuals, whereas culture has invented a single mold to which all must conform. It is grotesque. --U.G Krishnamurti

Photographer: Taylor Caterer Model: Daniel Carlo Timberlake

TABLE OF CONTENTS 05

HOMELESSNESS

FUELD

DEFINE YOU

PORTION

RAMEN

Photographer: aLISHA hEMSON 'Vandal@

Homelessnot Hopeless

Homeless Youth In the developed world, poverty is neither sufficient nor a Who are these children and what characteristics do necessary condition for homelessness.

they have?

Regardless of wealth, political ideology, government decree or religious affiliation, there is no place on the globe that has succeeded in eliminating homelessness. This is extraordinary, when you consider that homelessness, particularly among children, is distinguished as a grave ethical failure.

Street Children and Homeless Youth

Various domestic and international programs have sought to reduce this problem. The most important is the law passed by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which gives legal rights to children including the right to a decent life, to a home and an identity, protection, food, health, education, and the opportunity to express oneself. Yet, non-domiciled youth still live in full public view without permission, even in the wealthiest nations. They are at once terrifying and pathetic to the civil politic, deprived of being able to join society, and considered potentially too hazardous to be left unattended.

I have defined street children as living in the developing world and homeless youth in the developed world. While the definition of each is based on living without adults, often in peer families, there are crucial differences, which is why we separate them into two groups. These differences have important mental health consequences for the two groups, particularly when gender is considered. For example, street children begin life on the streets before their teen years; homeless youth arrive well into their teens. Some 90% od street children are boys. Homeless youth have an equal gender ratio. Nearly 100% of street children come from poor families, but only a very small percentage, certainly less than 1% of poor children become street children. In the developed world, poverty is neither sufficient nor a necessary condition of homelessness.

Photographer: aLISHA hEMSON 'hOMELESSNESS.'@

Photographer: Taylor Caterer Model: lIZZIE mCaNDREW

Photographer: Taylor Caterer Model: Daniel Carlo Timberlake

21 Things That Don’t Define You

Examining the many identities we take on and the only one that truly matters.

Am I loved? Am I respected? Am I important? These are questions that saunter quietly through our mind each morning as we look in the mirror. Questions that focus in on our identity: who we say we are, who we think we are and who the world perceives us to be. You are identified by: Your occupation. This is one of the biggest ways we identify ourselves to other people. When we meet someone, the first question we ask is “what do you do?” Be it teacher, lawyer or ditch digger, where we spend at least 40 hours of our week is a big factor in our identity. WHEN WE MEET SOMEONE, THE FIRST QUESTION WE ASK IS “WHAT DO YOU DO?” Your family relationship. Are you a mom or dad? Son or daughter? Brother or sister? Many times our identity is tied directly to our family. For example, no matter what she does, Lisa Marie will always be Elvis’ daughter. Your friends. Do you have a group of friends you’ve been with for years? Or maybe you wish you had just one friend to be close to and confide in. We’re known by those we hang out with and spend our free time with. Your vices. These are the things we try our hardest to hide from those around us and the outside world. Ironically, these are often the things that consume us the most. Alcohol, gambling, porn, junk food, etc. Your politics. Few things divide us in the workplace, in social circles and, sadly, in church like political affiliation. Good thing Jesus and the disciples didn’t have a (R) or (D) beside their names in the New Testament anywhere. Your view on social issues. Like politics, these can also sharply divide us. Contrasting views on issues like abortion, poverty, affirmative action and gay rights can drive deep wedges between people, yet we use them as sole identifiers too many times, not seeing people for anything other than their stance on an issue.

Your race. This is one identifier we cannot change. Yet still keeps our love and concern for our fellow man only (pun intended) skin deep. If you are Black, White, Latino, Asian or a different race, you are that way from birth until death. Your marital status. Are you married or single? Divorced? Widowed? We are identified by our decision to spend our lives with someone or not. And our identity as married people is linked to our spouse. Your age. Young or old, this identifier is another one we cannot change. Strangely enough, too many teenage girls dress like they’re 25, and many 50-year-old women use various methods to look 32. Your age is an identifier as to your world experience, fair or not. Your religion. Protestant? Catholic? Buddhist? Muslim? Jewish? Our religion identifies us in terms of who we will serve and worship. Certainly, the labels of various religions stoke the fires of prejudice and hatred too many times. Your hobbies and interests. You identify yourself with these because you enjoy doing them. Did you spend the weekend on your photography? Or did you run some insane marathon where someone was throwing paint or mud or some combo of the two on you at the finish line? Your ability/disability. Another unchangeable trait, our ability to do certain things is important and valuable to the world around us. The disabled around us, however, are too often treated as second-class citizens, identified solely for what they cannot do. Your geographical location. Are you a Yankee or Southerner? Perhaps from a different country, speaking a different language? We get identified by the area we live or were raised in. Your intellect and education. Do you have more degrees than a thermometer? Or did you struggle in school, dropping out early on? This means of identification often shows society how useful we are.

Your religion. Protestant? Catholic? Buddhist? Muslim? Jewish? Our religion identifies us in terms of who we will serve and worship. Certainly, the labels of various religions stoke the fires of prejudice and hatred too many times.

Your intellect and education. Do you have more degrees than a thermometer? Or did you struggle in school, dropping out early on? This means of identification often shows society how useful we are.

Your hobbies and interests. You identify yourself with these because you enjoy doing them. Did you spend the weekend on your photography? Or did you run some insane marathon where someone was throwing paint or mud or some combo of the two on you at the finish line?

Your gender. Male or female, often we are labeled by various stereotypes as to what our gender is supposed to say and do.

Your ability/disability. Another unchangeable trait, our ability to do certain things is important and valuable to the world around us. The disabled around us, however, are too often treated as second-class citizens, identified solely for what they cannot do. Your geographical location. Are you a Yankee or Southerner? Perhaps from a different country, speaking a different language? We get identified by the area we live or were raised in.

Your sexuality. Your sexual preference, sexual “accomplishments” or sexual “failures” can play a large role in how others perceive you and how you perceive yourself. Your physical appearance. Do you look like a real life Ken or Barbie doll? Do others envy you? Or are you plain, kind of chubby with a bit of acne on your face, feeling rejected by others?

Photographer: Taylor Caterer Models: Daniel Timberlake, Lizzie McAndrew

Photographer: Taylor Caterer Models: DanielTimberlake,Lizzie McAndrew

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