NAME
SPRING 2017 : ISSUE 3
SPRING 2017
THE AUDACITY ISSUE 3
1
CREDITS
Staff Editor-in-Chief Erin Kuykendall Design Director Moses Lee Creative Director Melina Perez Social Media Coordinator Maiya Evans Social Media Arden Frank, Jessica Teran Event Planning Ebanie Griffith Public Relations Emily Ruiz
Guests
Acknowledgments The Audacity would like to gratefully acknowledge the generous patronage of Student Government. We would also like to thank Friends and Neighbors, Top Drawer, Revival Vintage, Ermine’s, and City Girl Beach Bum Jewelry for their support in providing the clothing and accessories pictured.
THE AUDACITY
Photographer (Antigone/Ismene) Moses Lee Models (Antigone/Ismene) Saumya Gupta, Tatiana Roberts Makeup Artist (Antigone/Ismene) Maiya Evans Stylist (Antigone/Ismene) Erin Kuykendall, Melina Perez Photographer (To The Stars) Tony Redmer Models (To The Stars) Yessenia Herrera, Lindsey Scott, Brandon Weber Makeup Artist (To The Stars) Mariah Becerra, Maiya Evans Stylist (To The Stars) Erin Kuykendall, Melina Perez Assistants (To The Stars) Catalina Casar, Arden Frank, Clarence Yuan Photographer (Redrum) Moses Lee Model (Redrum) Arri Caviness, Ebanie Griffith, Hillary Henrici, Nadia Pinter Makeup Artist (Redrum) Jessica Teran Stylist (Redrum) Arden Frank, Melina Perez Assistant (Redrum) Maiya Evans, Erin Kuykendall Photographer (Don’t Touch My Hair) Bethony Harnden Models (Don’t Touch My Hair) Ariana Garcia, Jazmyn Griffin, April Owusu Makeup Artist (Don’t Touch My Hair) Maiya Evans Stylist (Don’t Touch My Hair) Melina Perez Photographer (Radical Women) Bethony Harnden Models (Radical Women) Maryam Amjadi, Halina Haider Makeup Artist (Radical Women) Saumya Gupta Stylist (Radical Women) Erin Kuykendall Assistant (Radical Women) Clarence Yuan
CONTENTS
Contents Staff Portrait 4 Antigone / Ismene 6 To The Stars by Hard Ways 14 Lucidity 24 Redrum 28
SPRING 2017 : ISSUE 3
Don’t Touch My Hair 40 Real Women Have Curves 48 Radical Women 50
MEDIUM
THE AUDACITY
4
NAME
SPRING 2017 : ISSUE 3
5
STORY
THE AUDACITY
Antigone 6
ANTIGONE / ISMENE
SPRING 2017 : ISSUE 3
Ismene 7
STORY
THE AUDACITY
8
ANTIGONE / ISMENE
Ismene I scorn them not, but to defy the State Or break her ordinance I have no skill. SPRING 2017 : ISSUE 3
Antigone A specious pretext. I will go alone To lap my dearest brother in the grave. Ismene My poor, fond sister, how I fear for thee! Antigone O waste no fears on me; look to thyself.
9
STORY
When I think of feminist narratives, the story of Antigone comes to mind. When Antigone’s brother dies, she fights for his right to a proper burial. In doing so, she defies the government and the patriarchy, sacrificing her life to honor her family. She is a symbol of strength, loyalty and resistance, and is the epitome of fearlessness. Now, consider her sister, Ismene. While devoted to her family like Antigone, Ismene is too afraid to defy the government and sacrifice herself the way her sister so boldly does. By the end of the story, Ismene finally decides that she, too, should stand by her sister. However, it is too little too late—Antigone scolds her for being unwilling to fight alongside her all this time, and refuses to allow her sister to have the same fate of death.
Let’s go back in history and consider the women who have fought for the liberation of all women. Black suffragettes Sojourner Truth and Ida B. Wells, labor leader Dolores Huerta, scholar Angela Davis, environmentalist Winona LaDuke, and Black Lives Matter creators Alicia Garza, Opal Tometi, and Patrisse Cullors—all of whom are considered feminists and activists—have challenged white supremacy and the patriarchy. Meanwhile, white feminists have consistently put white supremacy first, and intersectionality second (example: Susan B. Anthony, who said she would rather cut off her own arm than give black men the ballot).
10
THE AUDACITY
The story of Antigone and Ismene resembles the concepts of intersectional feminism versus white feminism. While women of color are at the forefront of activism, white women are saying, “We should all be women first,” believing that race is dividing the feminist fight instead of making it stronger. What white women do not seem to understand is that categories of identity cannot be separated—a black woman is, at the end of the day, a black woman, and cannot remove herself from her race.
ANTIGONE / ISMENE
Today, white feminists, perhaps less blatantly racist, sit back and watch as brown and black women actively fight for change, then expect recognition for their performative activism. What they fail to realize is that attending the Women’s March is not enough. Women who claim to be feminists, yet are not fighting for black women, immigrant women, Muslim women, trans women, differently abled women etc. are not here for all women. To be like Ismene is to be complicit. Now more than ever, we need to fight like Antigone; courage, strength, and loyalty to women at all intersections is crucial. It’s time to take a stand and dismantle a system that oppresses marginalized women — white feminists must put self-interests aside and use their privilege to fight for under-privileged women. SPRING 2017 : ISSUE 3
Without intersectionality, revolution is impossible.
Emily Nash
11
STORY
THE AUDACITY
12
SPRING 2017 : ISSUE 3
13
STORY
To the Stars by Hard Ways
14
THE AUDACITY
For the past twenty years, members of the feminist movement have worked tirelessly, fighting for equal pay, reproductive rights, and a woman’s right to choose. These issues are undeniably important, but they don’t account for the multiplex problems faced by many transfeminine, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming people. Femme-identifying individuals may or may not present as feminine, but identity goes deeper than presentation. Needless to say, the future of feminism absolutely depends upon the inclusion and acceptance of gender nonconforming people. Let’s take a deeper look into what it means to live and exist as a queer, femme person in 2017. Since its introduction into the contemporary queer lexicon, the word “femme” has undergone a unique evolution of meaning. At present, femme can be defined as an identity which relates in some way to feminineness. The term applies to those who identify and present as women, but it has also been appropriated by many nonbinary and gender nonconforming individuals who identify with any aspect of femininity.
TO THE STARS BY HARD WAYS
SPRING 2017 : ISSUE 3
In the West, traditional patriarchal frameworks have prescribed gendered expectations for individuals based on their assigned sexes at birth. Those assigned male at birth are expected to partake fully in the ideals of masculinity; similarly, individuals assigned female at birth must embody all of society’s expected gender norms for women. Having its basis in the idea of a binary which privileges men and masculinity, this system discriminates against feminineness in all of its forms, especially when performed by male-assigned individuals. Spotlighting the femme identity is revolutionary because it not only celebrates what it means to be a woman, but also because it expands the very definition of womanhood. In other words, it liberates the multitude of nonbinary and gender nonconforming people who have repeatedly faced discrimination or exclusion for not presenting in accordance with their assigned gender.
Jayce Chandler
15
STORY
THE AUDACITY
16
TO THE STARS BY HARD WAYS
“When I was younger, I was always concerned about what everyone thought about me. Now that I’m coming into my own, I’ve learned that if I spent all my time worried about what people think, I’d never truly love myself.” Brandon Weber SPRING 2017 : ISSUE 3 17
STORY
Yessenia Herrera
18
THE AUDACITY
“No one really talks about being bisexual, gay, lesbian, transgender, etc in the Latino community. There aren’t enough role models, representations, or resources in our communities to help us navigate both LGBTQ+ culture and our Latinidad. There is not one way to be queer, and I’m slowly reclaiming those preconceived notions of my person. I’m brown and bisexual and strong and beautiful — and that is enough.”
TO THE STARS BY HARD WAYS
SPRING 2017 : ISSUE 3 19
STORY
THE AUDACITY
20
TO THE STARS BY HARD WAYS
SPRING 2017 : ISSUE 3
“When I learned that I could identify as neither gender explicitly, only then did I begin to forgive what I had seen as half-polished cobblings of personhood, and, slowly, learn to be proud of them. I deserve to not be held to certain gender expectations simply because I may have some of the markers of that gender at that particular moment. It’s important to treasure yourself’s experience of self and treat it tenderly, first and foremost.” Lindsey Scott
21
STORY
THE AUDACITY
22
TO THE STARS BY HARD WAYS
SPRING 2017 : ISSUE 3 23
ART
THE AUDACITY
24
LUCIDITY
Lucidity
SPRING 2017 : ISSUE 3
These have to do with my struggles with depression. All of the pieces have been done at low points as an outlet not only to express my feelings but also to bring myself into a better state of mind by putting my emotions into artwork.
Celia Wijaya
25
ART
THE AUDACITY
26
LUCIDITY
SPRING 2017 : ISSUE 3
27
STORY
THE AUDACITY
28
REDRUM
SPRING 2017 : ISSUE 3
REDRUM
29
STORY
At first, our new political landscape seemed like a dream. When the results came in, they poured down our screens and into our living rooms as a waterfall of red. The wave reached everywhere, chasing us down hallways and waking us from our slumber. Like young Danny Torrance, we were told this new experience would simply be something to get used to. But we could see the past as well as the future.
30
THE AUDACITY
It still seems surreal; trying to navigate this maze, seeing things that could not be fathomed in the daylight we have left behind. Some believed the darkness of this world had been overcome, and could not realize that it haunted us still. It haunts some of us more than others — Danny, who today, could be a young black woman. The ghost of an evil past has come to reclaim what never belonged to him, and prejudice and ignorance walk hand-in-hand down the long corridor towards whatever is now different, special, free. Some of us saw this deterioration of democracy coming.
REDRUM
It is clear that what once may have been unsure, lurking in the dark shadows of our history, is now clearly and unapologetically standing in front of us, begging us to come and play. It rears its ugly head with a vengeance that brings decay to everything. The world is watching as America’s dysfunctional family attempts to make it out alive under a patriarch intent on destroying everything we have built together, possessed by his own perceived status shift in society. SPRING 2017 : ISSUE 3
We are being chased by these things, and yet, we too can resist. Although we are stuck in the twisted maze, we can see who is good and who is evil. When we escape, it will be by our own power. It will be with a new sense of self, and it will be without the men and the bureaucracy who dragged us into The Overlook to begin with.
Renee Johnson
31
MEDIUM
THE AUDACITY
32
NAME
SPRING 2017 : ISSUE 3
33
MEDIUM
THE AUDACITY
34
NAME
SPRING 2017 : ISSUE 3
35
MEDIUM
THE AUDACITY
36
NAME
SPRING 2017 : ISSUE 3
37
STORY
THE AUDACITY
38
REDRUM
SPRING 2017 : ISSUE 3
39
POETRY
40
THE AUDACITY
Don’t Touch My Hair
DON’T TOUCH MY HAIR
SPRING 2017 : ISSUE 3 41
POETRY
42
THE AUDACITY
I remember what they told me sit quietly, sit prettily, sit still As women of color As people of color They expect us to fold instead of fight We are tired “Is your hair naturally like that?” I am tired Of people who expect us to fold instead of fight We are not cowards We are tired We wouldn’t give up even if we brought a knife to a gunfight “Your hair is so exotic!” It’s an anthem A story A mood An experience “Don’t Touch My Hair When it’s the feelings I wear, Don’t touch my soul When it’s the rhythm I know, Don’t touch my crown They say the vision I’ve found Don’t touch what’s there, When it’s the feelings I wear.” Our essence Our culture that we carry We bring a slingshot and stone to a war “Have you ever thought about straightening your hair?” You never taught us how to fight because we were born knowing how
DON’T TOUCH MY HAIR
SPRING 2017 : ISSUE 3
We stand fearless when struck And fearless against a fist Our hands were not made to hit, but it seems that we’ve had to learn how We cannot walk on these streets like they are our own I can’t say we have enough trust to live with the doors unlocked And our hearts on our sleeve When people say “Your hair is too much.” I, we, all of us, feel this pressure Straighten Whiten Ignore Culture Beauty History Our skin Our bodies Our presence We will not spend a decade, a day Behind closed doors, waiting for the confidence to roll over and unlock it and leave We want thick skin We want to walk on these streets like they are our own “You know this hair is my shit.”
Melina Perez
43
MEDIUM
THE AUDACITY
44
NAME
SPRING 2017 : ISSUE 3
45
POETRY
THE AUDACITY
46
DON’T TOUCH MY HAIR
SPRING 2017 : ISSUE 3 47
ART
THE AUDACITY
48
REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES
Real Women Have Curves SPRING 2017 : ISSUE 3
This piece, “Real Women Have Curves”, is a two color woodblock print that is inspired by self-image, society's perception of women, and the relationships women have with each other. Popular culture forces beauty standards on women and a lot of the time we can find a million imperfections in our shape and form. In reality, the imperfections are what make us fierce, unique and beautiful, especially when we as women own those imperfections. It’s hard to embrace your own beauty when you feel the need to wake up and “put your face on” everyday, but when you decide to embrace your form, it forces society to recognize the work women do, not only in the workplace, but also in society, trying to conform to beauty standards is tough work. Make-up is an amazing thing and is so fun to play with, but that doesn’t mean you need it to be beautiful. The face mask is also symbolic of the roles we play as women. No, I don’t have to smile when you cat-call me, or when you act fake towards me, or when you undermine me as a human being. Women are tough, strong, scary, bad-ass creatures. Just because we can “shapeshift” or “transform” to be whatever you want us to be, doesn’t mean you’ll never see our full potential.
Danielle Gines
49
STORY
50
THE AUDACITY
RADICAL WOMEN
RADICAL WOMEN
SPRING 2017 : ISSUE 3
51
STORY
52
THE AUDACITY
Muslims—they’re all around us. Don’t believe me? Look around for yourself! There are 3.3 million Muslims of all ages living in America as of 2015. That’s like, over 3 million Muslims! They’re in our neighborhoods, going to our schools, shopping at our grocery stores, and eating our Doritos Locos Tacos™. And you know, at least half of those Muslims have got to be women. My Doritos Locos Taco™ is sacred, and I don’t want some radical Muslim lady with a taste for nacho cheese getting her hands on it. Wake up sheeple. These people are here, they’re citizens (at least 77 percent of them are), and they WILL be eating Doritos. Don’t be fooled by that normal looking hijabi girl you see walking her dog in your neighborhood—she IS a muslim. Just because they read Us Weekly and play video games and know all the words to “We Didn’t Start the Fire” doesn’t make them any less Muslim. Just because they’re Americans from really American sounding places like Texas and Michigan and North Dakota doesn’t make them any less Muslim. In fact, they’re so ingrained in American society you probably wouldn’t even be able to pick one out if they stared you in the face and took your order at Taco Bell for three, extra-spicy Doritos Locos Tacos™.
RADICAL WOMEN
SPRING 2017 : ISSUE 3
These people are everywhere. They’re good people, people who let you in on the highway when you’re trying to switch lanes at the last minute. They’re people just like you and me who sometimes buy underwear because they forgot to do laundry for like a month. Sometimes they have distinctive characteristics, maybe a scarf on their hair or dark brown eyes, but mostly they look just like anybody else. So how the heck do we sniff them out? How do we stay vigilant to the most rapidly growing religion in the world? Well, just because there’s no statistically discernable threat posed by Muslims in this country doesn’t mean we don’t know how to weed them out. All you’ve got to do is keep your eye out for regular Americans. They’re gonna watch TV, go to school, and probably enjoy a Doritos Locos Taco™ now and then. They’re everywhere and they’re just like us. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Maryam Amjadi
53
STORY
THE AUDACITY
54
RADICAL WOMEN
SPRING 2017 : ISSUE 3
55
MEDIUM
THE AUDACITY
56
NAME
SPRING 2017 : ISSUE 3
57
MEDIUM
THE AUDACITY
58
NAME
SPRING 2017 : ISSUE 3
59
MEDIUM
THE AUDACITY
60
NAME
SPRING 2017 : ISSUE 3
61
www.audacityzine.com www.facebook.com/audacityzine @audacityzine