Bard Winter 2023

THE MENLO BARD self expression

from the editor

Dear Reader,

Whether it be through fashion or forms of speech, the way we express ourselves is constantly evolving. The change we undergo as individuals cannot be defined in an encompassing way; despite this, we still manage to find connections through the comfort of labels and categories.

Therefore, with this issue, we aim to explore some of these broad categories of self expression. This issue covers the ties between self expression and cultural and queer identities, as well as diving into some of the more tangible ways people choose to express themselves, like through tattoos or fashion.

But ultimately, the goal is not to define self expression; rather, through cultivating conversations around conversations, we hope to evoke self-reflection. At the end of

It’s impossible to put a single label on queer culture and self expression. The term “queer” covers a vast scope of identities that fall under the LGBTQ+ umbrella– generalizing an entire population is not only difficult, but also diminishes the individuality of each person that makes the queer community the diverse space that it is. Yet, queer self expression in all its forms can still be a unifying factor for the community.

“There are certain traits that are associated with being a gay man or lesbian or being queer in general [...] that can help us kind of recognize each other and feel more safe,” freshman Kira Pande said. Historically, these traits have included symbols used by queer people to identify other LGBTQ+ people, like the significance of lavender in the “gay power” movement or the handkerchief code utilized by gay men in the 1980s. Today, however, this signaling can take the form of fashion.

Junior Valentina Marinucci sees fashion as an important way of expressing queerness. “I think [queer self expression] is a way to unify the community [...] queer people can tell that other queer people are queer because of the way they dress and a lot of straight people can’t [tell],” Marinucci said. “I think it’s a kind of safe way to show to other people, ‘Hey, I’m here, I’m queer’ without outing yourself to people who might be homophobic.”

Identifying other queer people through outward forms of expression like fashion can also be comforting, according to senior AJ Dickerson. “Being self expressive in queer culture is important to be able to see that there’s people there for you,” Dickerson said. “[Fashion] can also be a way of identifying other people in our community [...] I know that I feel more comfortable seeing someone who I would assume to be queer in a space.”

Queer expression is also apparent at Menlo. “I’ve met a couple

freshmen I’ve just seen around campus, more people, either being queer or just expressing themselves [...] with more varied fashion and I’m really happy to see it,” Dickerson said.

Fashion is not just a form of expression for queer people, however – it also serves as a way to affirm one’s gender, particularly for transgender or nonbinary individuals. For Dickerson, gender plays a large part in how he personally chooses to express himself. “As someone who doesn’t [align with] the binary I find that having shorter hair [...] helps me feel more androgynous,” Dickerson said. “I try to mix men’s and women’s styles [...] although, my dressing does tend to [be] feminine because that is what I was socialized in and so it’s harder to actively pursue that masculine look.”

Gender also plays a role in self expression for junior Logan Wilson, who, like Dickerson, finds that their hair helps them express themself. “Queer people can look like anything [...] but I feel like the short hair is actually something that I’ve grown to really, really love and it helps me express my gender identity a little bit more,” Wilson said. “I felt like with long hair, I felt a little too feminine.”

Wilson’s gender identity also factors into how she chooses to dress. “I also like to switch a lot between wearing more feminine and more masculine clothes just based on how I feel that day,” Wilson said. Junior Amory Healy agrees that their fashion isn’t constrained by a gender binary. “If I ever take a photo of what [fashion] I want to emulate, I don’t pick based on gender- I pick based on the clothing in itself [...] I feel that the way I dress sometimes is a visual label that I am queer,” Healy said. “I express my identity through everything I do, because my identity makes me who I am.”

Queer self expression is also associated with a higher degree of freedom for Healy. “One of the main pros of the queer community is the idea that everyone is truly themselves. Even just the process

BARD

of coming out means presenting yourself as you are to your friends and family,” Healy said.

On the other hand, the stereotyping of queer self expression can also be harmful when done by outsiders to the queer community. “[Queer people] have basically always been associated with some sort of stereotype or stigma or whatever, when people have their preconceived notions of what a gay man looks like, or what a lesbian looks like,” Pande said. “And that just kind of goes against the whole idea of queerness being self expression and [defying] the norm because now, it almost puts us into a box.”

Freshman Lilla Halasz feels that stereotyping queer self expression can be helpful yet simultaneously, restrictive. “I think [stereotypes are] important for questioning folk to see and recognize stereotypes within themselves at the beginning of their journey to help

“I express my identity through everything I do, because my identity makes me who I am.”

them acknowledge their queer identity,” Halasz said. “However, they restrict authentic self expression and can slow the process of truly figuring out your identity outside of a stereotype.”

Ultimately, queer self expression through fashion is a statement for Dickerson. “[Fashion] is fun. Honestly, I like to put things together,” Dickerson said. “But it’s also a nice way to make a statement and to show a little bit of who I am through what I wear.”

self expression] is a way to unify the community.”

“Queer people can look like anything.”

queer expression &

&identit y

eternal expression: tattoos & taboos

Annika Allison

that tattoos were something to be ogled from the start.

Imagine yourself walking into someone’s home to discover they have a large piece of art exhibited proudly on their walls. Do you immediately pester them with questions as to why they have decided to display such a piece on their lovely, clean walls? Do you feel they must indulge you in the meaning of why they decided to hang this specific piece?

Art is something admired. The deeper meaning is meant to be pondered, but its existence is not. However, there are contrasting reactions to tattoos compared to more traditional art pieces. A reaction to viewing a tattoo on someone is often questioning why someone would do such a thing to themselves. Upon deeper thinking, this proves to be

In the 1950s, tattoos began to pop up throughout society. Due to how American citizens were introduced to tattoos, being inked became associated with unruliness and disobedience. With this stigma, people with tattoos were looked down upon by other members of society. This way of thinking has continued in modern society as well, where tattoos are associated with impulsivity, and tattooed individuals are more likely to be seen as unreliable or incompetent.

But what do tattoos really represent? Do these stereotypes hold any truth? To the youth of this generation, tattoos are simply a means of self expression. According to the Pew Research center, a little over one-third of young adults

self expression through fashion

For a long time, clothes mainly served a practical purpose. Fashions came and went, but the average person didn’t have a lot of room for personalization since the clothes making process was both laborious and costly. However, with the increasing speed of global transportation and advanced machinery came greater access to clothing at lower cost.

Now with the internet and online shopping, fashion is more accessible than ever, providing many people with more ways to personalize their style. Sites like Pinterest, Instagram, and especially TikTok expose people of all ages – primarily teens – to countless niches.

Of course, having an expansive wardrobe with all the latest trends is quite expensive, but we still have far more variety available than people of the past. This allows people to mix and match what they like to form a style that resonates with their identity.

English teacher Lena Pressesky, when asked about her opinions of the connection between fashion and self expression, noted that “I always feel my best mentally when I feel like I look like myself.” She described her personal style as “bohemian eclectic,” and went on to explain that she enjoys exploring multiple different niches as well. “I don’t like to put myself in any boxes […] I like to be able to kind of pull from different genres,” she said. Choosing what makes us happy, regardless of fitting a specific box, is at the core of self expression.

Generation Z is especially keen on

Katie King

making choices that don’t limit us. Chloe Chao, a junior, thinks that fashion can show different aspects of yourself. “There’s the side of like, [being] comfortable and then also just using [fashion] to present yourself,” Chao said.

On the other hand, Chao believes that some trends can be harmful. “[Fashion is] a cool way people found to express themselves […] At the

“I always feel my best mentally when I feel like I look like myself.”

fashion

expression self

cultural identity & self expression

Jacqueline Larsen & Ella Krane

When thinking about the topics of cultural identity and cultural heritage, we normally think of the origins of our family, as well as the key factors that make us, us. The formal definition of cultural identity is “a part of a person’s identity, or their self-conception and selfperception, and is related to nationality, ethnicity, religion, social class, generation, locality or any kind of social group that has its own distinct culture.” It stems from our ethnicity and nationality but relates to how we present ourselves to our peers or our community.

Self expression is defined as “the

expression of one’s feelings, thoughts, or ideas, especially in writing, art, music, or dance.” At Menlo School, many people’s cultural heritage affects the way they express themselves.

Isabella Brosious, a sophomore at Menlo School, provided a perspective on how her Hispanic cultural identity influences her self expression. Her unique outlook on Hispanic heritage is influenced by her Basque traditions and her Basque culture. When asked how she expresses herself in relation to her cultural identity, she talked about how she participates in a lot of Basque traditions. “When I was younger, every Sunday for two hours, I would learn and perform basque dancing,” Brosious said.

Brosious makes sure to stay in touch with her culture. “Even though a lot of people in my community do not speak Basque, I learned the language when I was younger to stay connected to my culture,” Brosious said.

Food is another way she expresses her culture. “My mom and I make traditional basque salad and other traditional foods,” Brosious said. When people come over to her house Brosious makes lots of Basque dishes to share.

Brosious feels comfortable expressing her cultural identity. “I cannot name a time when I was uncomfortable expressing my cultural identity.” Brosious said,“When I participate in events from my culture, I am usually around those of the same cultural background as me.” She expresses herself by cooking traditional dishes with her extended family, Basque dancing in front of large crowds at the local community center, having a traditional get-together and feast, or visiting family in one

of Europe’s oldest and strongest cultures, Basque Country, in Northern Spain.

However, her cultural expression is limited by her community outside of her home. “I do not express my cultural identity at school as much as I do at home, because not many people share my culture at school,” Brosious said.

Arthi Abhyanker, a member of the junior class at Menlo, also spoke about how her heritage influences her self expression.

Abhyanker has less familial ties to her culture than Brosious. “My parents didn’t teach me much about my heritage because they both grew up in the United States and didn’t know much,” Abhyanker said.

However, Arthi joined several affinity groups at Menlo in order to learn more about her culture: “I am a part of [the South Asian Affinity Alliance Group] and [Asian Affinity Alliance].” Abhyanker’s religion has also affected the way she views her culture.“I converted to Christianity and feel out of touch with my heritage,” Abhyanker said. “[But I] enjoy celebrating different cultural events that happen throughout the year with friends and family.”

Abhyanker stated she feels comfortable expressing herself culturally. “I go to church, and sometimes express myself through jewelry,” Abhyanker said. Lastly, sophomore Arrianne Avila openly expresses her culture. “I am very public about the fact that I am Latina, because I am very proud of it,” Avila said. She also talked about how her Latina culture influences her personality, because that is what she grew up with. “If I talk to my sister, I will talk to her in Spanish. I will do my hair sometimes too.”

However, she mentioned that she mostly expresses herself at home, especially during certain times of the year. “I don’t really wear clothing [that reflects my culture] unless it’s a holiday,” Avila said. Avila’s cultural identity influences who she hangs out with. “I am part of the affinity group Latinas Unidos at Menlo and I hang out with them

a lot,” Avila said.

After interviewing multiple people, it is evident that cultural heritage is a very important part of a person’s life, but it doesn’t necessarily show up for them in their day to day life. Our interviewees will not go out of their way to express themselves culturally, unless they are doing it in some form of a group. Despite this, Isabella is part of Latinos Unidos and Mixed at Menlo, Arthi is part of both SAAG and AAA, and Arrianne is part of Latinos Unidos. This is where cultural heritage comes into play at school. Affinity groups at Menlo have provided students with the ability to connect deeply with their culture and with peers who share their same culture.

The Menlo Bard

editor in chief

page design

Andrea Li

creative director

Chloe Lee

contributors

Annika Allison

Ella Krane

Jacqueline Larsen

Katie King adviser