Blog 2
How BL themes will change how I work in the future
Claire’s lecture on social responsibility helped me see how linked the Better Lives themes are. I think the word ‘Power’ is strong and I think that this is a link that holds all the themes together. After watching the lecture on Power by Julia Crew I didn’t understand how it was relevant at first, but after watching more lectures, I heard the word ‘Power’ come up in nearly all discussions. Now I can reflect about the information in the ‘Power’ lecture, I can see why it is so important to know where power is held and how it effects different people.
Considering the themes, I can now see how Sustainability, Diversity and Social Responsibility affect me a lot more clearly. These lectures have challenged be to think differently and help me see I do have the power to make changes.
I feel my initial dismissal came from a place of feeling as though I have no control or final say in the way I work – which in a lot of cases does apply, but I feel it should be everyone’s responsibility to look at these themes and see where or how people could be better. Even my feeling of powerlessness when I first looked at the themes, to now where I can see where I can make changes is a step in the right direction.
Power is an important player in all of the better lives themes; if we are the ones with it it’s how we use our power as designers to ensure everyone’s needs are met and that everyone is taken in to consideration, to the best of our ability. If we are without power, it’s up to us to speak up when we believe something is unethical or wrong.
From a makeup and hair artist perspective, a discussion I have seen on social media a lot is the talk around Black and other people of colour and their experience with makeup and hair stylists not knowing how to do their hair and makeup, and their treatment in a professional working environment. This has been something I have been more conscious over the years, ensuring that before I call myself a Makeup or Hair Artist I know that I am prepared to style anyone who sits in front of me, this should be something that is a bare minimum standard, not something that is praised.
The Representation and Diversity lecture was the one I was most interested in, and that I feel I could take forward into my practices. I was really interested in the cultural appropriation vs appreciation discussion. I think as part of my responsibility when designing, that I not only include diverse characters, but ensuring that I am considering who is going to be affected by the decisions that I make. Whether that be the character that I design, ensuring that it doesn’t hurt or offend anyone when portraying them in different cultures.