Identifier

etd-06022014-114214

Degree

Master of Fine Arts (MFA)

Department

Art

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

The photographs in the series A Meal Denied offer a unique portrait into the lives of individuals currently serving as Texas Death Row inmates. In 2011, due to an extravagant meal request by an inmate, Senator John Whitmire sought to put an end to the last meal requests in Texas. Whitmire stated, "It is extremely inappropriate to give a person sentenced to death such a privilege." However, I disagree with Whitmire; every inmate on Death Row should not be denied one of the only choices they will perhaps ever have during their incarceration in prison due to one particular inmates' meal request. In this body of work I engage in a correspondence with Texas Death Row inmates who share with me their last meal request and its significance. I then select those ingredients, prepare each meal, and make a photograph that is sent to the respective inmate. By showing the commonality that we all share with food, I hope to humanize these inmates who most of society has forgotten.

Date

2014

Document Availability at the Time of Submission

Release the entire work immediately for access worldwide.

Committee Chair

Thompson, Kristine

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_theses.2533

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Fine Arts Commons

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