Semester of Graduation

Summer 2022

Degree

Master of Fine Arts (MFA)

Department

School of Art

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

The goal of this exhibition is to contextualize the struggles of the LGBTQ+ community by anchoring personal stories with collage and poetry to demonstrate the ongoing difficulties of growing up queer. Mixed media digitized collages have been created and paired with companion typographic treatments of poems and narratives from diverse points of view.

The word queer as a term to describe gay men, lesbians, and other non-conforming sexual identities, has evolved over the past 100 years. This evolution of the word parallels the struggles of LGBTQ+ people to achieve equal rights, marriage equality, protection in housing and employment, and an end to stigmatization, harassment, and oppression.

In the South, queer is still used as a slur, though there is an ongoing reclamation effort to embrace the term as an identifier that began in the mid-20th century. In seeking to define the effect of queer designers on contemporary graphic design and other fine arts, I have undertaken research into the experience of queer artists over the past century. Through collage—combining image-making with poetry, prose, and storytelling—my own experience will be tied to the historical record. The focus of my research will be the impact of queer stigmatization, harassment, and oppression, and an examination of the struggles and progress the queer community has seen over the past century.

Committee Chair

Restrepo, Luisa

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_theses.5581

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