#journalism
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To understand how ridiculous this is, the first successful powered airplane flew this same year, 1903
You only put the name of an individual in the title of a news article if they’re a household name that the average reader will already be familiar with. I know internet culture has normalized reading screencaps of headlines and sharing them but never actually opening the article—that’s not how it’s supposed to work and it doesn’t count as news consumption.
Unless the individual being written about is already a celebrity, using their name in the title of the article actually discourages people from reading it. There’s all sorts of psychology to that, but when people see a name they don’t recognize, they tend to assume it’s a media figure they don’t care about, the article is targeted to a niche audience they’re not a part of, or they may even get a jolt of shame from not being “with it” enough to recognize what must be a household name.
I see a lot of screencaps of headlines like “Michigan Girl Scout discovers new way to track butterfly migrations” circulated around with criticism that Maggie McFictional’s contributions are being erased simply because her name isn’t in the headline. The vast majority of the time, her name is listed in the first paragraph, sometimes along with quotes and even a photograph. If she is properly credited (and maintaining privacy/avoiding the spotlight isn’t a concern), this isn’t a problem. Circulating headlines and never reading the articles is the problem.
This also isn’t what the hashtag #SayHerName was created for. Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Tamir Rice, and Eric Garner are household names as victims of police violence—they have been talked about often enough that even people who do not purposefully keep up with institutionalized antiblack violence are familiar with their names and stories. But police brutality without accountability against black women rarely if ever enters mainstream consciousness, and their stories do not become “elevated as exemplars of the systematic police brutality that is currently the focal point of mass protest and police reform efforts”. The linked document is where #SayHerName originated, and highlights the purpose of the moment to raise awareness about these killings and violence that mainstream media has passed over and which have failed to garner national attention and spark outrage or demands for justice.
Anyway. #SayHerName isn’t about making sure that people who only read headlines know the full names of innovative Girl Scouts from Michigan. It’s specifically about raising awareness about black women and girls killed by police while their murders walk free with (at most) a slap on the wrist and no media pressure to hold them accountable.
[Milano Fashion WHY] Io e @thelazytrotter siamo andate in giro per la Fashion Week ad intervistare professionisti e non sul tema follower comprati, blogger, ma soprattutto a chiedere questo: “Perché siete qui?” Alle 11.00 sulla mia pagina Fb il reportage completo, e anche in quella di Cristina ovviamente #mfw #video #reportage #fashiongram #fashiondiaries #fashionweek #interview #streetstyle #fashionoftheday #journalism #ironic #blogging #instagram #socialmedia #sociallife (presso Milan, Italy)
New from Random House and journalist and This American Life contributor Jon Mooallem, This Is Chance! The Shaking of an All-American City, A Voice That Held It Together. The thrilling, cinematic story of a community shattered by disaster—and the extraordinary woman who helped pull it back together
“An intimate, moving story about our capacity to care for one another when things fall apart—and, just maybe, on all the ordinary days, too.”—Elizabeth Gilbert
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Conspiracy of the year. What a time for such a huge leak to come out. Remember Ghislaine’s parents are Israeli survelliance. Coeicidence? Fuck no.
Please stay safe everyone. VPN up. Be mindful of your convos. Keep your phone at home every now and then. Find ways to unplug and become more self sufficient and less reliant on ANYONE.
Much love.
Queen of the Foxes Interview #19
What motivates you when you sit down to create something?
I like to challenge myself because I get distracted or bored pretty easily. I’ll either want to create something using a tool that is traditionally harder to work with (like ballpoint pen), I’ll want to really study or master something (like how to draw a certain animal), or I’ll want to expand upon an idea I’ve worked on before (either making a bigger or much smaller version, or doing it in or on a different medium, or in color). I also love making something beautiful with leftover materials, like the last bits of paint on scrap paper. There’s no pressure, so the results are lighter and freer.
Do you find inspiration in other things besides art?
Nature and animals are my biggest go-tos for inspiration. Getting out and climbing around on boulders or kayaking surrounds me with my subject matter, my color palette, and puts me in a neutral, peaceful headspace. I’m at ease so my ideas come more freely. And animals… I honestly feel more like myself hanging out with a cat or a horse than some people. Writing and music help too. I’ve kept journals since I was nine, and I could get lost in playlists. Music actually creates images in my head, and very easily alters my mood.
Do you like to listen to music when you draw? If so, what’s your go to song?
Absolutely. I love classical music (Vivaldi, Glinka, Mozart) for when I really need to focus on technical pieces. Other times I’ll have Deftones going full blast. I think “Knife Party” is particularly awesome, though not to everyone’s tastes— you’ve got Rodleen Getsic screaming in one part, yet it somehow works with the song. It’s a great example of being unusual but creative with music, and kind of boosts my energy.
Who’s one person you admire?
I admire so many people who are very close to me, so instead of choosing one, I’ll say this: I admire people who pursue what they love and make it happen in a good, honest, way. People who get to do what they love—and succeed at it—without knocking people over to get there… that amazes me and inspires me. It’s what I want.
How has nature played a role in your creativity?
It’s everything. I grew up in Northwestern Pennsylvania in the middle of a National Forest. We had black bears wandering through our backyard, bald eagles flying by our house, and a river that I spent summers swimming in. It was heaven. Then my parents split up and I moved to the city, so I lost that easy access to the wilderness. Continuing to focus on animals and nature with my art is my way of always staying connected not only to my past and who I am, but to something I deeply respect and want others to learn to respect as well.
Could you explain your fascination with foxes?
They’re such stunning little creatures, and I’ve loved them forever. I think they’re one of my spirit animals. They have this quiet nobility to them, yet they’re funny and playful. They live alongside humans, but you rarely see them, so whenever I catch a glimpse of one I feel like it’s good luck.
How would you describe your style?
Artistically, it’s hard to. For me it all comes down to detail. I think I range from loose and sketchy to tight and technical, but I’m always aware of how lines are moving and where they lay, what textures are appropriate, the lighting, anatomy, color or shading, etc. It’s so satisfying when those elements come together to make sense, whether it be the technical outcome, or emotional feel I needed from the piece.
Do you plan to pursue art professionally?
I’m trying to figure that out. I have a “day job” at an animal hospital, but I’m happiest when I’m making art for my own enjoyment. When I get a great response to my work, it sends me over the moon and makes me want to make more. Commission-based work, while lucrative, is very restrictive and can sometimes suck the fun right out of the whole process. It’s a give-and-take situation. I’m definitely learning as I go, and I find it really hard sometimes, especially without a mentor. All I know is I’d like to continue making art, but realize that once it turns into a chore or something I dread, I need to be able to step away from it for a bit. I don’t want to ruin something that’s inherent and enjoyable. Maybe I’ll become a naturalist who takes really incredible field notes.
Recognition or just personal expression?
Both. The recognition is an added bonus to my personal expression. It makes me giddy. I’ll be honest, I always have a moment of tiny shock and surprise when people like my stuff, because when you’ve spent so much time on a piece and know where you struggled, or what parts are your weakest, you hyper-focus on it and sometimes forget the big picture. Recognition helps me see what I sometimes forget. It’s fuel to the fire of creativity.
What are your favorite colors to work with?
I’ve only recently slipped back into the world of color, and I love it. Vibrant orange, saffron yellow, burnt sienna. Those were my most worn-down crayons as a kid, and colors I love wearing. I will forever have black thrown in there though… it’s too useful and powerful a color to ignore.
Is there a certain place where you feel most creative?
In the shower or right before I fall asleep. I go through a stream of consciousness about anything and everything. The things that I think could turn into something, I write down or type up as a memo on my phone.
What makes you happy?
Getting things accomplished, surpassing my expectations, and seeing the people I love happy and successful.
Any closing comments?
Respect nature and all the creatures in it, as it’s your oldest, biggest family. And I think everyone has a creative side. Nurture it and work with it. It’ll give you a whole new perspective on life.
Thanks for reaching out to me!
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Interviewed by POI
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Special thanks to Golden Boy Press for this awesome post! They asked me some great questions and showcased some of my work. Woo!
Check them out… lots of up-and-coming artists and musicians featured regularly.
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From photojournalism to illustration to scupture, Dark Silence in Suburbia covers many different types of contemporary art. Long featured in tumblr’s art spotlight, DSiS is a wonderful blog for people who love art and want to be inspired.
11 Questions recently caught up with Dark Silence in Suburbia to discuss blogging, art and exploration, as well as some new features on her blog.
11 Questions: When your blog began, you posted a lot of photographs, especially of famous people like David Bowie, Iggy Pop, David Lynch, etc. As time goes on, you seem to incorporate more illustrations, paintings, and other artworks into your blog. Was this a conscious change on your part?
Dark Silence in Suburbia: When I started the blog, I really wasn’t thinking about having an art blog. I was into posting random images I liked and still like. I don’t think it was a concious change. When searching for images, I became more aware of the multitude of art forms, making me want to explore and learn.
At first, I used to post by theme, for example, Nobel prizes, or masks from around the world. I felt compelled to explore a certain subject, medium, period or artist in a given day. I would post only an artist, or a certain medium, like collage, or black and white photography.
I always loved art in its many forms, from literature to painting, but I wasn’t very familiar with new art forms, like light sculpture or urban installations, and what one can do with digital art. The blog changed form as I see things in my daily life. It is possible to find beauty anywhere, anytime. Before I started the blog I wasn’t so aware of this reality.
2: How did you come up with the name, “Dark Silence in Suburbia”?
DSiS: I dreamt of it. I was thinking about a name that had something to do with me, or my personal life without being too revealing, so I went to bed still thinking about choosing a name. I remember that I had a hard time sleeping that night, also because some professional issues I was worried about. If memory serves me, I had the name fully formed in my head when I woke up.
3: It’s interesting that a name can come out of an inner conflict like that. What does “dark silence in suburbia” mean to you?
DSiS: It’s deeply connected to my life, both personal and professional. It’s an inner feeling of all the mute violence that surrounds us, what is hidden in the dark, all the lives, the promising lives that will never live up to their full potential. The abandoned ones behind close doors. The fear not spoken of.
“Barn Owl” by George Ayers, viadarksilenceinsuburbia.
4: How would you relate the name of your blog with the posts, which are about art and expression?
DSiS: The relation isn’t at all obvious, as I publish all kinds of art. So, if i post an illustration of Snow White, that’s not at all “dark.“ But it is, if you remember her story, she was also living a dark life, with a happy ending. So, this blog is a way of using art and expression to purge something.
I really think that in some cases art is crucial to a comunity, as an antidote against violence, and an escape from a short, empty life. In some other cases, there’s no escape, no hope.
5: Speaking of that, what do you hope people find in your blog?
DSiS: Diversity for sure. I can’t and I won’t expect everyone to like my choices, but I blog with great pleasure and respect for art, artists and all great bloggers out there. So, I hope visitors find something that sparks inside and wake up feelings and ideas.
6: You’ve mentioned that running this blog has opened your eyes to new forms of art. What else has making this blog done for you?
DSiS: Through this blog i met some wonderful people that put me in contact with other realities and ways of living. For a long time I didn’t have my “ask” button on. I wasn’t here to make friends and chat, just to relax and have fun. I’m very glad that one day someone made change my mind about it.
7: Do you remember what the change was like––from having your ask box off to turning it on?
DSiS: Yes, I do. At the time i was very surprised to have so many bloggers sending messages. Because i thought to myself, what possibly can someone want to ask me? Well, all kinds of questions, congratulations, critiques and even insults. I never had anonymous ask box on.
8: How did you start your ”Tumblr Artists“ page? I was just browsing it and it’s very comprehensive.
DSiS: My “Tumblr Artists” page is very incomplete to be honest. I just started it recently. There are so many good artist blogs on tumblr. Every day new artists join Tumblr and it’s difficult to keep the pace. I’m trying to add artists every week.
9: How do you discover new artists and new artworks?
DSiS: Sometimes I stumble upon a great artwork, follow the link and it’s a new talent trying to get some exposure. On the other hand, many artists send messages asking me to take a look look at their works.
10: When you’re looking for artwork to post, how do you decide what pieces will be a good fit for your blog?
DSiS: I do a lot of research looking for art in my spare time. I decide what to post based on what I feel emotionaly about a given piece, I don’t really care if it fits well on the blog. Meaning, harmony is not too important to me.
11: Has your blog inspired you to make art yourself?
DSiS: I don’t have any artistic talent whatsoever…I write, for myself, but I don’t consider it art. I have two artists in the family, both very talented. One makes ceramics as an hobby, and the other one is a professional fashion make-up artist with a degree in illustration.
More to come at http://11questions.tumblr.com/.
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Students from Gann Academy walked out of school to protest gun violence on a Thursday after a snow day prevented them from participating in the national walkouts that happened on Wednesday. [Wicked Local Photo/Ruby Wallau]
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The Fall will be interesting.
| #reporting | #journalism | #msnbc
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cd8rTtwuyDh/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
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journal scans / a spread I made while I had an art block
ig: proudpuddle
ig: proudpuddle
