Glitter! As a Metaphor
Contextualization
Art Portfolio
My initial idea for visual arts was to create and convey 2 different photo shoots using the same materials, but have them contrast once they're done. To start building my backdrop, I bought a king size flat sheet that took 4 cans of gold spray paint to cover. I then used all gold materials and spray adhesive to counterbalance my abstract design with various ribbons, tissue and scrapbooking paper, glitters, sequins, confetti, and tulle. Once finished with that, I brought it inside and hung it up in my living room to touch it up and start shooting.
For my first shoot, I wanted my pictures to be somewhat uncomfortable and different, without making it cringe. I covered my skin in liquid gold and baby oil, so that water droplets would stay on me long enough to be photographed. I made my hair wet, wore all gold jewelry, and in some I wrapped gold tulle around my face to add some texture to my pictures. I got lucky finding a gold dress that was perfect for my shoots, and everything else I pretty much already had. You wouldn't know it from looking at the pictures, but I was so uncomfortable for this shoot the entire time because of all the stuff I had all over me.
For my second shoot, I added some different detailed elements like wearing only one earring, having gold tinsel in my hair, and wearing gold jewels on my face. I also used the liquid gold in this shoot as well. These pictures were meant to be more liberating rather than restrained, and I'm happy with the way they turned out. I did want them to contrast a little bit more and have more depth, but I just didn't have enough time to execute my shoots the way I had wanted to.
English & Self in The Modern World
It's pretty rare that I would turn in the same piece for 2 of my teachers, but in this case it worked out. My main idea was that glitter can be used to enhance something, cover it up, or alter it, literally and metaphorically. I did a mix between a personal essay and an informative essay, and then had my teachers grade it from different angles.
Annotated Bibliography:
“2018 LGBTQ Youth Report.” HRC, www.hrc.org/resources/2018-lgbtq-youth-report.
One of the topics I plan to touch on in my project is the growth rate of the LGBTQ+ community, & this link gave me a lot of statistics to show the rate & acceptance of it as far as the U.S. It’s not something I know a ton about but these numbers really show how significant this community has become across the nation.
Contributor, Grazia. “Katy Perry Opens Up About Accepting Her Sexuality For The First Time.” Grazia, Grazia, graziadaily.co.uk/celebrity/news/katy-perry-sexuality-lgtb-speech/.
This link gave me almost all the information I needed about Katy Perry’s speech, which I then went and actually watched the video of. I knew she supported the LGBTQ+ community, but I didn’t realize how personal it was to her until I came across this. I quoted her in my essay.
Hicks, Jake. “5 Ways to Achieve That Wet Skin Look in Your Photos.” DIY Photography, 25 Apr. 2018, www.diyphotography.net/5-ways-to-achieve-that-wet-skin-look-in-your-photos/.
I never thought about how photographers had to use special tricks for making someone in a photoshoot look wet or sweaty. Coming across this was definitely helpful to my second photoshoot, because I used baby oil to make water droplets stay on my skin while shooting.
Hunter, Jack. “Lady Gaga's Powerful Message of Inclusion.” Journal, Journal News, 6 Feb. 2017, www.journal-news.com/news/opinion/lady-gaga-powerful-message-inclusion/ZZXxUvsn6KoefQnRFZ0qtN/.
I had honestly forgotten that Lady Gaga performed at the Super Bowl a couple years back. This link reintroduced me to that and I used one of her quotes from this article in my essay.
“LGBTQ Rights Milestones Fast Facts.” CNN, Cable News Network, 2 Sept. 2020, www.cnn.com/2015/06/19/us/lgbt-rights-milestones-fast-facts/index.html.
This was another link that helped me with a lot of context and understanding for my topic. I didn’t know a ton about this timeline, and this is where I got my information about Obama and where he stands with supporting the LGBTQ+ community.
Liao, Shannon. “2018 Saw Record Growth in LGBTQ Roles on Television.” The Verge, The Verge, 26 Oct. 2018, www.theverge.com/2018/10/26/18028908/glaad-report-television-tv-2018-lgbtq-diversity-gay-bisexual-trans-media-representation.
I didn’t end up actually putting too many of the statistics from this article into my essay. But, it helped me build a lot of context in my research because I didn’t realize the rise of the LGBTQ+ community was so significant.
“Spotlight On: Designer Michael Halpern Interview.” Spotlight On: Designer Michael Halpern
Interview | MATCHESFASHION US,
www.matchesfashion.com/us/womens/the-style-report/2017/07/the-new-designers-iss
ue/spotlight-on-designer-michael-halpern-interview-aw17.
This link gave me a lot of background information that I needed on Michael Halpern as a fashion designer. Things like where he went to school, who he’s worked with, & how fast his career has grown put in perspective how respected he is, & how that happened very quickly.
Uptas, Aušrys. “This Instagram Model Crafts Intricate Photo Sets To Take
Self-Portraits In (30 Pics).” Demilked, Demilked, 16 Sept. 2019, www.demilked.com/model-creates-photo-sets-kihmberlie/.
I already follow this girl on Instagram & love her work, but instead of putting her entire page(s) up here, we found a link that sort of summarizes it. It shows her process of setting up and her outcome of her photoshoots, being the initial inspiration for mine.
“2018 LGBTQ Youth Report.” HRC, www.hrc.org/resources/2018-lgbtq-youth-report.
One of the topics I plan to touch on in my project is the growth rate of the LGBTQ+ community, & this link gave me a lot of statistics to show the rate & acceptance of it as far as the U.S. It’s not something I know a ton about but these numbers really show how significant this community has become across the nation.
Contributor, Grazia. “Katy Perry Opens Up About Accepting Her Sexuality For The First Time.” Grazia, Grazia, graziadaily.co.uk/celebrity/news/katy-perry-sexuality-lgtb-speech/.
This link gave me almost all the information I needed about Katy Perry’s speech, which I then went and actually watched the video of. I knew she supported the LGBTQ+ community, but I didn’t realize how personal it was to her until I came across this. I quoted her in my essay.
Hicks, Jake. “5 Ways to Achieve That Wet Skin Look in Your Photos.” DIY Photography, 25 Apr. 2018, www.diyphotography.net/5-ways-to-achieve-that-wet-skin-look-in-your-photos/.
I never thought about how photographers had to use special tricks for making someone in a photoshoot look wet or sweaty. Coming across this was definitely helpful to my second photoshoot, because I used baby oil to make water droplets stay on my skin while shooting.
Hunter, Jack. “Lady Gaga's Powerful Message of Inclusion.” Journal, Journal News, 6 Feb. 2017, www.journal-news.com/news/opinion/lady-gaga-powerful-message-inclusion/ZZXxUvsn6KoefQnRFZ0qtN/.
I had honestly forgotten that Lady Gaga performed at the Super Bowl a couple years back. This link reintroduced me to that and I used one of her quotes from this article in my essay.
“LGBTQ Rights Milestones Fast Facts.” CNN, Cable News Network, 2 Sept. 2020, www.cnn.com/2015/06/19/us/lgbt-rights-milestones-fast-facts/index.html.
This was another link that helped me with a lot of context and understanding for my topic. I didn’t know a ton about this timeline, and this is where I got my information about Obama and where he stands with supporting the LGBTQ+ community.
Liao, Shannon. “2018 Saw Record Growth in LGBTQ Roles on Television.” The Verge, The Verge, 26 Oct. 2018, www.theverge.com/2018/10/26/18028908/glaad-report-television-tv-2018-lgbtq-diversity-gay-bisexual-trans-media-representation.
I didn’t end up actually putting too many of the statistics from this article into my essay. But, it helped me build a lot of context in my research because I didn’t realize the rise of the LGBTQ+ community was so significant.
“Spotlight On: Designer Michael Halpern Interview.” Spotlight On: Designer Michael Halpern
Interview | MATCHESFASHION US,
www.matchesfashion.com/us/womens/the-style-report/2017/07/the-new-designers-iss
ue/spotlight-on-designer-michael-halpern-interview-aw17.
This link gave me a lot of background information that I needed on Michael Halpern as a fashion designer. Things like where he went to school, who he’s worked with, & how fast his career has grown put in perspective how respected he is, & how that happened very quickly.
Uptas, Aušrys. “This Instagram Model Crafts Intricate Photo Sets To Take
Self-Portraits In (30 Pics).” Demilked, Demilked, 16 Sept. 2019, www.demilked.com/model-creates-photo-sets-kihmberlie/.
I already follow this girl on Instagram & love her work, but instead of putting her entire page(s) up here, we found a link that sort of summarizes it. It shows her process of setting up and her outcome of her photoshoots, being the initial inspiration for mine.