Since my presentation, I’ve been exploring some ideas that had come out while during my research but hadn’t quite made it into the current project idea that I have. <\/p>\n
I started by looking at inter-coral communication<\/a> and the idea of plant subjectivity. My mind makes the connection to post-humanism, how those who are not white\/western\/hetero\/male subjects are often made to feel dehumanized. What connections exist amongst the ignored coral and the people who most acutely feel the effects of their disappearance? <\/p>\n But I can’t help but think about my positionality and what my relationship is to these events. I’m not interested in using the narratives of others to construct a project, but I also want to be inclusive of them. As a young, white woman living in the global north – how can I talk about coral bleaching, the influence of colonial practices. <\/p>\n I’ve been reading about initiatives to increase the role of woman in fisheries and marine conservation efforts<\/a>. There’s something here about gender equality and stewardship that I find really interesting and wonder how I can incorporate this as an aspect.<\/p>\n I’ve been reviewing all of my research and notes and hit on the themes that I want to communicate:<\/p>\n Non-human subjectivity Network\/communication<\/p>\n visualizing\/materializing the unseen and unconsidered<\/p>\n expanding out to greater ideas of whitewashing\/anti-diversity == homogenization culturally\/biologically \/\/ colonialism <\/p>\n Resiliency <\/p>\n I’m struggling with a lack of deep connection to my idea and am trying to figure out how I can take some of the more interesting concepts and translate them into a new project idea. <\/p>\n Some more thoughts: So in actual words, I think I want to explore my position in relation to this situation or at least acknowledge it. <\/p>\n One thought that I’ve had recently is digging into this interesting idea that sunscreen contributes to coral degradation. It just sounds so sad, but is also so specific. <\/p>\n I started looking into Oxybenzone, a chemical has toxic effects on young coral that causes endocrine disruption, DNA damage and death of coral, among other the problems. Oxybenzone also exacerbates coral bleaching, a process by which coral reject symbiotic organisms and lose their color (http:\/\/time.com\/4080985\/sunscreen-coral-reefs\/<\/a>).<\/p>\n For me, the kicker is that sunscreen is (typically) used by those (like me) with fair skin. Those that travel to tropical, exotic locales. Tourists that visit coral reefs. <\/p>\n Interestingly enough, there’s been a re-awakening of people towards coral bleaching. I’ve seen several articles and videos posted online recently discussing the coming destruction of the Great Barrier Reef<\/a>. Obviously this is distressing, but it is interesting how most mainstream, even global coverage of coral death focuses on the Caribbean and Australia, which I think further hits upon the pre-occupation with how this crisis affects particular areas of the world. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Since my presentation, I’ve been exploring some ideas that had come out while during my research but hadn’t quite made it into the current project idea that I have. I started by looking at inter-coral communication and the idea of … Continue reading
\nPost-human ideas of subjectivity – both who is traditionally excluded from the category \u201chuman\u201d and thus denied rights and agency<\/p>\n
\n[>> possibly moving more into the realm of performance]\nhow to get past the distance
\nis it myself, acknowledging my position
\nwhat is my relationship to this subject
\n[thinking about that performance, with the lotion\u2026.hadn\u2019t even really though of that]\ntaking white sunscreen
\nengaging with people in other cultures
\ngetting past this distance<\/p>\n