Define Good .vs. Bad in Exploitation

Artwork: Where's Superman. @Reserved by, Katie v. Flowers. @Funky S.a.K.

Some words just have a bad reputation, and exploitation is one of them. Perhaps the negative connotation of the word exploitation derived from the over use of the word exploit. Even better way of explaining the good versus the bad meaning of the word is: When you’re talking about natural resources or knowledge rather than people, exploitation meaning "the fullest most profitable use of something" is not a bad thing. The exploitation of recycled materials can only be beneficial to our pollution problems. When people suffer under exploitation, however, it means their misfortune is being used for another's profit. Child labor, sweatshop work and debt slavery are all forms of exploitation.

A few years back (2012) I was promoted as a professional Visual Artist by University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) African-American Cultural Center with a Solo Exhibition. Lecture and Honorarium. The name of the exhibit was “Emasculate.” Now, I understand the definition of the word emasculate is to deprive of virile or procreative power, to castrate power; to castrate; to geld. The title Emasculate was given to the exhibit in the context of, to weaken. Coming from a perspective of vitality and strength ending up in a weaker disposition due to the natural powers that exist.

The exhibit Emasculate derived from my voluntary Salvation Army deployment to Joplin Missouri to assist those who were affected by the EF5 multiple-vortex Tornado on May 22, 2011. You may view the Tornado arrival on YouTube. The Tornado itself was 1 mile (1.6km) in size and it left over 1, 150 injuries. Its massive and horrific energy actually split the town in half by going right up the center of it.

The after-mass which I witnessed was simply devastation and there is no other word to describe what just took place there. At first the journey for me was to just document a powerful “happening” in our world. Then I began to see that this was more than just about documentation. This unfortunate event just as any other natural disaster is meant to be shared with others who have yet to have such the thing happen to them. These so-called natural disasters are happening more and more. From raging waves to extremely cold weather and deadly heat. This is very serious stuff and perhaps the majority of us are not taking it all as serious as we should. There are certainly things we can do as individuals that will help stop Global Warming, or at least slow it down.

When I was approached by UIC to provide them with an exhibit I was torn between if rather or not to share my experience using the photographs as documentation. Why? Because, I didn’t want to be accused of exploitation. I did not want people thinking that I was trying to make a profit from other people misfortune.

As an artist we have to be mindful of how our work is presented. The observer of any artist work will see whatever they want to see of it, and take from it whatever idea, or concept they will of it. Being aware of this perception it was important to me that people saw my intentions right away. And, it was important to me that my quest left with a deeper understanding and awareness of Global Warming as it relates to how it’s real and that its effects can happen to you (us) at any time.

I had taken well over 900 pictures during my two week time period in Joplin Missouri. I selected 30ty of the photos to share in the exhibit. The photos were reproduced onto a kind of thick durable and very flexible Bio-degradable plastic. The plastic sheets was cut into approx. Squares of 16 x 18 inches. Both sides of the squares are utilized. The images were then hung from the exhibition space ceiling at different lengths. The visitors coming in and out from the area along with any breeze helped to create a natural movement of the artwork. Some of the pictures swayed to and fro while others swirled and twirled around. The reason behind presenting the exhibit this way was to place the individual observer in this place of constant movement. It was an attempt to provide the spectator with a visual concept having experience such an event.

During my UIC Lecture of Emasculate one lady asked me how I knew which pictures to select for the exhibit. I told her then that I was sure to know, but what was most important is that the few selected for the show had to show and tell my encounter and share my story of the event’s after-mass. I also got called out on the usage of the word emasculate by a professor. But, as someone had related to the professor that it was my show and I could name it whatever I wanted.

In the end of my lecture I could tell that the quest received the overall exhibit well enough. When asked the question had anyone ever experienced any natural disasters please raise your hand. No one raised their hand. I told them that they were fortunate to not have experienced such dread but know and understand that this same thing can happen here. It’s not to frighten anyone by saying this, but it is to make you aware. Alert your family to the idea of something like this can, and probably will eventually happen to them, or around them. Being afraid of it happening, or trying to blow-it -off as if we just don’t want to think about it will not make it not real. Having awareness with a plan is better than not being aware and having no plan at all should natural disaster strike.

I have taken the documented photos, as well as, from the experience of the event and created Global Warming Original Art-prints. The art prints are for those who want to share and show their global warming awareness. At the end of the year 10%, or more from the global warming art-print sales will be given to a business, or organization that specializes in global warming research.

As the artist it is my desire to help educate others on what is happening in our world and relate those happening be them good, bad, or indifferent so that we all may make an educated decision on how it affects us as part of humanity. Thus, what can we do as individuals to help increase or decrease a current, or past situation that continues to threaten the existence of mankind? Global Warming helps to destroy our past. Abruptly damages our present and disrupt our future. Ignoring it will not make it end.

So you see, this is the good side of exploitation where something is being shown and talked about to help empower. Whereas, the bad side of exploitation is when someone uses another to serve their own selfish needs, whereby also, controlling another under duress.

You may take a more closer look at my Joplin Missouri after-mass experience at My Encounter. My Story webpage. There you will also receive a link on How to be prepared.

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Best Creative Regards!

Katie

Visual Artist. Founder & Co-founder

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