How does this exhibit communicate to audience members who haven't experienced quinceanera and those who have?
Those that have never experienced a quinceanera will gain a deeper understanding of the celebration in that it's not just another birthday party... It's symbolic of the transition that these young ladies go through as they become women. A time for celebrating their acceptance and acknowledgement into the world of adulthood and responsibility. The artwork is very symbolic of the struggle that these artists have overcome to become the professionals that they are today. The exhibit, for me, became more of an inspiration because all of these artists were infusing their backgrounds and culture into their passion.
For those that have actually experienced the celebration, I can only imagine how much they'd relate to the exhibit itself. With each artist's story, I feel it would only parallel the experiences they've gone through in their own life.
How does it relate to Marjane's coming of age in Persepolis and to the rights of passage in your own life?
As I stated above, I love how the artists infused their backgrounds into their work because it became so much more than the actual celebration itself. It became an inspiration to me because it not only told their individual stories, but also the progressions they've made throughout their careers.
In relating this to Marjane's story, I felt that underlying theme throughout Persepolis and the exhibit was about staying true to yourself and your culture. Despite all the conflict in her country, she had the strength to stand against all the adversity that she faced. While she was growing up, she had to cope with the constant changes which I believe helped shape her into the young woman she was destined to be. At the end when her parents decided to send her to Austria, she had no choice to grow up in that instant because after that, she wouldn't have her parents to guide her. It would all be up to her.
The exhibit didn't really touch base on too much of the artists' personal histories, but I can only imagine how each of them have become the people they are today. I appreciated how the artwork may have seemed simple but the message was very clear. It gives the audience a glimpse into just one part of their culture and background through various types of media which in turn came together and presented everything into one cohesive presentation.
I haven't really had any cultural rights of passage myself. For me, the major ones would be getting my license, turning 18 and being considered an adult, and then turning 21 and having the privilege to drink, etc etc. I believe in today's day and age, especially in American culture, these are three very important rights of passage.
I remember turning 16 and passing all my driver's education courses, it was an amazing feeling. Then going on to passing the driver's test, it felt even better! My license gave me independence and in a sense, I had to grow up because with this came extra responsibility... When I turned 18, it was important for me because it's the age one is legally considered an adult. That entails even more responsibility. Then more recently, my 21st birthday. I now have the privilege to drink. Nothing major but for me it was more so important because it was the final hump. I'm a full-fledged adult. No more waiting. =)
After reading Persepolis and experiencing this exhibit, I've found a renewed inspiration in the importance of staying true to myself and my past. No matter what anybody says, the only person that can define me is ME! Our past shapes us into the people we are today and it's that much more important to pass these lessons on to future generations.
Everyone has their own story to tell and I'm appreciative to have the means to express myself and even more grateful at the opportunity to learn from others...
