lotkvm.blogg.se - Trust no aunty by maria qamar

Throughout the book, you’re very open about marketing yourself “as a commodity.” Was that empowering - to take back the commodification of women’s bodies and experiences? I studied advertising so this is something I was trained to do.

It was really funny when you think about it because you’re pressured to be the best but not actually getting compensated for being the best. So not only was I competing to create this brand but also competing to be one of the best ad campaigns that I can make against other people. Speaking strictly from a creative or even advertising perspective: it’s a very, very competitive field and a lot of it is dependent on awards.

Is that because of social media or employer practices?.

Nobody in our generation is going to have a job for 30-40 years as our parents did. I don’t know anyone in my social circle who has held a job for over two years.

Do you think more young people are gravitating towards working freelance or at least out of the nine-to-five box?.

This is a nice change, but it is also a lot of hard work. It’s very refreshing because when I was working for somebody else they had the power and they decided what I was worth.

On the plus side, I have my hands in everything I do. So, really, when everyone leaves work at 5, that’s when I start working. Instead of doing the nine-to-five, I wake up at seven or eight in the morning, or maybe sometimes noon, but then I stay up till seven in the am to work on my art. It’s something that I can’t imagine would be a life choice for everybody. What is your average day like working as a self-styled entrepreneur-artist?.I decided to use art to express those experiences of mine. We have to fight for our rights really, and it’s not just brown people - those of every race that’s not white has to fight for visibility here. There’s always this idea that this country (Canada) is a melting pot or a mosaic or that this country can live in harmony and peace. These kids come to my exhibitions sometimes, and I find their passion inspiring. They’re talking about what it means to be a person of colour, especially as immigrants. Now, when you are as young as 11, they’re out there and talking against all that. Everyone was like, that’s just how it is. But also, back when I was a child, nobody was really fighting against racism or cultural appropriation.

What’s the inspiration behind Hatecopy?īollywood for sure.