Banned

Banned

Banned is a project consisting of three works that showcase three reimagined banned or controversial novels: 1984 by George Orwell, The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, and Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. This series explores their warnings to challenge viewers to reflect on ongoing issues related to censorship and political turmoil within the context of the contemporary (not so) United States.

I created this body of work to make a social critique on both the political climate in the US and also on those who did not absorb the warnings of these books. I focused on different social issues from each book and used various digital imaging techniques such as digital painting and compositing to represent them. 1984 still draws on the theme of “Big Brother” but instead of the direct representation of a totalitarian government, I chose to show social media and technology tracking as our modern day “Big Brother.” I created this futuristic setting using chess pieces to symbolize how the technology both monitors and takes over our lives. The chess pieces in the work 1984 reference when the main character, Winston, started playing chess after he had been brainwashed by the government. He was unraveling and losing his individuality, marking that the government had won. The theme from The Handmaid’s Tale that I portray is the lack of separation between church and state. To illustrate this I combined modern political imagery with religious symbolism. The subject of this piece is Lady Liberty wearing a crown of thorns holding a building that shows the entanglement of church and state. I also incorporated modern headlines under the phrase “Traditional Values,” which is a phrase that is repeated in the novel, and echoed in the media of today. Lastly, Fahrenheit 451 is the story that conveys the theme of this project,  the banning of books. I represent this by using the imagery of a burning book in front of an American flag, showing that this is a reality that is happening now. I want people to take a moment to question why these books are so controversial to those who want them banned. 

This project stems from a feeling that I have had throughout my college career, that I did not have a voice or a means to make an impact.  Since then I feel that I have found my voice through my art, especially since last November’s election, which motivated me to create art that critiques contemporary politics.

Overall, through Banned my goal is to ask viewers to question why these novels continue to provoke controversy and resistance. The persistence of their themes reveals society’s ongoing struggle with truth, autonomy, and the preservation of intellectual freedom. This project reflects my development as an artist who uses visual design as a means of cultural critique. By merging literary symbolism with modern sociopolitical imagery, Banned asks viewers to remind audiences that the lessons of these works remain urgent warnings..