Savannah – Osayi Endolyn

Tag Archives: Savannah

Gazing towards ‘The Bachelor’ at SECAC

Nov 11, 2011

This week in Savannah, Georgia, SCAD has been host to the Southeastern College Art Conference.

SECAC is a non-profit organization that is all about spreading the visual arts love across the land. Members include anyone interested in promoting the visual arts and range from university faculty and students, museums, scholars and of course, artists.

I’m presenting at one of the sessions for their annual conference tomorrow. I get to talk about The Bachelor. Yes, that one.

So, at these academic conference things, a lot goes on. People present on their work ranging from art history during WWII to the ways new media influences the form. There are lectures, exhibitions and lots of networking. I’ve never seen so many art historians in one place. It’s kind of cool. And strange, even for an art school student. People are making jokes about post-structuralism. You had to be there.

The panel I’m sitting on is discussing the male gaze as it relates to E. Ann Kaplan’s essay about the way female subjects are viewed as objects in cinema. The essay, published about 30 years ago, took from Freud, Lacan and the fabulous Laura Mulvey to craft a new way of dealing with the way we view women in visual media and the impacts of the patriarchal system in which the media was developed. It can get pretty intense. I sometimes feel like I’m over my head. The past few days, tightening up my presentation, I’ve had a lot of reason to believe that is actually the case. But then, how often do you get the chance to talk about the societal ramifications of this:

Season 11, Bachelor Brad Womack (l) discusses his options with host Chris Harrison. Image via ABC.

Looks innocent enough, right? I’m arguing in my paper that even though The Bachelor appears like a female-driven show, it is actually quite patriarchal in its concept and execution. That not only do female viewers get sucked into the male gaze, one that objectifies both the viewer and object, but that the show perpetuates the stereotypical roles women have played since Kaplan first published her essay several decades ago.

I like exploring these kinds of things. Even though all this theory can drive a person nuts, it really does change the way you see the world. This is my first major academic conference and I’ve heard that sometimes, people can get a bit ornery. Academics like to be right. I come in peace, folks. Peace and theory. Should be fun.

By Osayi | Posted in On the Road, SCAD, Visual Art, | Tagged Savannah, SECAC, The Bachelor | Comments Off

Pause and assess

Mar 28, 2011

If you wake up on a Monday morning and this is the first thing you think about, your vacay was too short.

I’m not typically a fruity-tutty drinker, but you know, when in Rome. Several Savannah restaurants in Historic Downtown specialize in flashy drinks.

We stayed at the Thunderbird Inn because it was convenient, retro and cheap, y’all. They have a vintage décor and they are very nice.

You know, Savannah is really beautiful — at least what we saw in the touristy part of Downtown. The lady who checked us in asked where we were from. Atlanta, I said. “Oh,” she said nodding, “It’s much prettier here.” Nice.

There are parks everywhere.

Just strollin’.

The Spanish moss is my new favorite tree. They’re so moody and carefree, in an old-world kind of way. I miss that about so much of the US that’s built up and all fancy and new. The trees are all babies and are constantly pruned for billboard visibility or completely trashed to make room for condos that developers can’t fill (that’s you Midtown Atlanta).

Steep stairs take you down to the river, or up to the rest of Downtown. Cobblestone streets remind me of France (man, I can’t wait). I worked all day Sunday from 9 a.m. until about 11 p.m. It was good, fulfilling work and I love having a mission. But with all this rain today, I am dreaming of sunny Savannah. Take me back!

By Osayi | Posted in Food, On the Road, Outings, | Tagged Drinks, Savannah, Spanish moss | Comments Off

Savannah spell

Mar 25, 2011

Sometimes you have to get away. Darryl and I took a little drive to Savannah this week to see what we could see. I thought today I’d just share some of our culinary adventures.

1) Every meal is better with beer. First time I’ve had Stella in a real Stella glass. I felt like I was in one of those movie previews.

2) Crawfish, Old Bay seasoning and butter. What else need be said?

3) Fried [fill in the blank]. I’ll take it! Oysters and scallops, fresh from the neighboring sea.

4) We stopped at Leopold’s for a couple of double scoops. Guinness Stout ice cream. Oh yeah.

By Osayi | Posted in Food, On the Road, Outings, | Tagged Savannah | Comments Off