Student 66

Dream Catcher:

The object above is a dream catcher I made in the third grade in my art class. When creating the piece, I remember being more invested in how pretty the color combination of the beads would be rather than what I was making. I was determined to put it in my room, excited for my dreamcatcher to "catch my nightmares." Now nine years later, as I look at the dreamcatcher that hangs in the corner of my room, I realize how much its purpose was misappropriated. The dream catcher is not some room decor but a symbol of knowledge that the Native Americans believed in. It was a crucial part of their culture, representing their belief and knowledge of the world. Yet when I was 8, because of the context of the way it was presented, it was something pretty that I could put in my room. As a young girl, I accepted the dreamcatcher not for its historical significance but for its aesthetic appearance, which undermines the symbolism of the dreamcatcher.

Society tends to display artifacts, ideas, and traditions in a more censored light to erode their cultural importance. Some may believe this is due to western society's colonization of other cultures, forcefully stealing ideas as their own for their benefit. Regardless of the justification, my dreamcatcher is an excellent example of the effects of this matter. What is even more significant is how old I was when I first learned about the dreamcatcher and that I finally learned its importance when I arrived in middle school. But because I was deprived of that knowledge at such a young age, the dreamcatcher's denotation was wholly misinterpreted. Many ideas are censored at such a young age to distort their context and historical significance. This gives the idea a new meaning because the new generations were taught a new definition of it. Therefore, because of the way knowledge, such as the dreamcatcher, is presented to different generations, the way they are perceived is differentiated because of society's creation of a new interpretation for them.

Mini last supper Mural:

The object above is a souvenir I obtained when visiting Florence, Italy, during thanksgiving break. It is a mini version of the Last supper Mural created by Leonardo DaVinci. When visiting Italy, I recall one of my family's main intentions of staying there was because of its many religious artifacts that aligned with our own: Roman Catholicism. Going on holiday to Italy was a very spiritual experience, and I wanted something that reminded me of those memories I hold dear, so I bought it. Yet, purchasing the souvenir eventually made me realize how its significance and religious importance diminished due to capitalism.

The souvenir that many other tourists and I obtained was bought in remembrance, not for its spiritual relevance but because it is such an "infamous icon of art." The way others perceive the object is one of the reasons why many people buy souvenirs. Da Vinci created the piece because the church commissioned it for him; it was made to represent an essential story in the bible. Many Catholics view the painting as a more ancient artifact than the declaration of independence because many religions view relics as those above the law or facts. It becomes an essential part of their knowledge. To many it becomes a fact, linking back to the history AOK, because the bible and its stories are viewed as actual accounts that have happened in the past. Yet the way this artifact is presented isn't as a bible story but as a famous tourist destination that can attract other tourists to purchase money. This is a typical cycle in art; famous artifacts lose their connotation because they're exploited to appeal to sightseers. These past antiques are viewed as a "check of the bucket list" rather than appreciated for their significance.

Evil Eye(Al-Nazar) Mushroom Keychain:

The last object is my evil eye mushroom keychain. I purchased this during the Covid lockdown, where I intended to put it as an accessory for my new car keys. When making this purchase, I followed trends that I saw on TikTok because it was a popular fashion trend. When the evil eye was presented in fashion trends, it was viewed as a beautiful, cute accessory. When famous models use the evil eye for their benefit, many followers attempt to include it in their wardrobe and lifestyle. Yet because it became a trend, its religious significance to Turkish Culture was undermined.

This exploitation is a typical pattern in pop culture, especially in the fashion industry; many businesses culturally appropriate customs from indigenous groups to profit off of them. If the evil eye were presented as it was meant to be, for its religious significance, it would not be as well-received because it is specific to one group. When presented as a trend its interpretation varies from each individual. Yet because of this, there is a new meaning to the way the evil eye is, which loses its originality. The evil eye is presented in different environments to appeal to civilizations' trends. Its original name: Al-Nazar, is no longer the term to refer to the object but rather the "evil eye." Now there are even emojis that are meant to present it. This shows how eventually, as time goes on and society begins to relabel and reinterpret historical artifacts, there will always be a different idea of knowledge. Not because something new is associated with the artifacts but because society's evolution changes the acceptance of past ideas that relate to the artifacts at hand.