America the Beautiful

America the Beautiful , Installation Detail, 1080p Video, Stereo & Binaural Audio
Running Time:  10 minutes, 54 seconds

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Project Statement

In the aftermath of George Floyd’s tragic death, the United States has undergone a profound introspection regarding its cultural identity. Created a year prior to George Floyd’s murder, my video, America the Beautiful, explores the dynamics of our cultural interactions and how we treat one another. The video features three professional vocalists who represent a diverse spectrum of individuals within the United States. They perform the iconic American songs “The Star-Spangled Banner,” “God Bless America,” and “America the Beautiful.”

However, as each vocalist begins to sing, their performances are abruptly interrupted by voices uttering derogatory and offensive comments. These comments are sourced directly from the social media pages of major news outlets like CNN, Fox, and MSNBC, relating to various contemporary news stories. By juxtaposing the patriotic songs with these reprehensible comments, the video operates on multiple levels of meaning. On one level, the artwork highlights the paradox between our collective patriotism and the underlying hypocrisy that exists within our societal consciousness. It compels viewers to confront and reconcile these difficult subjects on their own terms. Through this provocative approach, the video challenges viewers to reevaluate the cultural values we hold dear and consider the disparities between our professed ideals and the reality of our interactions.

Furthermore, the video raises important questions about the role of social media in fostering empathy or inhibiting it. Does the platform enable us to genuinely understand and relate to one another’s experiences? Or does the cloak of anonymity provided by social media encourage remorseless and uninhibited speech? Ultimately, the artwork invites viewers to contemplate whether social media merely offers a glimpse into our true cultural selves or if it plays a more complex role in shaping our societal fabric.

America the Beautiful confronts the viewer with the complexities of our collective identity, urging them to critically examine their own beliefs and assumptions. By exposing the dark undercurrents of our cultural discourse, the artwork strives to ignite meaningful conversations and inspire a deeper understanding of the challenges we face as a society.

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Vocalist Brea Marshall sings The Star-Spangled Banner

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Vocalist Rene Vazquez sings God Bless America

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Vocalist Abby Powell sings America the Beautiful

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