Activity 1

Compose a new blog post that discusses these ideas. Talking about these issues can be scary, but it’s important to be honest. Answer the following in questions in your blog:

• How do you feel around the concept of ‘political correct’ language? Are you anxious? Fearful? Comfortable? Uncomfortable? Indifferent?

I don’t feel scared, or uncomfortable, and even though English is not my first language, I will ask others when I have questions. I think everyone has the right to choose their own way of life, what we have to do is respect, understanding, and tolerance.

• Where do you think these feelings come from?

My point of view comes from my beliefs, I am a Buddhist, I believe in fate, and I believe in cause and effect. the world is vast, the vast sea of people, the meeting is a kind of fate, cherish it and live every day well.

• Can you identify people in your life – your friends, family, or co-workers – who are particularly passionate about this issue, regardless of their opinion? Where do you think that passion comes from?

I have a friend who is part of the LGBTQIA+ community. She is bright, proud of herself, and living a happy life.

• Is there an artist that you can identify who’s done a good job at being particularly inclusive? Can you identify an artist who’s made a mistake around PC language and has then sought to correct it? How do you feel about this? 

Muholi is a South African visual activist and photographer. For over a decade they have documented black lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people’s lives in various townships in South Africa. Responding to the continuing discrimination and violence faced by the LGBTI community, in 2006 Muholi embarked on an ongoing project, Faces and Phases, in which they depict black lesbian and transgender individuals. Muholi’s self-proclaimed mission is “to re-write a black queer and trans visual history of South Africa for the world to know of our resistance and existence at the height of hate crimes in SA and beyond.” These arresting portraits are part of Muholi’s contribution towards a more democratic and representative South African homosexual history. Through this positive imagery, Muholi hopes to offset the stigma and negativity attached to queer identity in African society. ¹

¹ZANELE MUHOLI, YANCEY RICHARDSON, NEW YORK, https://www.yanceyrichardson.com/artists/zanele-muholi.

Activity 2

 ‘Cultural Safety Update’

In the first week of this class, you composed a personal definition of ‘cultural safety. Write a new blog post and copy and paste that definition. Write a short paragraph reflection on that definition, and whether it would change or morph depending on the material we’ve discussed over the last few weeks.

Week 1：Cultural safety is when everyone’s culture is accepted and celebrated across ethnic groups and cultural backgrounds, and people are free to share their identities and cultures.

On reflection, I think this definition could include more elements about using appropriate language and being more open-minded and inclusive.

As artists, we have a responsibility to the LGBTQIA+ community to encourage and facilitate communication, and create more platforms for them， ensuring that every group has a voice. We are to converse with appropriate and respectful language and benefit together in a harmonious environment of listening, sharing, and understanding.