Greetings, everyone!
I’m Anna and my pronouns are she/her/hers. I study Political Science and Studio Art with a concentration in Race and Ethnic Studies at St. Olaf College. These three fields of study intersect in a plethora of ways wherein the results of these intersections are oftentimes seen in the daily workings of our government. I am taking the course Democracy and the Arts to better understand the relationship the government has with institutions in the fine arts and analyze how the different roles within our government impact funding and censorship. I also want to explore the dynamics of privilege and power that are interwoven into the fine arts, especially in Washington D.C. considering the disparities between the citizens who are residents and the workers of D.C. or those who commute. Furthermore, I’d like to examine how the background of someone in a position of power influences how they present their platform or campaign and if their background directly correlates with the type of popular art that is displayed and consumed. I am excited to gain a broader perspective of the history of D.C.; more specifically, the art produced as forms of creative resistance due to the political climate, or lack thereof (i.e. taxation without representation). As a student who studies the complexities of the government and the influence of art in daily life, I am looking forward to exploring different ways to include both interests in a future career.