MFA Exhibition, Vermont College of Fine Arts, 2015 Privileged white contemporary American culture constructs a damaging masculine identity within men and women through religious and political institutions. These institutions use “traditional values” to place women, children and minorities under a capitalist power structure that overwhelmingly benefits white men. Communities are manipulated and oppressed by privileged white masculinity to increase productivity for individual and state needs. The abuses of privileged white masculinity are justified through a machoism that is deeply rooted in a fundamentalist interpretation of the Christian faith. Jesus Christ, Christianity's first teacher taught that faith is love and compassion for other people through a love of God. Fundamentalists redefined faith as, “God will help those who first help themselves,” creating a visual faith work ethic. The suffering of minorities, women, and children is then justified; their poverty is due to lack of faith. Tools are an important part of masculine construction. As youths we are given and taught how to use tools around the home, in the field, and to protect our families. These tools are used for the benefit and love of our community and environment. In privileged white American culture, tools are also turned into weapons which are then used to abuse women, children and minorities for economic gain. Tools should be used to cultivate the earth and protect the people in it, but in “traditional” privileged, masculine, American culture, they are weapons for oppression and their use is justified through an aesthetic faith. Until masculine identity is reconstructed on a foundation of love, it will continue to abuse, control and ravage society.
