Shepherd, Amanda (Amanda)

Hi there!

My name is Amanda (she/her/hers) and I’m looking forward to this quarter with you all.  I transferred to UCLA way back in 1997 as a Political Science major and after 4 attempts and 25 years, I am excited to say this is my last quarter!!! I have absolutely no idea what I will do with this degree, I hope to get involved in social justice/civil and women's rights issues but in the meantime... I am a professional photographer, and love anything having to do with baseball (Go Dodgers!), animals, and food!!   I’m a wife and mom of two young adults (both in college too!) so being a student at 45 and having classmates that are the same age as them is a little strange but also wonderful.  As a Gen X'er, I have really enjoyed and learned from  the different perspectives, experiences, and knowledge that  you all have offered over the last year.

I attended Professor Lopez’s Spring 2021 class “Censored! Art on Trial”.  It not only exposed me to the issues surrounding censorship in the visual arts, specifically the art of queer Chicanx and Latinx artists, but taught me how to evaluate art on a more objective level not just based on my own personal taste/experience/understanding.  This course is significant on a personal level as my kids are mixed race (their father’s family is from Mexico), as their mom I think it’s important  and valuable to understand the culture and heritage under which they were raised and identify with. And a photographer, I’m interested in issues surrounding art, activism, and intersectionality so this fits perfectly.   Considering our current social and political issues in the U.S., this course provides the opportunity to learn about diverse issues and experiences I might not otherwise be exposed to. I believe that  awareness and understanding is crucial in a civilized and respectful citizenry and our differences and diversity  should be celebrated, and respected.  We should want to engage with others and understand their experience, so I am looking forward to expanding my understanding and learning about some amazing artists.

In regards to the reading: My own art education experience confirms what Venegas says in “Conditions for producing Chicana art”,  that art education consists primarily of the study of white/European artists which has created a skewed standard of legitimacy and excellence by failing to acknowledge  both the historic and modern contributions of Chicana/x/Latina/x  artists.  Additionally from the article, a point I had not considered was the full impact of  the subordinate cultural orientation and economic barriers to recognition, legitimacy, and inclusion. These religious and socio-political belief systems systemically prejudice disenfranchised groups and I am looking forward to learning about the artists who have paved the way and are continuing to  push against societal and religious norms aiming for “a new consciousness” .