MAKING VISIBLE: Transcultural Dialogues Spring 2013

"φασούλι, το φασούλι γεμίζει το σακούλι" You can fill a bag by putting one bean each time. This idiom means that if you want to do something, you have to be patient and to try. Especially, in cases you want to save money, you have to save a little by a little every day and don't lose your courage, because even with small amounts of credits, you'll achieve your goal someday.  My grandma used to say that to me since i was a child and from then i still do it in my life. Also, i was born in the day of the warehouse in Greece (31st of October) so another one reason to follow it. Through this was i was saving money to buy me camera two years and i really felt relieved after that.

Great one! This one reminds me of the idiom "Rome wasn't built in a day", often referred to in the United States. It has a similar reference to patience. This idiom asks that one not only be patient but understanding of current circumstances, with the belief that things will be as they should be (better than expected) in the end.

Nafsika Theodoridou The camel was asked: "The updraft is better or the downhill?" and it replied: "Why not the straight road?" That means that there is also the easy way to achieve something but people usually think more complicating solutions.  I learned this idiom from my grandmother, since she was used to tell it frequently, as it was one of her favourites expressions. So, every time I was thinking too complicated options she was using this idiom to show me the short cut.  

This reminds me of "Don't reinvent the wheel", an idiom that we say in the United States. It projects the same sentiments. I think it also speaks to our arrogance as humans-- the fact that we do not think beyond our present lives.

How is subjectivity constructed in the image, and whose subjectivity is constructed? Subjectivity is constructed through the language used in the text, the photo of the woman, her style of dress, and what she holds in her hands. I would say that both male and female subjectivity is constructed in the image. However, it would be from a traditional, heterosexual perspective that it is constructed. One that portrays femininity, motherliness, youthfulness, and abundance. What prior knowledge is assumed? I think that one's prior knowledge of the language and culture are assumed. Also the style of traditional dress is assumed and that one could be able to decode its meaning. Making visible in visual art (what does that mean in contemporary art)? Making visible in visual art means that we can identify the codes and conventions used to construct and image and text and navigate its meaning. It also means that when one is able to make the invisible visible, that one is able to identify the normalized meaning within a certain text.

A translator like http://translate.google.com/ is helpful to get an idea of the text if not your familiar spoken language. Indeed, Mike, there are other cultural codes that will be easily read by Finnish students. What do you see that differs in this milk advertisement image from those in the USA?

What associations do you have with milk advertisement? Finnish students might be familiar with a well-known, respected, and beloved ice-skater who is currently featured in milk advertising. Finnish current milk advertisement at http://ammattilaiset.valio.fi/portal/page/portal/Valioyritys/Ajankohtaista/Uutinen?p_id=5521 Young people in the United States might not be familiar with the 1958 milk advertisement linked below they are likely familiar with the current version. USA 1958 version of USA Milk advertisement at http://www.etsy.com/listing/98011435/vintage-pinup-milk-1958-advertisement USA current version of milk advertisement at http://www.ebay.com/itm/Gisele-Bundchen-GOT-MILK-advertisement-clipping-/160780568227

How is subjectivity constructed in the image, and whose subjectivity is constructed? The subject is definetly a Roma woman who wears her National gown. In Western Countries it's usually blonde and good looking women who advertise. A stereotype of women symbolises health. For a product like milk, that should keep people healthy and make them strong this stereotype would be the first choice of a common advertiser. A Roma woman does in most people's eyes not stand for health and strenght, more for poverty. Irmeli Huhtala took this picture to change the common stereotypes. What prior knowledge is assumed? Roma is the name of a group of gypsies and a minority. They were excluded from society and even chased during the time between 1939-1945. Roma are in many people's eyes seen as poor people who steel and don't take jobs. This woman wears the national gown of Roma, so it is obvious what the woman represents. Making visible in visual art (what does that mean in contemporary art)? I think it's kind of a revolution in order to show people it is not always the strong and the good-looking who are used for advertising that is made visible in this picture. In contemporary art it means making people's eyes open for new advertises. Advertises which use stereotypes rule our society, so Irmeli Huhtala took the opposite like a poor woman. People might pay attention to this advertisment more that to some kind of advertisement, they are already used to.The opposite of a stereotype might get more attention than a conventional idea. Irmeli Huhtala gives people the question: Can a Roma woman advertise? Do people pay attention to this advertisement?

I find your posting very interesting and insightful about Roma! Thanks!!

Hello Johanna, Since I am unfamilair with the culture, I didn't feel that I could assume the ethnicity and the alternative viewpoint of the image. From my perspective, this could be a perfectly acceptable image within certain codes of patriarchy as an advertisement. We typically get movie and tv stars with a milk mustache advertising milk in the US.

Patriarchy is a very interesting point of view, which the photographer tries to get rid of people's minds. But yes, there are mostly good looking people used in advertisements, that's why I really appreciate the artist's work, interpreted with revolution.

Michael, you had such an interesting point. You see heterosexuality, feminity, traditional values and abundance in the picture. However to the Finnish person this picture is a bit confusing, we might see just ethnicity. Those things you mentioned are there, but the person is "wrong" because she represents the discriminated minority. As Johanna pointed out, milk is usually advertised by very different kind of people and identities than Irmeli Huhtala represents. The perfect stereotype is the Finnish Dairy Queen. Since 70's, the new queen (or sometimes king) has been selected yearly. http://www.maitojaterveys.fi/www/fi/maito_ja_terveys_ry/maitotytto/index.php In Finland the ideal person advertising milk is blond, young woman, who is active and independent. She usually wears a national dress and a garland or at least there is something that points out that she comes from the countryside. Maybe some Finnish students remember the 10 years old ad about milks amazing "healing" power. The girl discovers that his boyfriend is cheating her. She drinks some milk (that she pulls up from the very picturesque well) and suddenly everything is good again. Huhtala's image makes the gypsy minority visible in the culture. Usually minorities are not seen in commercials. Placing a gypsy in an unexpected context, we can learn something about our attitudes and prejudices.

As Iina assumed about Finnish people's reactions, I immediately see the Roma ethnicity made visible. People on milk advertisements are always very traditional and all references are highly conservative. Roma people are considered outside of society and they are rarely shown visually on any media. Rant: I think these classic milk advertisements on schools are propaganda. There are even "milk ambassadors" who tour around schools praising everyone should drink milk like it's a necessity to a healthy body.

I can see the photographer's aim of making Roma minority visible and provoke conversation. I think that's one of the "missions" contemporary art has. As Iina and Santeri already wrote, the portrait of Finnish Milk Maid has traditionally been something else than this. Typically we have seen blonde, young, beautiful young people in milk advertises (very often they have been athletes). Yet, I'm not sure I would pay attention to the ethnic minority of the model if this were a real advertisement. The model is young, beautiful and healthy, and as it is, a perfect person for a milk advertisement.

As Pirjo said, the model looks like a perfect person for a milk advertisement. In my eyes advertisement is made to look very finnish and like stereotypical finnish milk advertisement. I think the picture is not very provocative as a single picture, but as a part of the whole exhibition it maybe has a stronger message. I think its funny how a National gown of the Roma woman looks like a dress of Finnish Milk Maid in this context.

As Prijo, and Henna stated, from a western point of view this women is a great candidate for a milk ad. As Prijo said the aim of contemporary art is to create conversation or debate, and I feel this ad does nothing of the sort for a westerner. When I think of milk in general I think of the word strong: eg.bones and body. Defining this as a Finnish milk ad, I would then assume the colors of the dress correlate to the finnish flag, and the style of dress to the traditional garb. Not knowing typical finnish milk ads I would find nothing amiss. Once told of its true political statement, its quite baffling to me. As depictions of western "Gypsies" are not deemed a lesser group of people. They have their own TV shows, and have had their culture highlighted in many different areas. Stating that, my depiction of a gypsy is completely different than the one depicted. The only correlation is darker hair and brown eyes Yet that could also be an Italian, Jewish, or Parisian person to me. The fact that Roma people, or gypsies, are considered poor, they steel and dont take jobs also differs from my notion of gypsies. (Take note: my only association with that group is through the TV) Gypsies are depicted ( at least in the TV shows ) as skinny and self sustaining. Correlating this ad to a typical US Milk ad I would assume the woman is important politically, or socially. Now understanding the woman depicted and how she differs from Finnish milk ads, I do understand her apparent contrast. I feel this piece has more impact knowing the context, and relevance to Finnish culture, and how it could create controversy. From a US standpoint I dont think this ad would make me want to drink milk, only due to the fact i dont want to be a robust milk maid.

I think that Irmeli Huhta's image shows two colliding subjectivities; a traditional Finnish one and a Rom perspective. The picture is full of things that represent traditional, good Finnish way of life; The colors blue and white, the familiar Valio-logo, flowers and a glass of milk. The whole settings is from our traditional "milk girl -comercials" that have encouraged Finnish to drink milk, by showing a healthy young blond woman in a national outfit for a long time. But in the picture it is not a young blond girl in a Finnish traditional outfit, but a Rom girl in a Roma traditional outfit. These are vital things for understanding the meaning of this picture. The viewer should also know the status that Rom people have in our society and what kind of preconceptions are held towards them. I think this is a powerful picture that shows us that even those how think themselves liberal people can suddenly feel anxious within this picture. It forces people to question their thinking.

Irmeli Huhtala is trying to bring forward the problem of rasism and discrimination of minority people in Finland. She is wondering why are all the faces in ad's are caucasian and why are the romanian people left aside. I think that the artist is trying to emphasize the subjecitivty of romanian people. In contemporary art making visible means that something that's normally silenced is being brought into the open. The subjects are usually sensitive or difficult. They often evoke passionate emotions.

Idiom- "The grass is always greener on the other side." This idiom is often used to compare that we always want what we can't have. We are always looking at other pastures and envying what they have rather than enjoying what we have infront of us. This image is a parody of the idiom becuase it is saying that really the grass is the same on both sides! There is nothing really separating the pastures except a few pieces of wire.

Idiom: "Head in the Clouds" Meaning: To daydream; Not being fully aware or in the present moment; Being distracted by inner thoughts I'm definitely a dreamer. I can easily be inspired by something that presents itself in my everyday life, which makes me want to stop whatever I'm doing to write or create. However, this tendency to satisfy my creative urges have left me with unfinished projects and a bit of a procrastinator. Now that I'm a new mom, I'm learning to be fully attentive to my daughter's needs at a given moment. Through motherhood (and also prayer and yoga), I'm becoming more aware of my mindset and I'm striving to live "out of the clouds" and in the present moment.

Daydreaming is something that inspires you in life and creates your own world but unfortunately not helpful to start work. I think everyone finds their own way to be set on the ground again. In my case I meet friends that bring me back to life. But still, daydreaming is necessary to just cut off your mind of the world.

We have a exactly same idiom in Finnish language: "Pää pilvissä". I think that having your head in the clouds is also rather admirable ability. Sometimes it's so hard to stop worrying about all the things you need to do, when all you need is to just think about something nice for a while. Children are a good example. Is there anything more admirable (maybe a bit enviable as well?) than a child who is clearly in a whole other world while playing, or drawing ect.? I think we should be more tolerable when it comes to dreaming. After all it's dreaming that all the real good things start with. :)

So true. Dreaming is a relevant part of humanity. I think that is what makes us happy. Without dreams and visions life could be grey and depressing. Dreams helps us keep going. Dreams are also very important to arts and that is one factor where I scoop topics. Even now, in my university's art project my subject is one of my biggest dreams, leaving to Africa to help children and women to have better life. Lifting women's status would help many societies because women are in most cases the supporting pillar that keeps everything together.

Subjectivity - Imposing internal thoughts and emotions onto an independent matter or material.  In terms of subjectivity in contemporary art, could it be argued that "art" is not what we see, but how we respond to what we see?

What an interesting way to put it! It is often disgussed whether it's the wiever or the artist who defines the piece of art. Whose rendition is the most important? I think art is always subjective, so one cannot put one subjectivity over another. Everyone has an unique backround and so the art we experince is our own subjective respond to what we see.

Collaboration - Coming together to achieve a common goal, but allowing the end result to take shape based on the process of creating.  Clear intentions can become altered when the actual work is being done.  Belief in the co-creators ultimately drives the work and allows it to be fulfilled in some sort of result, whether that result was the initial intention or not.   

Idom ironic- The early Bird catches the worm This idiom notes if you want to be successful you need to wake up early and get there immediately, or if you start something early you will have a better chance at success. This can reference going into work early to get things done, or being the first person somewhere e.g. an early bird clothing sale. It is supposed to have motivational qualities, to inspire. I feel this idiom is contrary to my life philosophy as I'm a night owl. I have never liked getting up early, and am most productive at night. My mother always told me this idiom on Saturday mornings when I would want nothing more than to sleep in till noon. But as I had 3 hours of chores to do on Saturdays before I could do anything fun this idiom was her Saturday mantra. Noting I would not be able to do anything until my chores were done and starting early would get me what I wanted (be it time with friends, money, lunch ) This represents my feelings of what would happen to me if I was an early bird.

Feels exactly the same! My dad is always complaining because, due to my schedule, we can never eat breakfast together at... nine in the morning! Personally I believe that to wake up early in the morning can make your day seem busier in a good sense. The more we manage to accomplish during the day, the more effective we feel at the end of the day. So we need to enjoy the sunlight but nevertheless, what about the moonlight? As regards the various tasks, during the day we are usually more productive, but then again night holds magical moments, as people expressed themselves more easily when it gets dark. At night everything seems easier, while in the morning appear all the problems. In this sense, sleeping until late in the morning can be to extend the night's atmosphere. :)