AbstractsSociology

I came to the United States to attend high school at the age of fifteen, not knowing a word of English. When given the chance to introduce my culture to the rest of my class in high school, celebrating the school event called "International Day," one American student described it somewhat condescendingly as "going to the zoo." As a teenager, I have experienced racism and struggled with confusion about the distinctions between the Korean and American cultures and my own identity. The United States is labeled a "melting-pot," a nation of mixed cultures. Though people claim that this diversity is truly what being American means, many have ignored my voice just because I was different. Those very same people may also believe that racism is in the past, but I have experienced discrimination, both big and small, almost every day. I was exasperated with people who treated me differently, angry and intimated by what seemed to be a narrow-minded society during my teenage years. In the past, I was ashamed of my heritage and tried to "fit" into American society by ignoring my cultural background. The issues of multiculturalism and the conflicts of immigrant culture are not only my personal problem but also a social issue that American society is facing today. I have been researching and designing for my kind of people, people with the same issues I used to have, and for children from different cultures experiencing similar issues. All my confusion, regret and the search for my identity compel me to offer the next generation a better educational environment and to teach them to be truly proud of who they are. Through my work, I was able to express visually the assimilation of Korean and American cultures. The different materials I used for the exhibition represented different cultures and generations, which also suggested the idea of the harmony and coexistence of the two cultures. During April 9-17, 2014, I used the space of the University Art Gallery at San Diego University to showcase my illustrations, sculptures, typeface design and user interactive design application. My thesis exhibition, Eyes Like This, offered visitors the opportunity to experience cultural assimilation through graphic design solutions with various materials.