Do I understand the assumptions about my privilege?
Oscar Wilde once famously stated, in regard to assumption:
“When you assume, you make an ass out of u and me.”
So let me begin…
The question itself implies I may not understand the assumptions of my privilege. It also implies there may already exist a checklist out there that you all have made with the assumptions of who I am and my privilege.
If that checklist exists, let me assume that the first part of it might read something like the following:
White ✓
Male ✓
Heterosexual ✓
European Descent ✓
Let me assume a second part of the checklist might read:
Middle Class ✓
College Degree ✓
US Citizen ✓
English Speaker ✓
Guess what, the assumed checklist would be spot-on.
These are some of the indicators I assume place me, at least in western society, into the category of privilege.
The majority of these are the unearned indicators of the assumed privilege of a life into which I was born. I really didn’t have a choice, my parents had sex and I happened.
I also assume to understand the perceived privilege that is associated with the above checklist of indicators. They allow me, earned or not, certain advantages, access, security and opportunity not afforded the majority of individuals of our society, as well the majority of the globe.
An understanding of this privilege comes from my own past experiences and associations, continued education, and by having the issues of privilege raised publicly on daily bases––in the news, through direct interactions and through social media. In just one morning while writing this text, over about a fifteen minute time period, I observed the following Facebook posts by friends focused on the topic of privilege:
Posted by Jennifer Reeder – The Angry Eye with Jane Elliott
Posted by Mario Ybarra Jr. – Explaining White Privilege to a Broke White Person… by Gina Crosley-Corcoran
Posted by Micol Hebron – (en)Gendered (in)Equity: The Gallery Tally Poster Project by Micol Hebron
Posted by Teachers: A Web Series – Flesh Colored Crayons
In addition to these posts, it has been moving to read other OE’s blog 100 Questions, 100 Days contributions, including: #79 posted by Duncan MacKenzie that speaks about privilege from an individual not that dissimilar from myself; #65 posted by Caroline Woolard on uncompensated labor; #57 by Silvia Juliana Mantilla Ortiz on Eurocentrism; #58 by W. Keith Brown which points out, as Brown states, the “proliferation of ‘White Savior Industrial Complex’”.
Each of these posts, links and texts, well delivered and concise in their position, work to raise awareness of privilege, the assumptions of privilege, and the resulting inequalities that exist in our society.
What we need to remember is that we must be careful not to stereotype. The assumption of privilege extends well beyond that of the white male category for which I stereotypically fit perfectly. As addressed in the links above, within assumed categories, the variations of life circumstances are wide ranging.
It would be my assumption that each and every one of us working in social practice has, through our artistic outreach, had assumptions of privilege placed upon us. In one degree or another, those we work with and who make a choice to work with us may perceive us as privileged. Those perceived assumptions of privilege might have been based upon the characteristics mentioned previously, or perhaps additional indicators, which might include: education, language, vocabulary choice, appearance, clothing style, type of transportation used, access to technology, workplace, tools and resources at ones disposal, among many others. These assumptions may not always be correct, but they exist.
As I constantly try to understand the world in better ways, my approach to curatorial practice and institutional leadership is to use my privilege, resources and connections for the best possible benefit, empowerment and success of individuals other than myself. Do I always succeed, no, but for the arts, and specifically social practice, failure is always a possible part of the equation. But it is also important to remember that with failure, must also come individual accountability.
Yes, I do understand the assumptions of my privilege as a white, male, heterosexual, of European decent, middle class, college degree holding, English speaking US citizen. As Woolard, Brown and other links pointed out so clearly above, I am a benefactor of that privilege.
I also completely understand that the assumptions of the privileged category into which I so neatly fit, probably has one of the poorest histories of abuse, control, exploitation, colonialism and of course complete failure.
Here is a prime example:
The Memory Palace, Episode 23: 400 Words for 79th Street
With this in mind, we must all remember, purposefully or not, with individual accountability and best of intentions in place, the fact still remains…all of us working in social practice, assumed as privileged or not, still have the possibility of really fucking things up!
Lastly, let me assume that as I attend this year’s conference I will be seeing old friends and meeting new ones, many of whom will bring to me additional perspective and/or critical viewpoints on what I have just written. Perhaps it will allow me to answer the question further, helping me to continue to grow the understanding of my privilege.
I am looking forward to the conversations!
About the contributor: John D. Spiak is the Director/Chief Curator of California State University, Fullerton’s Grand Central Art Center. His curatorial emphasis is on social practice and video. Since his arrival in September of 2011, GCAC has hosted over 30 artists working through its artist in residence initiative. From 1994-2011 he was Curator at the Arizona State University Art Museum. Spiak co-founded and curated the ASUAM residency series Social Studies, initiating social practice projects within the museum and surrounding community. Spiak currently serves on the Advisory Board of Social Practice Art (SPart) Los Angeles, the Editorial Board for the journal Museum and Social Issues, and is co-founder of Santa Ana Sites. Most recent, through GCAC collaboration with Living Resources, Spiak has developed a one-year grant/residency program with focus on sustainable practices within affordable housing communities in Santa Ana, CA and Phoenix, AZ.