America, Dreaming.

Author

Sarah MeftahFollow

Date of Award

Spring 6-1-2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Fine Arts (MFA)

Department

Photography

First Advisor

Steve Smith

Second Advisor

Zoé Samudzi

Third Advisor

Conor Moynihan

Abstract

There is a version

of America

that exists

only in dreams,

a kind of folklore,

shrouded in images,

technicolor interiors,

wrapped in plastic,

ghosts of recent past

to haunt and guide;

a constant reminder.

Wishful thinking

a constructed imaginary,

one I can hold in my hand.

Popular culture and spectacle, America and the domestic ideal, capitalism and the collective unconscious of a national identity. As an artist, I am interested in the myriad images that manifest for a viewer when they think of the spectacle of American pop culture, its domestic archetypes, and the material worship it revolves around. My practice seeks to demystify the visual languages that have defined "American" identity since the mid-20th century, examining their constant permeation, spectacle, and ability to influence viewers' psyches. Often positioned within domestic or capitalistic spaces, I explore how heightening these archetypes or icons can make us question or recall our own understanding of what is distinctly “American” and what is not. By examining specific social, cultural, and material characteristics from the mid-20th century, I aim to demystify the visual languages that have shaped these ideologies and driven collective psychological desires and fears that still remain present today.

Recommended Citation

Meftah, Sarah, "America, Dreaming." (2024). Masters Theses. 1233.
https://digitalcommons.risd.edu/masterstheses/1233

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.