Emma Johnson , CLA 2008
Voices From The Gaps: Kara Walker
Major
Anthropology and American Indian Studies
Mentor
Maria Damon, English
Brief Bio
I enjoy art, music, and writing.
Future Plans
I would like to do screen writing or, potentially, two dimensional animation.
Why Research?
I really enjoy doing research. I enjoy writing academic papers that can delve into a subject, and go beyond “formulaic” writing. It allows me to go into depth, seek out a lot of information, and get creative ideas. I also like exploring different ideas. Besides, research also looks really good on a resume for graduate school. Being paid to do something I enjoy is a nice bonus. I was reading an article for my research one day and I thought to myself, “I am having so much fun, and I am actually getting paid to do it.” It was excited to have something published in my name. If I do not complete my research project in 120 hours, I plan to complete it on my own. I am excited about the project, and want to see it through.
What Did I Get from Research?
I find it exciting to formulate my own questions and ideas. I found it exciting that some of my questions had been addressed, and that my thoughts and ideas are on the same level as other scholars. I also found it exciting to develop my thoughts about the topic, and then digging deeper into the material to find that I had more questions.
For example, I was reading through some material, and I started to wonder about this African American woman, who is in a white institution, and thought about how the people running the institution perceived her work. Several articles later, I found that some scholars had addressed that issue. It gave me more of an appreciation for Kara Walker, as to how knowledgeable she was about everything surrounding her work. I have found it exciting to learn of new magazines, and found that some of the magazines for my research I would like to read for fun.
How Did I Start?
I had heard a brief announcement at the beginning of an English class that there was a research opportunity. I thought that sounded awesome. I asked my English advisor about it, and she said that there was a project concerning the "Voices from the Gap." I found out Maria Damond was in charge of the "Voices from the Gaps" project. I sent her an e-mail about meeting, and she replied that the group had a Kara Walker exhibit at the Walker Art Center. I brought some notes and ideas about what I wanted to do. And it took off from there.
My Advice for Another Student:
Working through the databases can be overwhelming sometimes, especially when I am trying to be thorough and trying to become knowledgeable about my topic. It can be overwhelming to know where to look. Be prepared to learn new things about searching, and learning how to explore your topic from different places and from different perspectives. You will find the information you need, but be prepared to work to find the information you need. Do not be afraid to ask for help. As a student who did not come to the University until the middle of my junior year, I found that the librarians were helpful when I started navigating the University's databases.
Research Summary
My research is about Kara Walker. I am learning about her in depth, not only her artwork, but the discussions or dialogues her artwork is trying to start. Part of my research is about biographical information, but more of the research is on theories about her, and putting new perspectives on her work. I am looking for recurring themes in her work, and want to create a greater understanding of her work. I want to raise discussion about different ways for African American people to present themselves to Caucasian people and have the work be respected.