(Re)Writing History Outreach Blog Post Assignment

Charles Adkinson

Professor Cawley

ENGL-2000

3/31/2024

                                  (Re)Writing History Outreach Blog Post Assignment

Outreach Editorial (Option 1)

             I chose to attend the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Central Park, New York, for my outreach event. I went to this museum specifically because it is known as one of the top museums in the U.S. and one of the most famous museums in the world. That being said, every piece of art there is extremely valuable, but I didn't go to look at the art. I went to the museum to look at the patterns in which the people in the museum looked at the art, which pieces they skipped over, how much time they spent looking at one piece rather than the other, did they have any positive or negative remarks on certain pieces and I would occasionally ask random people what they thought about a piece. After being there all day, I noticed that the people in the museum treated each piece of art differently and had different thoughts about each individual art piece. Some people I spoke to had extreme opinions about good and bad pieces. The art pieces were treated just how humans treat each other; some people are looked at highly, and others are looked down upon or even go unnoticed at times, just like the art pieces in this museum. This example of people overlooking art pieces is very similar to how Ralph Ellison, the narrator of the novel "Invisible Man," was ignored throughout the book. Many pieces in the museum were treated as invisible, and people wouldn't even take a few seconds to glance at some of the art. Just like how the invisible man was treated, constantly overlooked and unnoticed while having so much to offer. While the painting in an art museum might be physically present, its significance and artistic value can quickly be overlooked by visitors who don't engage deeply.

Similarly, the protagonist of "Invisible Man" navigates a society where he feels unseen and unheard despite his physical presence. Both situations highlight how individuals and objects can be invisible due to societal norms, preconceptions, or lack of attention. Throughout the preparation of this assignment, I have realized that to truly understand the value of something, you have to look deep into it, whether it is the value of people, art, or even food. To judge something at first glance is ignorant, but not all people have the patience nor the self-awareness to look deep into something; we can often be hard-headed with preset views on certain things that we refuse to change. I usually give someone or something a full assessment based on a first impression. This assignment has taught me to be patient and dig deep when finding value in something. I believe there would be a significant change in the history of racism if everyone was taught this lesson; everyone has value, and it's up to the interpreter to decide what value that is and who to say is greater. All we know is that we are not the same. By taking the time to truly see and understand the complexities of art and humanity, we can break through the barriers of invisibility and create a deeper appreciation for the richness and diversity of human experience.