Love n' Influence
Presenter: Alexa Fielding
Presenter Status: Undergraduate student
Academic Year: 20-21
Semester: Fall
Faculty Mentor: Beth Ann Turner
Department: Music
Funding Source/Sponsor: SYRCE Symposium
Screenshot URL: https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1u-xLG7MmT_61RLCOR6e6Tft-aViYt4HT
Abstract:
Title: Love n’ Influence
Personnel: Alexa Fielding
Date of creation: 11/12/20
Materials/Medium: Series of paintings (4)
Abstract:
My project is a series of paintings depicting the famous reggae artist Bob Marley in the late 70’s and early 80’s. He was very influential in regards to his style of music and the personal things he stood for which was important to me to depict in my project. The central idea of this series of paintings I created was to generate a well rounded representation of Marley within his music, as well as other passions of his and how he was represented within his community. Growing up in Jamaica with a mother and father of different races, Marley always felt discriminated against and felt as though he didn’t belong in the white or black community. This is relevant to 1980’s music because it drove him to fight for racial equality and become an activist, while bringing together ideas of love and unity with the use of music. This allowed for controversy, being that his music brought up current societal issues, however, many connected with him on a deeper level because of his honesty. Another important facet of Marley’s life was his legacy in his family, he was the husband to Rita Marley in the year of 1966 and had 10 kids with her as well. Some have even later gone on to make music of their own. This project is significant because a lot of the social issues he is discussing in his music are things that are still going on in the world today. In fact, there is a movement going on right now that parallels some of his ideals around equality (i.e. BLM). Social movements like the one mentioned above represent ideas of racial equality. Professor Dierkes gave a lecture discussing neo expressionism with the use of imagery and words. I crafted these paintings focusing on Bob Marley and his relevance in the 1980’s socially and musically using words and imagery around my paintings. Hope you enjoy them!
Citations:
Catarino, et al. “Bob Marley - LEGACY: 75 Years A Legend.” YouTube, YouTube. 28 Feb. 2020,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnZ6rTb1_1o
Bob Marley and The Wailers. “Get Up, Stand Up.” YouTube, YouTube. 16 Jun. 2009,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tg97JiBn1kE
Bob Marley and The Wailers. “One Love.” YouTube, Youtube. 20 Apr. 2010,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdB-8eLEW8g
Bob Marley and The Wailers. “Is This Love.” YouTube, Youtube. 7 Jul. 2009,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHekNnySAfM