Textual Poaching

Hi, my name is Rissa, and I am short.

Artist Statement:

I am short. I am not so short that I don’t fit in normally in a crowd, but I am pretty short.  You would not believe the multitude of short jokes I receive, even on a daily basis.  Over the years, I have learned to start to accept my height (after all, it’s not really going to change, right?) but there is one thing that has always bugged me: being short means I am thought of as young and a lot less mature.  Because I am short many people assume I am younger than I am.  And this also gives me less credit, for some reason, in the sensibleness aspect.  This doesn’t just stand for me either. When someone stands up, do we measure them by their size?

In “How Texts Become Real”, Jenkins talks about how certain images and objects can become icons in our world for things bigger than they originally intended to be.  Our idea of height relating to is a universal thing.  And for good reason, you grow up when you grow up.  But at what height are we considered grown? Or an adult? Or mature?

I chose to base my project off of the well-known signs from theme parks across America: the “you must be this tall to ride the ride” signs.  While these signs are put in place to keep people safe, they also send a message that people being to take in subconsciously all their lives.  They remember back when they were too “young” to ride the ride, not to “short”.  Seeing images of young children trying to measure up but failing leads us to make this connection that certain heights equally certain ages, and in turn means that person obviously has more experience, knowledge, and maturity.  It is as if those pencil measurements we make on the wall as we grow up don’t have numbers for height and age, but rather for height and development.

3’2”- knows their math; still needs lunch packed for them.

5’3”- can drive by themselves; deserves some responsibility.

6’0”-fully grown; give respectable attention.