SARAH GOBELL

Why? Artist Statement

The question “why?” is a frequently asked question, wondering for what reason or purpose something happens. I explored the topic of why do you people bully others, and why do they want to make others feel bad. A bully is defined as someone who uses their strength or power to harm those who are weaker. Being bullied is a terrible act that nobody should have to go through, yet 3.2 million students are victims of bullying each year. My first thought to this topic was showing the extreme cases of what can happen when someone is bullied to the point where they can’t take living anymore. My picture represents a person as if they hung themselves in the woods from being bullied too much.

 

I was inspired for this concept by seeing bullying occur around me in school and online. I have seen kids being picked on in my classes and I have seen cases of cyberbullying many times on social media. What people think may be a harmless comment, can actually affect someone in a big way. The process of taking this photo required a wooded background and a character that appeared to be hanging. I made the character prop himself up on the tree branch so his legs naturally dangled down. The main focus of the photo is on the legs and the tree itself so the action stands out.

 

After taking this photo I was reminded of how much bullying and words can affect someone. It is scary to think someone would take their own life because of a bully, and it makes me conscious about how I talk to and about others. Suicide and bullying are serious but also sensitive topics that should be known about in order to prevent these extreme and detrimental cases.