shame on me

“shame on me” is an interdisciplinary artistic exploration of the feeling of shame. Through photographic, filmic, and research-based works, the project examines the personal and social dimensions of shame. The goal is to create a space for reflection that encourages a critical examination of one’s own feelings of shame. Shame arises when we believe we have violated social norms or been exposed. It becomes problematic when people feel shame for things for which there is no reason – a phenomenon that particularly affects marginalized groups – because then shame can become an instrument of power. This work explores whether there is an alternative to our current existence with shame. What happens when we allow ourselves to feel shame when we violate social norms, as a queer-feminist act of resistance against the patriarchal society in which we live? Could engaging with our emotions – especially shame – perhaps serve as a tool to dismantle hierarchies and mechanisms of oppression?