Collage & Illustration

Looking critically at the telenovela El Clon

This series is a commentary on the strategies employed by the TV industry for depicting Islam, in ways that stereotype notions of gender, class, and religion, and affirm a supposed superiority of the West.

Piece 1 comments on stereotypical depictions of Miami and Fez, where only the former is shown as progressive and modern. Piece 2 rewrites a script of white saviorism, into a less condescending perspective on the protagonist's story. Piece 3 is a statement that resolves the overcomplicated dilemma of belonging and identity in the show. Piece 4 exposes the declaration of social responsibility by the TV Network Globo, in juxtaposition with scenes that normalize domestic violence. Piece 5 comments on the patriarchal depiction of men. ​

This series was made in the context of speculative design futures, to co-think about technology design or "future making", from lived experiences of online violence, and in connection to larger sociopolitical contexts where technologies operate.

The pieces combine hand-made and digital illustration and texturing, as well as animation.

Piece 1 deals with the emotional impact of gender-based online violence. Piece 2 uplifts collaboration and solidarity. Piece 3 asks about the processes of care involved in being online. Piece 4 is a commentary on militarization.

Speculative Design in Gender and Technology