#interview3

How old were you when you started doing artwork on a regular basis?

What was the first fandom you were a part of?

What was the most difficult piece of fan art you’ve done so far? Why was it difficult?

How has fandom influenced how you make art?

Who do you find yourself drawing lately?

Why does fanart matter?

This interview was conducted on Facebook Messenger via video chat. Lily is a 20 year old artist who is currently attending Western Connecticut State University. She’s an avid DC comics fan and is proficient in many forms of art. Her best friend Taylor happened to be visiting her during the interview.

Lauren: How old were you when you started doing artwork on a regular basis?

Lily: 12.

Taylor: 11 and a half.

Lauren: (smiles) Perfect. What was the first fandom you were a part of?

Lily:Um...Hetalia, right? (Looks at Taylor)

 Taylor: Yup. Definitely.

Lauren: Excellent. What was the most difficult piece of fan art you’ve done so far? Why was it difficult?

Lily: I had to make a Dr. Who themed billboard in sophomore year of high school. It was difficult because I’ve never used photoshop before. It was pretty good.

Lauren: So it still holds up?

Lily: Well, no. I don’t have it anymore. I just remember thinking it was good. But it got messed up during the art show so I had to get rid of it.

Lauren: Ah. So...How has fandom influenced how you make art?

Lily: I’ve learned how to work with different styles and stances.

Lauren: Great. Who do you find yourself drawing lately?

Lily: Starfire.

Lauren: (laughs) Final question...Why does fanart matter?

Lily: Because it’s a way of creative expression.

Taylor: It’s way to start from-

Lauren: A baseline?

Lily: Yeah.

I absolutely had to rename this interviewee Justice because she had that much knowledge on activism and things that were happening around school. She’s only a sophomore and has accomplished so many things. 

                                           Key Points (There’s way too many..)

-”I’ll rep Carolina Bluem but I’m also aware of the problems here.”

-’Coming on campus, I felt like I was one of [the] very few black people [here]. I realized that there was an actual community when I went to the BSM GB meeting last year.”

-”[Automatically,] when I think of anything happening in the black community and I’m looking for a campus organization to have a discussion about it or do something about it, I think of BSM.”

-”Being part of BSM has severed as my foundation where I felt like at the end of the day I had an organization where there were people who looked like me; and for the most part thought like me. This gave me confidence to go into organizations where I knew there’d be people that were like me/looked like me/shared the same experiences.”

-She described BSM as providing her a space to do work in the black community and not be looked at in a strange way. Also, she’s not directly apart of any communities, but does attend any event. I found it strange that although she seemed to be partially active, she was still confused on how the organization worked and this has been a central issue that holds people from continuing on.

-HBCUs are frowned upon and you’re looked down on for attending them.

-Unity

   *”We won’t be able to break through until we realize we’re all black, every single one of us because when we walk down the street, all anyone sees is our skintone, they’re not going to ask where we’re from.” 

-HBCU

Interview 3 

I did my third interview during my eighth visit of my spot. I made sure to ask only open questions this time.

Overview:

Q1: How often do you use the meadows?

Answer: Twice a day

Q2: What do you use the meadows for the most?

Answer: Walking the dog (mostly), might occasionally commute through, would use it recreationally in summer

Q3: What times of the day do you use the meadows?

Answe: Around 8.30am and 3pm

Q4: What times would you not use the meadows?

Answer: Night time

Q5: What times of the year do you use the meadows?

Answer: All throughout the year

Q6: What do you like about the meadows?

Answer: The big open space for walking the dog, using it recreationally in the summer

Q7: What do you dislike about the meadows?

Answer: Nothing

Q8: How would you improve the meadows?