SHANNON JOHNSON
Aren’t_You_Ashamed?
Expanding on themes I have previously worked with, “Aren’t You Ashamed?” captures, through different mediums, the experiences of shame or supposed shame, the perception of shame, and how we grapple with shame in our lives. It ultimately looks at the idea of being shameless – unapologetic in your actions and refusing to be shamed. Shame is experienced as a result of many actions that are considered inappropriate or abnormal: being overweight, enjoying sex, doing drugs, being mentally ill, being assaulted, any form of disability, poverty, appearances, choices about our bodies, romance and sexuality, polyamory, cheating, self-harm, engaging in “harmful” behaviors. As a woman, one of the most frequent emotions I experience is shame. Shame permeates our lives, caught up in the systems of oppression that dictate our life choices, feelings, and values – if we let it. “Aren’t You Ashamed?” explores different aspects and types of shame, examining how shame shapes our actions and how we relate to others.