The Chain of Oppression

FULL VIEW PLEASE!!

Alright, cheesey name, but let me explain.

I'm in this class called Multiculturalism and for my final paper, I have this huge thing I have to write about race and racism. One of the ideas we have to touch on is what's called the "Chain of Oppression." The basic idea of the Chain is that those who are seen as the most "pure" (in this case, the white male) has the most priveledge and the easier way in life (which is why he gets a spiffy race car). The least pure is the African American fellow with his bike. He can still do the race, but he'll have a much harder time.

The chick in the middle is sort of supposed to be me (I used myself as a model, anyway), and I'm supposed to represent mixed blood; I'm half-Mexican. I get a go-kart. It's easier than the bike, but it won't get me to the finish line as fast as the race car.

Anyway, as for technical talk.

This marks my first real drawing in my gallery! WHOO! I drew this by hand initially (I might put the sketch up in scraps later if I'm not feeling to lazy... along with half of those Sanji pictures I owe. >_> and then CG'd it (another first) in Adobe Photoshop CS1. In the original drawing, I was most proud of the race car and of the girl in the middle/me, but after futzing up a couple stuff (like how the front of the car looks like it's turned towards the viewer and how the wrinkles on my pants look really funky), my favourites are now the black guy and the bike. They look so much better than in the original drawing. Though, it does look like he's semi-pregnant. >_>; His hands were initially on his hips, but I guess they moved while I edited somewhat and it looks like he's rubbin' his tummeh. Ah well.

Oh, the background is a randomly ganked parking lot picture. I didn't really have the patience to make my own; I've been working on this for five hours now, which is longer than I've ever worked on anything. This piece really came out of nowhere and the inspiration was very moving for it; when I got the idea, I had to finish it last night, and then I decided to CG it today. In all, I've probably spent a good 10 hours on this piece. I <3 it. I'm sure I'll hate it in like a week. XD

Oh, I *did* use randomly googled images for all the other stuff; the other two people are two anonymous people whom I borrowed the posture and clothes from (my faces suck, so no way in hell they look like who they are. XD). The only original thing I drew with no reference is the stupid sign. whoo! And feel free to let me know how I did; I'm just learning all this stuff. Normally all I ever do is doodle.

-Brans