Assignment #4: Single Human Body

And What About the Children?

Modern changes in technology and lifestyle have redefined the role of the parent in the typical American household. All the basic elements of family life (eating dinner, cooking, spending time together, learning, playing games, etc.) have been sped up, mechanized or prepackaged to the point where they hardly exist. Parents no longer find time to be with their children and give them a proper upbringing; instead, it is entirely acceptable to substitute parenthood by placating their child's mind with a television set (the modern day baby sittter), filling their bellies with microwaveable foods (for the sake of time and convenience on their part) and sending them off into the world with money and possessions (cell phones, iPods, laptops, etc.) as an easy pacifier instead of taking the time to instill real values and appreciation for the different wonders and hardships of life. This method seems to work for the parents, who save on time and are able to pursue careers away from home. But what about the children?

This piece attempts to pose this question by using an iconic symbol for the happy, healthy home (the hardworking, stay-at-home housewife and her trusty apron) and modernizing it to match up with the reality of parenthood's role in the family today. The apron was made out of a gray, pinstriped fabric to signify the priority which careers are given over time spent with the family. The pockets are filled with checkbooks and canned ravioli to represent how readily both money and fast food are given from parent to child in an effort to minimize the time spent on actually rearing the child. The main focus of the piece, however, is the television set attached to the center of the apron, which represents the new substitute for the parent: the TV. Not only do kids spend the majority of their time in front of the TV, but they have to learn many of their behaviors and values from what they see on TV shows in the absence of real parenting.