Ryan Trecartin
Center Jenny, 2013
In Center Jenny, Ryan Trecartin constructs a chaotic reality-TV-inspired world where women strive to embody a singular, idealized identity.
Through surreal visuals and exaggerated performances, the film critiques
the erasure of individuality and the commodification of identity.
Black characters are reduced to visual and verbal stereotypes, their features distorted and their presence overshadowed by a “basic” white aesthetic.
The work reflects on how people of color are often tokenized in media under the guise of inclusivity, used for visual diversity while denied meaningful focus. As Trecartin notes, the power of media lies not in the content alone, but in how it is shared and reshaped by those who consume it..
Watch from 15:28 to 24:00