Julie Bell
Hi, I'm Julie (she/her). My mission as a writer and artist is to create emotionally captivating characters that inspire my readers to change their perspectives and grow as people. The themes I like to explore with my protagonists are community, camaraderie, self-discovery and self-acceptance. What gives my writing a unique perspective is my experiences pertaining to my identity as a queer autistic woman. After many years, I have learned to be proud of my identity and aim to empower my audience to find the same confidence in themselves. I am a Humber Polytechnic, Bachelor of Creative and Professional Writing student, and you will always catch me on the Dean’s List. I get a lot of my inspiration from music. I like collecting dolls and am a fashion enthusiast.
Values
From my inception as a writer, I made it my mission to spotlight the underrepresented. I am an unabashed anti-fascist; Ever since I learned about the concepts, I have been in full support of the demolishment of white supremacist and patriarchal societal structures and the liberation of everyone from them. Language and art are imperative tools for combating prejudice. People stigmatize what they do not understand; therefore, representing minorities and helping to amplify their voices has always been a core value of mine.
Both the Pew Research Center (2019) and GLAAD (2020), found that exposure to media with queer characters and stories were more likely to be accepting of queer people and supportive of equal rights. The case is similar for representations of racialized people and media reflecting intersecting identities. Representation can help refute stereotypes, increase empathy for said marginalized communities, and dismantle Western heterosexist ideals.
Intersectional representation is vital in children’s media. Speaking from experience, as a queer autistic woman, my early life was plagued by hermeneutical injustice; I was without the language to verbalize, not just how I felt but who I was. I can not help but think if there were not such a stigma around disability and queerness, especially considering how those concepts are explained to children (or lack thereof), I would not have felt so isolated from my peers. When children grow up not seeing themselves represented in the media they consume, it can leave them feeling unwanted, unimportant and unaware of the many nuances of their identity. As Kevin Nadal reiterated for Psychology Today, “It's hard to be what you can’t see.”
All of my fictional stories have diverse casts of characters. I strive to write emotionally captivating characters that inspire my readers to change their perspectives and grow as people. The themes I like to explore in said narratives are community, comradery, self-discovery and self-acceptance. After many years, I have learned to be proud of my identity and aim to empower my audience to find the same confidence in themselves. However, I must be transparent when I am out of my depth. I am white and cisgender; Not having the lived experiences of racialized and gender-diverse people means there will always be a limit to how authentic those characters will be when writing them on my own. Therefore, I aspire to be humble, curious, gracious, and open-minded to learn and take on advice from those in communities I am not a part of.
I believe that all art is political; Even seemingly a-political art is inherently political through its contentment with the status quo. I make all of my work in direct opposition to the rise of fascism I witnessed throughout my formative years. We have reached a point where neo-nazis are shameless in spreading their hatred. This should not be normal. My actions and inaction will have great future consequences. As a part of history, it is my responsibility to share my truth and empower those with who the feeling is mutual. Now is not the time for silence, for silence is complacency and complacency would mean death.
Land Acknowledgement For Humber Polytechnic
Aaniin, Bonjour, Hello and welcome. We are gathered here today to participate in the time-honoured tradition of sharing our stories. Though it may be difficult, I implore you all to take this moment to reflect and be what our capitalist, fast-paced society often encourages us not to be: still, thoughtful, present, and connected, not just to the land, but also to each other.
Humber Polytechnic is located within the lands of the Mississaugas of the Credit along the Humber River Watershed region, known as Adoobiigok, the “Place of the Black Alders” in the Michi Saagiig language. This land is also a part of Treaty 13, or the Toronto Purchase of 1805. This treaty was unethical, as it exceeded borders and eroded the way of life for many Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, and Wendat peoples. The treaty limited access to resources these people relied on for generations, putting them into conflict with one another.
As Ontarians, we are often told to be grateful for the land we occupy, not stricken by famine or drought. However, many of our privileges are attributed to more than solely geography. Before this institution was known as Humber Polytechnic, it operated under several names, such as the Lakeshore Psychiatric Hospital. I remember aspiring to be in this very building, awaiting this temporary yet empowering experience. However, only a few generations ago, this facility was subjecting its patients to heinous abuses, not unlike those experienced by the victims of the residential school system. As a person living in a Christian hegemonic society, I am forced to contend with how those of a similar faith to mine felt a calling, either by their God or their deeply bigoted government, to beat the culture out of an entire generation, literally in a lot of cases. These atrocities are still in living memory, and the consequences will be felt by generations to come.
Before colonialism, the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, and Wendat peoples lived in symbiosis with the land. After being displaced by settlers and suffering the genocide and loss of their many cultural practices, languages, and people, they learned to live in harmony together. As a nation of Indigenous peoples, settlers, and immigrants alike, we all have a responsibility to be better to the land and each other. May we heed Mother Earth’s call to protect what is left of our natural ecosystems and give power back to the first stewards, instead of keeping it in the hands of those prioritizing profits over it. May we open our minds, stay humble, and show gratitude to the Mississaugas of the Credit, as they share their art and wisdom with us, and rebuild their communities. Thank you, Merci and Miigwech.