My journal by Megan Beaudin

More than a Hallway

mbeau010 — 2025-07-25 15:42:53 UTC

This place might seem simple but if you think about it has a lot to say. Taking a cue from Saidiya Hartman’s thoughts in Venus in Two Acts—how history often ignores certain people—this hallway might symbolize feeling trapped in the middle. This place feels like hanging out in a space where you don’t exactly fit into one category or another whether you’re trans, nonbinary, or just don’t label yourself easily. It’s a bit like FLUXUS art in Breanne Fahs (2019) article—what looks normal at first can actually mean a lot more if you see it from a different angle.

References: Hartman, S. (2008). Venus in Two Acts. Small Axe: A Caribbean Journal of Criticism, 12(2), 1–14.

Fahs, B. (2019). Writing with Blood: The Transformative Pedagogy of Teaching Students to Write Manifestos. The Radical Teacher, 115, 33–38. https://www.jstor.org/stable/48694743

Door with Stories

mbeau010 — 2025-07-25 17:04:26 UTC

A door can hold a ton of stories and even though it might seem like just another bathroom at first there's a lot more going on than you might think. The word "family" on the door makes it feel friendlier especially for people who don't fit the usual gender labels like transgender and gender-nonconforming folks. But the label overlooks the personal stories and identities that truly deserve some recognition. This connects to Saidiya Hartman's point that history usually overlooks some people's stories. So it's just a bathroom, but it also shows how regular places can mean a lot more if you really look closely.

Reference: Hartman, S. (2008). Venus in Two Acts. Small Axe: A Caribbean Journal of Criticism, 12(2), 1–14.

Gender Marketing

mbeau010 — 2025-07-25 17:39:39 UTC

"Separated by smell, set apart by style." This screenshot from Ulta’s fragrance section doesn’t just show what you can buy; it also shows how they still group products by gender even though perfume is such a personal choice. "There's a definite split that guys on one side and girls on the other." It seems like a basic idea but it really shows how different categories influence what we think we should be buying. Sometimes you just want to choose what smells nice without feeling pressured to go for a brand.

When Presence Leaves

mbeau010 — 2025-07-25 17:58:11 UTC

The foggy mirror shows more than just steam; it also hints at someone who was just here but has now left. A fuzzy shadow hangs around like a soft echo stuck somewhere between being clear and fading away. Right now everyday life feels like it's straight out of a movie. The bathroom, which is usually just a place we go for everyday stuff becomes a weird in-between space. Here it's hard to tell if someone is really there or not and the real and the not-so-real mix together. This picture isn't just showing steam or shadows; it's really about how life's little moments come and go so quickly. As we walk around we leave marks that disappear just as fast as we create them.

Reclaiming Power

mbeau010 — 2025-07-25 19:36:20 UTC

The word "enough" across the mirror in red lipstick isn’t just a reminder for yourself but rather a way to bring confidence and set boundaries for yourself, making the message clear. This scene transforms a personal area into a unique kind of protest. It might not be fancy or flawless but it’s close and thoughtful. Lipstick, which is usually seen as part of beauty rules turns into a way to push back instead.

This picture shows how our daily habits, like getting ready, brushing our teeth, and looking in the mirror can be really powerful. Those little moments can turn into positive reminders about ourselves. It’s all about telling yourself “no more” to anything that’s been holding you back like pressure from others, certain responsibilities or feeling like you have to stay silent. "It’s a calm realization marked in red."