Design Matters with Debbie Millman: Sarah Lewis Episode Summary

Release Date: December 9, 2024

In this compelling episode of Design Matters with Debbie Millman, host Debbie Millman engages in an in-depth conversation with Sarah Lewis, a renowned art and cultural historian, professor at Harvard University, and founder of the Vision and Justice initiative. The discussion delves into the intricate relationships between art, culture, race, and societal narratives, culminating in the release of Lewis's influential book, The Unseen: When Race Changed Sight in America. This summary captures the essence of their dialogue, highlighting key points, insightful discussions, and profound conclusions.

Introduction

Debbie Millman opens the episode by introducing Sarah Lewis and setting the stage for a deep exploration of how art and visual culture shape political and social realities.

Notable Quote:

Debbie Millman [01:24]: "On Design Matters, Debbie talks with designers and other creative people about what they do, how they got to be who they are, and what they're thinking about and working on."

Early Life and Influences

Sarah Lewis shares anecdotes from her early life, illustrating how her grandfather's activism and her own experiences in high school as a sprinter and salsa dancer influenced her understanding of art and justice.

Notable Quotes:

Sarah Lewis [03:13]: "What is the role of art for justice in American society? That's really what he was asking his teacher, and that's..."

Sarah Lewis [07:30]: "My pilgrim was black, you know, with these same kind of black buckled shoes. And I love that no one corrected me right, that young age."

Educational Journey

Lewis details her academic path, including her time at Harvard, where she shifted from pre-med to art history, influenced by pivotal moments and mentors. She further pursued dual master's degrees at Oxford University and the Courtauld Institute of Art in London, driven by a desire to intertwine art with economic and social history.

Notable Quotes:

Sarah Lewis [16:24]: "That moment mattered when she gave me that book, and I sensed it and I knew it at the time."

Sarah Lewis [18:08]: "I felt as if I had to go down two different paths to kind of give myself the arsenal."

Professional Endeavors and Vision and Justice

Lewis discusses her role in the arts policy committee formed by President Obama and how it intertwined with her academic and creative pursuits. She elaborates on founding the Vision and Justice project, aimed at highlighting the critical role of visual culture in promoting equity and justice.

Notable Quote:

Sarah Lewis [35:17]: "Frederick Douglass states at the end of his speech so poignantly, it might take over 150 years for this idea to be understood about the importance of representation in our democracy."

The Unseen: When Race Changed Sight in America

A significant portion of the conversation focuses on Lewis's book, which explores the visual history of race in America. She recounts the discovery of a pivotal photograph by Matthew Brady and how it spurred her research into the origins of the term "Caucasian" and its implications for racial hierarchy.

Notable Quotes:

Sarah Lewis [42:13]: "I came across a photograph taken by the most celebrated photographer of the era, Matthew Brady... She was put on stage as a visual exam and a prompt to ask the American public if they're willing to hold on to this term."

Sarah Lewis [53:22]: "Race is a deeply political tactic, and we've been conditioned to think, to understand how we utilize it best through this account of racial narratives over time."

Impact of Aesthetic Encounters

Lewis explains the concept of "aesthetic encounters"—moments when art profoundly alters our perception of the world. She shares personal experiences, including a near-fatal car crash, which influenced the depth and passion behind her writing of The Unseen.

Notable Quotes:

Sarah Lewis [57:25]: "Aesthetic encounters I think we don't honor enough because they are so often private, not discussed, unheralded in the Unseen Truths."

Sarah Lewis [59:53]: "Seeing is not just a retinal act. It's never been about observation. Only seeing is about reading the world."

Challenges and Reflections on Failure

The dialogue touches on Lewis's reflections on failure, inspired by her early experiences and further explored in her book, The Rise: Creativity, the Gift of Failure, and the Search for Mastery. She advocates for embracing failure as a crucial component of creativity and personal growth.

Notable Quotes:

Sarah Lewis [26:34]: "Failure is not something that might be helpful. It actually is the process."

Debbie Millman [29:59]: "We do so much to avoid failure, yet when we achieve success, for most people, they're never content with just that."

Current Projects and Future Endeavors

Lewis discusses her upcoming course on Beyoncé at Harvard, emphasizing the importance of studying contemporary visual culture and its impact on societal narratives. This reflects her ongoing commitment to exploring and teaching the intersections of art, race, and justice.

Notable Quotes:

Sarah Lewis [72:30]: "It's a Trojan horse, right, to be able to think through all the ways that she's referencing sources that are focused on the black diaspora."

Conclusion

The episode concludes with Lewis and Millman reflecting on the crucial role of visual culture in shaping and challenging societal norms. Lewis underscores the importance of intentional sight and representation in fostering a more just and equitable society.

Notable Quotes:

Sarah Lewis [71:33]: "The book presents the evidence... to make a new choice, to see each other justly."

Sarah Lewis [73:05]: "Shout to the indispensable work of visual culture for conditioning us to see each other justly."

Final Thoughts

Sarah Lewis's episode on Design Matters offers a profound exploration of how visual culture and art influence our understanding of race and justice in America. Through personal narratives, scholarly insights, and poignant reflections, Lewis articulates the necessity of recognizing and dismantling the fabricated narratives that underpin racial hierarchies. Her work exemplifies the transformative power of art in fostering societal change and promoting equitable representation.

For more information about Sarah Lewis and her work, visit Sarah Elizabeth Lewis's website.