My name is Lillian Medville and I am the creator of Your Privilege Is Showing, a social justice card game focusing on sexism, racism and privilege. I'm conducting a semester long pilot program of YPIS at Berklee School of Music this semester and making a documentary about it. In order to do all of this, I need your help.
WHAT IS YOUR PRIVILEGE IS SHOWING?
Your Privilege Is Showing (YPIS) is a card game that enables participants to use real world examples of bias as catalyst for self and community change. The simulation uses present day examples of sexism, racism, heterosexism, misogyny, ableism, as well as other types of bias founded in privilege, and asks participants to identify the biases that are in operation and how to interrupt that biased behavior. The simulation has mechanisms built in to discuss and navigate participant’s choices and disagreements with each other.
By creating a structured approach of empathetic discourse to talk about racism, sexism, and privilege, the game draws upon the value of real-life experiences in order to enhance social justice literacy. YPIS provides players with a social structure they don't normally have, so they can talk about issues they don't normally talk about while being challenged to understand what they may be missing. The participants get the chance to practice and navigate discussing their personal experience with privilege, racism, white supremacy, white privilege, sexism, homophobia, classism, ableism and misogyny.
I've brought YPIS to Harvard, the Humanist Hub, Berklee College of Music and MIT Game Lab, and each time the participants reported being both challenged and relieved to have a way to discuss these issues in a safe environment. The students who participated had profound experiences as they came to understand their privilege and their classmates’ different perspectives with more nuanced detail.
The fundamental philosophy of YPIS is that systems of oppression (sexism, racism, privilege, ableism, classism, among others) are both personal and universal. We have all, no matter who we are, internalized and participated in these systems, and are hurt by them in some way. And we don’t talk about them. The game provides a structure for these conversations to happen. Different perspectives can be shared in a safe environment and vulnerability and honesty can be rewarded.
THE FILM
I am following 6 students’ experience with the semester long Berklee pilot to understand how their relationship with sexism, racism and other forms of privilege change over the course of the semester.
The film aims to answer these questions:
Do the students understand the concepts and realities of racism, sexism and privilege?
Do they personally recognize their internalization of racism, sexism and privilege?
Do they experience racism, sexism, privilege on a daily basis? How do they deal with that? How does that affect their daily lives?
As the pilot goes on, does their understanding of sexism, racism and privilege deepen and/or change? Are they able to talk about the ways that they themselves are culpable maintaining these systems? Do they see on a personal level the ways that these systems have impacted their lives, development, and choices?
WHY
- One in 5 women and one in 16 men are sexually assaulted while in college. (x , y )
- OMG, Donald Trump (x , y )
- OMG, Mike Pence (x )
- 800 black people murdered by the police so far in 2016. (x , y , z , a , b, c )
- Implicit bias is everywhere. (p , q, r , x , y , z )
- White women make 77 cents to every dollar a white man makes. Black women make 64 cents. Native American women make 60 cents and Latina/Chicanas make 53 cents. Trans women face major discrimination and a decrease in wages once they transition but most conversations around the wage gap still insist that women make 77 cents to the white man's dollar. And it costs more to be a woman. (x , y , z )
- Breastfeeding your child in public is still controversial. (x , y , z )
- Mental health stigma keeps people from seeking help. (x , y )
- Toxic masculinity kills. (k , l , m , n , o , p )
- Black face is still a thing. (x , y , z )
- We are currently fighting to allow people to use the bathroom that matches their gender. (x , y , z )
- The Redskins is still the name of a football team. (x )
The list goes on and on and on.
This affects all of us and we are not talking about it. This game and the film are an attempt to change the way we talk about bias.
WHO WE ARE
Director/Editor/Producer
Lillian Medville is the creator and facilitator of Your Privilege is Showing. She developed this unique experience-based card game to allow for conversations about privilege and social justice through her own personally evolving understanding of culture and power. Lillian is an artist, filmmaker, actress, and writer. She graduated from NYU's Tisch school for drama and went on to make her own ongoing web series starting in 2011 called Lillian's Test Kitchen. Check out her film reel and her short documentary, Sensitive Beast. She works on projects related to social justice, bravery, and the permission to be exactly who you are.
Director of Photography
Adam Van Voorhis is an award winning cinematographer from Boston, MA. Adam has filmed narratives, documentaries, music videos, commercials, and promotional material for a diverse mixture of clients, filmmakers, and artists. Adam continues his appreciation for filmmaking by contributing to the Boston film scene; he currently co-hosts Boston Open Screen , a monthly filmmaker open mic at the Coolidge Corner Theater in Brookline, MA.
Producer
Tim Hall is an educator, artist, and entrepreneur from Detroit, MI. He began playing music at the age of 10, and found poetry in college as a way to share his thoughts on paper. He draws inspiration from his lived experiences, charting the nuances of blackness, masculinity, and the beauties of life. At a young age Tim developed his passion as an entrepreneur which led him to pursue his Bachelor's degree in Sport Management Enterprise and Entrepreneurship. Tim Hall has helped in the scaling of music/entertainment companies, social entrepreneurship initiatives, and education technology startups. He received his Masters degree in Higher Education at Iowa State while using his artistic voice in enhancing the learning experience of students, primarily serving the needs of students of color. He has 7 years of higher education experience and is currently a Resident Director at Berklee College of Music.
WE NEED YOUR HELP
We aim to raise $8,500 to fund film production, gear, post production, and cover ancillary costs like transportation, parking and food.
Production - $1,600
Food/Parking/Transportation- $400
Gear- $4,000
Post Production- $2,500
Total= $8,500
Whatever you can contribute will help. If you cannot make a monetary contribution, please share this with those you think may be able to help support it. Please tell them why this matters to you. Please post this on social media and wherever else you feel comfortable getting the word out. Every share matters. Help us make this film. Thank you.
WHAT IS YOUR PRIVILEGE IS SHOWING?
Your Privilege Is Showing (YPIS) is a card game that enables participants to use real world examples of bias as catalyst for self and community change. The simulation uses present day examples of sexism, racism, heterosexism, misogyny, ableism, as well as other types of bias founded in privilege, and asks participants to identify the biases that are in operation and how to interrupt that biased behavior. The simulation has mechanisms built in to discuss and navigate participant’s choices and disagreements with each other.
By creating a structured approach of empathetic discourse to talk about racism, sexism, and privilege, the game draws upon the value of real-life experiences in order to enhance social justice literacy. YPIS provides players with a social structure they don't normally have, so they can talk about issues they don't normally talk about while being challenged to understand what they may be missing. The participants get the chance to practice and navigate discussing their personal experience with privilege, racism, white supremacy, white privilege, sexism, homophobia, classism, ableism and misogyny.
I've brought YPIS to Harvard, the Humanist Hub, Berklee College of Music and MIT Game Lab, and each time the participants reported being both challenged and relieved to have a way to discuss these issues in a safe environment. The students who participated had profound experiences as they came to understand their privilege and their classmates’ different perspectives with more nuanced detail.
The fundamental philosophy of YPIS is that systems of oppression (sexism, racism, privilege, ableism, classism, among others) are both personal and universal. We have all, no matter who we are, internalized and participated in these systems, and are hurt by them in some way. And we don’t talk about them. The game provides a structure for these conversations to happen. Different perspectives can be shared in a safe environment and vulnerability and honesty can be rewarded.
THE FILM
I am following 6 students’ experience with the semester long Berklee pilot to understand how their relationship with sexism, racism and other forms of privilege change over the course of the semester.
The film aims to answer these questions:
Do the students understand the concepts and realities of racism, sexism and privilege?
Do they personally recognize their internalization of racism, sexism and privilege?
Do they experience racism, sexism, privilege on a daily basis? How do they deal with that? How does that affect their daily lives?
As the pilot goes on, does their understanding of sexism, racism and privilege deepen and/or change? Are they able to talk about the ways that they themselves are culpable maintaining these systems? Do they see on a personal level the ways that these systems have impacted their lives, development, and choices?
WHY
- One in 5 women and one in 16 men are sexually assaulted while in college. (x , y )
- OMG, Donald Trump (x , y )
- OMG, Mike Pence (x )
- 800 black people murdered by the police so far in 2016. (x , y , z , a , b, c )
- Implicit bias is everywhere. (p , q, r , x , y , z )
- White women make 77 cents to every dollar a white man makes. Black women make 64 cents. Native American women make 60 cents and Latina/Chicanas make 53 cents. Trans women face major discrimination and a decrease in wages once they transition but most conversations around the wage gap still insist that women make 77 cents to the white man's dollar. And it costs more to be a woman. (x , y , z )
- Breastfeeding your child in public is still controversial. (x , y , z )
- Mental health stigma keeps people from seeking help. (x , y )
- Toxic masculinity kills. (k , l , m , n , o , p )
- Black face is still a thing. (x , y , z )
- We are currently fighting to allow people to use the bathroom that matches their gender. (x , y , z )
- The Redskins is still the name of a football team. (x )
The list goes on and on and on.
This affects all of us and we are not talking about it. This game and the film are an attempt to change the way we talk about bias.
WHO WE ARE
Director/Editor/Producer
Lillian Medville is the creator and facilitator of Your Privilege is Showing. She developed this unique experience-based card game to allow for conversations about privilege and social justice through her own personally evolving understanding of culture and power. Lillian is an artist, filmmaker, actress, and writer. She graduated from NYU's Tisch school for drama and went on to make her own ongoing web series starting in 2011 called Lillian's Test Kitchen. Check out her film reel and her short documentary, Sensitive Beast. She works on projects related to social justice, bravery, and the permission to be exactly who you are.
Director of Photography
Adam Van Voorhis is an award winning cinematographer from Boston, MA. Adam has filmed narratives, documentaries, music videos, commercials, and promotional material for a diverse mixture of clients, filmmakers, and artists. Adam continues his appreciation for filmmaking by contributing to the Boston film scene; he currently co-hosts Boston Open Screen , a monthly filmmaker open mic at the Coolidge Corner Theater in Brookline, MA.
Producer
Tim Hall is an educator, artist, and entrepreneur from Detroit, MI. He began playing music at the age of 10, and found poetry in college as a way to share his thoughts on paper. He draws inspiration from his lived experiences, charting the nuances of blackness, masculinity, and the beauties of life. At a young age Tim developed his passion as an entrepreneur which led him to pursue his Bachelor's degree in Sport Management Enterprise and Entrepreneurship. Tim Hall has helped in the scaling of music/entertainment companies, social entrepreneurship initiatives, and education technology startups. He received his Masters degree in Higher Education at Iowa State while using his artistic voice in enhancing the learning experience of students, primarily serving the needs of students of color. He has 7 years of higher education experience and is currently a Resident Director at Berklee College of Music.
WE NEED YOUR HELP
We aim to raise $8,500 to fund film production, gear, post production, and cover ancillary costs like transportation, parking and food.
Production - $1,600
Food/Parking/Transportation- $400
Gear- $4,000
Post Production- $2,500
Total= $8,500
Whatever you can contribute will help. If you cannot make a monetary contribution, please share this with those you think may be able to help support it. Please tell them why this matters to you. Please post this on social media and wherever else you feel comfortable getting the word out. Every share matters. Help us make this film. Thank you.
Organizer
Lillian Medville
Organizer
Watertown, MA