Prey

Sophie Thervil

Throughout my time at Rutgers University, I have felt like I am living a double life. Being involved in a sorority while majoring in Fine arts, created an important perspective into this heavily funded and supported circle. Greek life is marketed as a place to create “sisterhood” and “brotherhood” by participating in events that raise money for different philanthropy. As I have been involved in such a community for over 3 years, that notion has become far from the truth. 

Fraternities lead you to believe that they’re founded upon the ideas of leadership, networking, and friendship while in reality they’re supported and maintained on sexual violence through a misogynistic culture. Within Rutgers New Brunswick, there are 30 fraternities both recognized and not by the University. These fraternities aren’t recognized by Rutgers due to a variety of alarming reasons but continue to operate and recruit new members right under OFSA’s (Office of Sorority and Fratital Affairs) nose. 

I decided to create four works of art that don’t expose specific fraternities at Rutgers but rather bring to light their involvement and support of such culture. Each emotional portrait is filled with words from Rutgers Title IX, questioning the real validity, or lack thereof, in the document. The still life furthers this narrative by representing the “hub” within fraternities, including all of the items that support both sexual violence and misogynistic culture.