#ThisAmericaDystopia

Inspired during a cross-country road trip from California to Mississippi, the major influences for this imagery are as follows: (1) The Supreme Court overturning Roe vs. Wade in 2022; (2) reading Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale” in 2019; (3) an assignment I had in 2013 while pursuing my MFA in photography: “Take a photo of 300 years from now;” (4) the deleterious effects of Trumpism and capitalism.

  • Susan Mah
    Director
  • Susan Mah
    Writer
  • Susan Mah
    Producer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Runtime:
    5 minutes 16 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    March 1, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    500 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Susan Mah
Distribution Information
  • Susan Mah
    Distributor
    Country: United States
    Rights: All Rights, Internet
Director Biography - Susan Mah

Susan Mah is a psychotherapist on staff at a community health clinic in San Jose, CA. With a bachelor’s degree in sociology and two master’s degrees in clinical social work and fine art photography, she brings an eclectic background to her work as an artist. Psychotherapist and fine art photographer, Susan earned a scholarship to study photography at L'Ecole Parsons in Paris and received a Master of Fine Art (MFA) at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. In her artistic practice, Susan’s overarching goals are to bring together her interests in clinical social work and fine art photography and to create imagery that is both thought-provoking and purpose-driven. For example, the Loss Project is meant to serve as a form of art therapy while #ThisAmericanDystopia is a sociopolitical critique and call to action. Susan’s work has been exhibited in Oxford, MS; Taylor, MS; Water Valley, MS; Memphis, TN; Honolulu, HI; San Jose, CA; San Francisco, CA; Berkeley, CA; Aptos, CA; Venice, CA; Oakland, CA; and New York, NY.

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Director Statement

This body of work is a glimpse into the future, as I imagine it, as well as manifestations of that dystopia, which I see in present times. It is also a call to action with simple ideas of how to move forward.