Harris’s ongoing interest in the ways that fantasy builds and determines our external world has lead her to think about the ways that ideas and thoughts, eventually shape the physical. To further define what is meant by fantasy, we should established what is not meant by the word. Harris does not mean dragons and goblins, although those stories are awesome! The word is used to define the wishes, dreams, ideals and desires of an individual, society or culture, that affect change. Fantasy can therefore be used as a weapon, a way to be accepted, a way to gather, a way to separate, entertainment, and remnants of infantile wishes. It had its hand in segregation, racism, in homophobia and sexism. Fantasy is personal, cultural, social and political. The fantasies we have about our singular identities run in tandem with the shared ideas of our cultures and societies. Harris address these ideas through the creation of characters that act as symbolic references to various ways fantasy can play out. Artist Trevor Paglen states “ Fantasy or imagination can be used as a tool to access and evaluate truth.” Using this sentiment Harris uses fantasy and world building to metaphorically address the human condition and explore various theories about identity, land, political control, acts and ideas of power and media influence. What are our collective fantasies about ourselves, our nations and our world? How are they linked to conflict, struggle and acts of aggression but also beauty, story and triumph.
Inspired and compelled by nostalgia and theory, Harris examines the Walt Disney princess as a symbol of idealism and tries to understand the implications and impact of such an ideal on an individual.
