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In March of 2020, feelings of loss, isolation and anxiety overtook us as the world came to a most surreal halt. New York City, one of the largest and most vibrant cities in the world, was now characterized by empty streets, restaurants and retail shops forced to close their doors, and a population that had sheltered in place. To no surprise, the topic of mental health grabbed the spotlight as suicide and depression rates increased exponentially. Although my battle with depression, anxiety and mental health started long before the spring of 2020, the conditions of the pandemic made them flare to levels I had never experienced before.
To overcome my isolation and distract my mind, I quickly took my camera to the streets as an excuse to travel to new locations to regain control of my thoughts. I had no expectations or long-term goals with this endeavor other than to document my experience and create lasting memories. With each picture I took, there seemed to be a connection, a strong energy, from the people in the photos. I could feel their pain, their joy, their laughter, their struggles. I began journaling my thoughts about the impact those pictures had on me at that moment. From those impressions, this book – “Unmasked” – was born.
UNMASKED, uses powerful imagery, taken throughout the 5 boroughs of New York, coupled with my thoughts presented in a Dr. Suess-like poetic cadence to bring awareness to mental health, equality, self-advocacy, emotional intelligence, and love which is God's highest power of all.
UNMASKED, follows the main character “the Self” (the self represents the spirit or subconscious being with in all of us), on its journey from hopelessness to happiness. The Self travels through age, gender, race and a range of emotions and experiences throughout the pages of the book.
Hidden among the pages are a couple of metaphorical motifs and thematic elements that bring a deeper meaning to the words on the page and enhance the reader’s experience.
Motifs:

The “MASK” (a playful poke at the COVID-19 pandemic) is a reference to the “mask” we wear to cover our authentic conscious self, to protect our vulnerabilities or to fit in with society. Masks often lie, hiding our true feelings and anxieties.
The “INNER CHILD”. This inner child is defined as a part of your subconscious that has been receiving and storing messages (mentally and emotionally) since birth. It holds emotions, memories, and beliefs from the past as well as hopes and dreams for the future and are represented through the pictures of children in the book.

Thematic Elements:

Duality: (shows how obviously opposite or contrary forces may be complementary, interconnected, and interdependent in the real world, and how they may give rise to each other as they interrelate to one another)
o Blackvs.White
o Black & White vs. Color o Reality vs. Dream
o Adult vs. Child
o Mind vs. Body
o Smile vs. Frown
o Suffering vs. Fulfillment
Color: The book's pictures start in black and white and then slowly introduce colors one at a time until the book is in full color, which represents a transition darkness and isolation to an optimistic perspective.
Textures: (i.e. graffiti, bricks, leaves, concrete, etc.) can change mood, conjure connections to our memories. It can even challenge our awareness of reality.
Statues: represent The Self - The conscious part of our being that makes us unique. The self is always with us, whether surrounded by people or all alone. The self is silent, resilient to nature’s course, and yet still grounded and secure no matter where we travel. Regardless of the time of day or the amount of attention given to them, statues stand in silence; a reminder of the potential for peace we all possess – but struggle to attain.
Graffiti: used throughout to show individuality and represents emotion and speaking out on political, cultural social and economic issues.
The narrator could be seen as God or a higher power, articulating thoughts of the main character.

About the Author

J.T. completed his undergraduate degree at Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth, Texas, where he received a B.A. in Music Education. While at TCU, he studied educational psychology, classroom leadership, music theory, and music composition. Upon completion of his undergraduate degree, J.T. decided to follow his passion for music and was accepted at the nationally recognized New York University (NYU), Steinhardt School of Music and Performing Arts, where he pursued a Master’s Degree in Music Theory and Composition: Screen Scoring from August of 2020 thru his graduation in May of 2022. While at NYU, J.T. gained an advanced understanding of music composition for all types of visual media (including film, television, and animation). The program exposed him to extensive recording sessions with professional live musicians (like the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra), scoring technique and orchestration classes, and an audio mixing class with Kevin Killen, a renowned producer, audio engineer, and mixer who has collaborated with artists like David Bowie, U2, and Bon Jovi. In addition to his music education, he used his passion for photography to capture the energy, culture and people of this iconic city through his street photography. Since graduating from NYU, J.T. hopes to find a job that leverages his passion for creativity through his talents in music composition, photography, and videography. Additionally, J.T. has a heart for helping others in the key areas of mental health and self-advocacy.