Often, those who tread off the beaten path are misunderstood or mischaracterized and so we asked folks from the community to reflect and tell us about the times they’ve been misunderstood or mischaracterized.

Rebecca Hu

You need to pick a lane.’ That was the advice someone once gave me. I’m sure he meant well, but I guess I hadn’t realized until then that I was even assigned a ‘lane,’ certainly not by somebody who barely knows me, or my work. Read More>>

Bryan Dominguez

I don’t believe my work is misunderstood but rather the role I play as a Mexican-American artist is. As a first-generation Mexican American I have struggled with creating artwork that showcases oppression, immigrant struggles, or imagery that is very harsh for the viewer. My artwork’s goal is not to bring light to issues that are happening across the US. Read More>>

YaYa The Healer

Over the last few years, I’ve been making a lot of intentional moves quietly—expanding my reach as a healer while allowing myself to exist in a more carefree, liberated spirit. I think that shift has confused some people. They’ve mistaken my freedom for something else entirely. A very personal example is my daughter’s father. Read More>>

Pyung Kim

I spent much of my career moving along two paths at once, with a sense that I’d eventually have to pick a lane. When I worked as a screenwriter, I’d downplay the business and systems side of me. In business contexts or consulting jobs, I wouldn’t mention my screenwriting experience, as if being an artist made me less serious. Read More>>

T. Aaron Cisco

Oh yeah. Plenty of times. And honestly, it’s almost a rite of passage if you write genre stuff and you’re an awkward geek with a big imagination. I’ve had people look at my work, see the monsters, the chaos, the violence, the sci-fi weirdness, and go, “Ah. Read More>>

Matthew Alec

Wow, yeah, misunderstanding and mischaracterization come with the territory as far being a recording artist is concerned. This question hits close to home. Read More>>