Page 54 - SHARP November 2021
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54 STYLE • NOVEMBER 2021
SHARPMAGAZINE.COM
the roles for Indian people change dramatical- ly, despite never being cast as the stereotypical “IT/tech guy or sidekick character.”
“I think we’ve done some really great stuff as far as changing the narrative and forwarding genuine storytelling from other avenues, but what I am finding is that we’re still not entirely comfortable with people of colour telling stories that don’t pertain to their racial background,” Jogia says. “You can choose many of the Asian filmmakers who are coming up right now — a lot of their films have to be about their racial ex- perience. Their racial background becomes the foundation on which their merit is based as a filmmaker and storyteller, rather than just giving them the option [to tell stories about other communities].
“To me, that’s not how art works. My film took me six years to make because it’s not about my racial background,” he adds. “I think it’s still a game of ‘Your identity is your calling card’ in order to make a film only about that...And if it’s amazing, maybe we’ll let you make a second film about something else. Their artistic merit should go beyond their racial background.”
For Jogia, social media feels like a freer space to express his whole self. On Instagram, where he has amassed more than three mil- lion followers, he has chronicled his style evolution (from floral print shirts and high- rise pleated pants to a more serious “Y2K, Matrix-influenced” look with leather coats and chain collars, though he continues to have an affinity for a good suit).
As he continues to contemplate his cre- ative future, Jogia says that, while directing and editing Door Mouse has taken up most of his time over the past eight months, he “might dip [his] toe back into some music, some concept records,” in addition to seeking
 “I just want to be a North Star
as an artist that people can
point to.”
out new projects. But at the end of the day, he remains more committed than ever to creating “good art that inspires people” from all walks of life.
“I just want to be a North Star as an artist that people can point to — and little brown kids and little kids of colour through- out the entire spectrum can go, ‘You can just do art, and it’s fine.’ I feel like the enti- tlement of all people is directly influenced by representation,” he says. “So if we see me making movies and writing books and doing whatever I want, wearing whatever I want, I think that that can hopefully inspire some younger kids to be like, ‘Oh, I don’t have to follow the footpath that’s been laid out for me. I can do a whole different thing.’”























































































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