Normal Is Good (I Like America and America Likes Me), 2015. Digital Video.
HD, 16:9, MP4, Color, Stereo, 21:13min
Edition of 3/1 AP
"Normal Is Good (I Like America and America Likes Me)" is a hybrid film that seamlessly merges documentary, performance art, and costume design to examine the complexities of U.S. society through the lens of Yali Romagoza, an immigrant from Cuba. Through this project, Romagoza reflects on her position within a culture that remains foreign to her and one she is still striving to understand. Set in New York, where she has lived since 2011, and Chicago, where she attended graduate school from 2013 to 2015, the film offers a rich exploration of identity and belonging. It features interviews with individuals born and raised in the United States, representing diverse racial and social backgrounds. These voices share perspectives on race, identity, U.S. culture, and politics, offering a multifaceted view of American life. Evocative performances created for the camera are interwoven with these interviews, starring Romagoza and other women performers. These performances engage directly with iconic American symbols, such as food and the American flag, to challenge, reinterpret, and reimagine their meanings. The result is a thought-provoking exploration of cultural assimilation, identity, and the personal and political realities of navigating life in the United States as an immigrant.