THE BIG BAD F-WORDElizabeth RhaneyArmstrong Atlantic State University

Feminism and Female Artists

Research how feminism is perceived in the art world.

Analysis of different contemporary female artist who display a full range of responses.

Feminism and Female Artists

Feminism-what it is and how it is perceived.

The effects of feminism in the art world.

The negative stereotypes have caused a split in the opinion of feminism among female artists.

Feminism- what it is

Merriam Webster definition: 1. the theory of the political,

economic, and social equality of the sexes

2. organized activity on behalf of women’s rights and interests

First use- 1895

Feminism- common stereotypes “angry, whiny women…who exaggerate

discrimination against women.” “…hate men or want to be like men…” “…all feminist are lesbians…” “…reject motherhood, consider children

a burden…have rejected all things feminine…”

“postfeminism…believe its time has past and it is now obsolete… ‘we’re already liberated’”

Feminism- common stereotypes Feminazi- an extreme or militant feminist, usually disparagingBlend of feminist and Nazifirst use- 1989Anita Hill, Gloria Steinam, and Betty Friedman referred to as Feminazis.

Feminism and Art Amy Mullin

“Feminist Art and the Political Imagination”

The fear of mixing politics with art

Political ideology hinders individuality and therefore creativity

“Kuspit's examples of propagandistic art, which ‘enforce common experience, crowd mentality,’ are chiefly feminist, including works by Judy Chicago, Barbara Kruger, Martha Rosier, and May Stevens”

Feminism and Art “Feminist art is

frequently singled out for this sort of criticism, and critics are eager to praise female artists in particular when the latter condemn feminist art”

“..a very male-oriented thing, with its idea that somehow art has to be right or wrong. My interest goes in the other direction-towards the philosophy of the interior rather than the politics of the exterior…”

Feminism and Art Marina

Abramovich in 2007

“Feminist Art Goes Back Under The Lens” by Kate Taylor

New York Sun website

“When she came to the West, the feminist label seemed like a ghetto.”

"And when I see the feminist shows, I always think — and I'm sorry to say it — that the work is not good…”

Feminism for Female Artists Tamy Ben-Tor Nikki S. Lee Amy Cutler Danica Phelps Liz Cohen

Tamy Ben-Tor Performance artist

from Jerusalem Currently living in

New York Becoming different

characters to explore contemporary issues

“I don’t think about feminism at all. It is problematic to associate myself with any ideology. It’s fine if it serves the weak, but I don’t feel affiliated with it.”

Tamy Ben-Tor

Nikki S. Lee Film artist born in

Korea and living in New York.

Known for series of photographs dealing with identity and assimilation.

“I don’t like the idea of bringing up the issue…The more I bring up the issue, the more I feel like I’m the one separating men from women…I have never been treated unfairly…”

Nikki S. LeeThe Hip Hop Project (2001)

Nikki S. LeeThe Skateboarders Project (2000)

Nikki S. Lee“Her work argues that even the subcultures one is apparently born into, such as ethnic groups, are more socially fluid and self-subscribing than conventionally believed.” - Jennifer Dalton

Amy Cutler Illustrator from New

York. Drawings of women

in unusual situations. “…tend depict their

oppression and/or repression and their struggles with traditional values of femininity…”

“…because I don’t know the rules…I portray very strong, independent women, so the women in my work are probably feminist…”

Amy CutlerMillie (2004)

Amy CutlerIda, Ina, Oona (2009)

Danica Phelps Conceptual artist

living in Massachusetts

Multi media artist who does figure drawing and abstraction

“I don’t think you can really be a lesbian without being a feminist…I would feel unmoored to say, ‘No, I’m not a feminist.’”

Danica PhelpsThis Time Last Year (2008)

Liz Cohen Works with

photography, modeling, and installations

Built a custom car for “Tranbantimino” project

“ challenges traditional stereotypes of gender roles and female beauty.”

“I feel feminism is intrinsic to my work…I put myself into my work using my body to enter a discussion about power dynamics. Simply placing myself in my work is a feminist move.”

Liz Cohen Bodywork Roof (2006)

"At Salon 94, The East German Trabant Gets a Stretch in Liz Cohen's Trabantimino,

Exploration in Art “Feminist Inquiry in Art History, Art

Criticism, and Aesthetics: An Overview for Art Education”

Sally Hagaman “…many feminist scholars have rejected

the notion of universal, objective truth and have pursued knowledge and meaning constructed in and through relationships among individuals, social structures, and cultural artifacts.”

Exploration in Art

Art is a space to explore how sex and gender influence our lives.

Encourages viewers to think about their own experiences and ask “what if…?”

Examine what role institutions like marriage play in maintaining or changing traditional roles.