Cindy Sherman, Untitled Film Still
What women see-
“The shift was mirrored in an evolution in portraiture from domestic, intimate subject matter to images that reflected societal issues more broadly.”
“This movement is “linked to a fundamental revaluation of the concept of individuality.”
“They created a shift, a change in perspective, from being the model, the person a painter is looking at, to being the painter herself.”
At the time most women performed based on the male gaze. Men were creating a persona for women to embody. To be a woman, it meant everyday was a performance. The female gaze allowed women to shift from the performer, to the creator. The female gaze was born because women craved a new narrative for themselves. Female artists began to create artwork based on their real lives. A narrative that felt authentic and true to who they were under the makeup and fancy clothes. The female gaze is real and raw. Female painters built real connections with their muses and viewed them as actual people. Whereas the male gaze was centered around viewing women as objects. Women saw beauty in the flaws of others and put a microscope to what most consider taboo.
Overlooked no more-
“It’s about kind of capturing moments through various forms of documentation. And she takes all of these things to the world at large that might not be considered fine arts. She turns them into something intelligent, harrowing and emotional.”
Faith, creation, and womenhood - She then strategically placed white flowers over her, as if they were growing out of her body.
Ana Mendieta was an immigrant from Cuba and spent most of her adolencense in the foster care system. She enjoyed being unconventional and shocking people with her artwork. Her performances forced people to confront ugly truths and be concious of their priviledge. She was a muilt-facaded artist and used multiple mediums to convey her messages. On the other hand, her photography feels like a personal form of therapy and she creates a safe space for herself to heal. The confusion from being an outcast in the United States and feeling disconnected from her culture, created beautiful photographs.
Book-
“By contrast, a woman's presence expresses her own attitude to herself, and defines what can and cannot be done to her period.”
Everything a woman does is reflective of how she views herself. If a woman disrespects herself, then she is giving the world's permission to disrespect her. Women have to master the art of performance in order to survive. Women internalize the male gaze and deal with objectification, by understanding how men think. It is almost like men are training a dog, but it’s women learning how to not get assaulted. Some women analyze everything they do, just to ensure they are meeting the standards of the men around them. In the book a woman’s presence is defined as, “a kind of heat or smell or aura”. Personally, I believe it comes down to clothing, guidance, and intellect.
“The way the painter has painted her includes her will and her intentions in the very structure of the image, in the very expression of her body and her face.”
For years, women were solely painted for the consumption of men. Misogyny is embedded in every system we operate under. Women were to be owned by men and shown off as trophies. Women were expected to demonstrate complete submission to their owners. They weren't allowed any autonomy, and their sense of individuality was stripped away.
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