Today’s lesson about feminist art was brilliant and interesting. But…I dislike classification and the term – feminism. I dislike film “Women Art Revolution” and don’t agree with women artists and art critics in this film. Especially I don’t agree with general classification of any art work as art with “feminist concept”. Yes, maybe I am wrong but after the presentation of Matisse painting “The Painter and His Model” as a strong feminist image…I decided that I dislike those idea – aggressive and noisy feminism as it portrayed in film.
There is very arrogant way to portray women in art and concept of feminism in art. There are discreditation of probably not bad idea of equal right and feminism.
What the feminists support and what they respect in this film?
They portrayed images from Life magazines (Marilyn Monroe and other beautiful women) as an abusive and not appropriated use of women’s bodies in ads and the humiliation of the dignity of women according feminist ideology and in the same time it showed really ugly and aggressive women as properly feminist personalities.
It is the choice and wish of actresses and beautiful women to place their face and body on the cover of magazine. Was Marilyn Monroe the feminist? I don’t think so. Maybe I wrong?
There are all ready strong stereotype about “the feminist woman” – ugly, noisy and lazy.
“I don't mind living in a man's world as long as I can be a woman in it” – said once Marilyn Monroe, she was very proud to be woman and beautiful woman. The feminists want to be not beautiful and look like man according this film?
But what if some woman dislikes being man-looks-like?
After a very interesting discussion it comes out that feminists do not really support any kind of choice on the part of every women or everybody. People who abuse others - racists, chauvinists and xenophobes make all kinds of vile choices and obviously feminists do not support those choices.
What are they support and respect? All women in the earth? I don’t think so.
I am woman and artist. Do I need support from feminist? I don’t think so. What kind of support will I get if I need it? The feminist banner and invitation to the feminist meeting?
I don’t think they need me. I don’t think they will respect my choices to be beautiful and feminine, loved mother and wife…dreaming about perfect society without crime and religious hate.
The question arises - if they do not in reality respect every women choices, why say they do?
My explanation is that when these feminists say they "respect the choices of everyone", what they are actually trying to say is that they do not want any of their choices to be questioned.
Gaining rights always entails gaining responsibilities, and it is precisely the burden of extra responsibility that these feminists do not want. They want to exist in this comfortable reality where personal is not political; it is just a matter of choice. They want to preserve the right to live in a decidedly non-feminist way and still call themselves feminists. Those laud and arrogant feminism is a brand of feminism that has no future. Unless we accept that having the rights of a valid and complete human being implies having the responsibilities of a valid and complete human being, our struggle for equality is meaningless.
As an example of woman who without any feminist ideologies and any arrogant noises keep doing real “women work” I chose Valeria Napoleone. I really like her. She support women artist by buying and exhibit only women art. Is she the feminist? I don’t know. It should be invented other name-term-classification for personalities like her.
But do women need an arts prize any more than men? Aren't they on an equal footing these days? Napoleone sees both sides of the coin. On the one hand, "women don't need the focus of the prize", she says. "But then they also have children and become mothers. This can affect an artist's career, so yes, women do need support."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/artsales/7503874/Art-Sales-the-collection-of-Valeria-Napoleone.html
Valeria Napoleone’s home is a thriving hub for the London art world. This powerful collector’s salon-style dinners attract the scene’s brightest stars, and her support of female talent is formidable.
Photographs by Philip Sinden. Styled by Nathalie Riddle
