Feminist_Art_-_An_Introductory_Overview

Feminist Art - An Introductory Overview Feminist Art The woman’s art movement/Feminist Art Time Frame = Began late1960’s - 1970’s. Continues to this day. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO THE MOVEMENT * Social and political protests of the late 1960’s - focussed American society on particular issues. * Vietnam War * Arab oil embargo * Watergate * Erosion/pollution of environment. Environmental groups being established * The sexual revolution * Availability of contraception especially the Pill. * Black civil rights * Gay liberation All these things made people question their values, their value systems and the way in which society operated. Since World War II people were questioning their values. IMPORTANT BOOKS INFLUENCING FEMINIST THOUGHT: The Second Sex The Feminine Mystique - Betty Freedom The Female Eunuch - Germaine Greer The Golden Notebook - Doris Lessing Sexual Politics - Kate Millich MAIN IDEAS The main idea is the personal is political. Traditional histories have ignored women in all aspects. Also that women are portrayed in art from a male point of view. The feminists wanted to acknowledge women of the past that had not been recognised in their time - rediscovered and revamped. Publishing information about these women. For example Marie Curie, a scientist who discovered radium. Challenging the patriarchy - Male dominance and Low Art and high Art. The Feminists challenged the male gaze - females women, art, patriarchy, men, male, feminists, artists, woman, sexual, high, society, low, work, women’s, wanted, subversive, political, man, imagery, idea, every, earns, cents, being, about, $1, pill, people, now, made, language, important, ideas, history, group