Blog Post #12

            When I first signed up for Women’s Studies, I assumed that the class only focused on women’s rights. However, throughout the semester, I have realized that the course focuses on a variety of different aspects. Since Women’s studies fulfills the diversity requirement, it makes sense that the class focuses on a diverse range of topics. It's extremely important for Women's Studies to address broader dimensions because inequality does not exist in our society solely based on gender. By being exposed to many different works, I have come to realize that there is more to this class than simply the male vs. female perspective.

            On the first day of class, we were told that we were to compete a blog post each week; these posts would be based on novels, movies, pieces of artwork, articles, lectures etc. At first, I didn’t really understand the purpose of these posts. However, as the weeks passed, I realized that these posts were used to discuss important themes in the course and the significance of these themes. These posts ultimately benefited me by contributing to my understanding in this course.

            After analyzing my posts, I feel we have touched upon a variety of themes throughout the course. However, I believe we mainly focused on sexuality and women’s bodies, oppression and privilege, the link between politics and art and the struggle for equality.

            We started off the semester by watching, “Killing us Softly 4.” This movie really introduced us to the topic of women’s bodies. In advertisements, women are cropped, photo-shopped, edited, altered etc, in order to look perfect. Women are also portrayed as objects (such as a beer can) and they’re portrayed as objects for male sexuality. A few weeks later, we analyzed the dances of the Urban Bush Women. These women told stories through their dances; they displayed their confidence in themselves and embraced their bodies. In the graphic novel, “Fun Home,” Alison Bechdel challenged the notions of women’s sexuality.

            We then focused on the politics of art. Before this class, I never would’ve linked politics and art. However, I quickly learned that funding agencies have the ability to decide which art should receive public support. We focused on the NEA Four and artwork that was considered inappropriate and offensive. We learned that what isn’t offensive to some is offensive to others and in the end, individuals that hold power positions (such as government officials) get to decide what’s appropriate and what’s not appropriate. We then took a trip to the museum in DC to explore women’s art. Women’s art is rarely displayed so this trip to the museum was a very interesting experience.

            Oppression/Privilege is a theme that can be applied to most of the pieces of work that we analyzed. We learned that women are typically oppressed due to their gender, but women are not the only individuals in society that are oppressed. We focused on the oppression of the disabled, African Americans, immigrants, gays etc. In our society, a white, straight, wealthy male is considered privileged.

            Lastly, we focused a lot on the struggles for equality. Even though this is a women’s studies course, we focused on these struggles for other individuals as well. We focused on the struggles against oppression such as abolitionism, disability rights, anti-poverty, LGBTQ rights, civil rights etc.

            Overall, this course is a well-rounded course. We focused on a variety of topics, not just women. It really opened my eyes to the extreme problems in our society and the importance of being aware of and trying to change these issues. I highly recommend taking this course because it’s a fun course that will ultimately benefit one in the long run.

Blog Post #11

            This week, we were assigned the novel, “Baghdad Burning.” The format of this novel was very intriguing because it was comprised of blog posts that were written by an unidentifiable woman who disguised herself as “Riverbend.” Towards the beginning of the novel, the reader learns about Riverbend’s background. She is an Iraqi who was “born in Iraq to Iraqi parents but was raised abroad for several years as a child.” When first reading the novel, I was confused as to why Riverbend concealed her identity. However, I soon began to realize that she was protecting herself from the danger that she faced during the war in Iraq. She even admits, “But no matter what- I shall remain anonymous. I wouldn’t feel free to write otherwise.” The fact that she had to disguise herself for safety is extremely upsetting to me. However, through this, Riverbend expressed her strength and determination. Since her identity was concealed, she felt as if she had the freedom to express whatever she wanted. She also emphasized the idea that others opinions wouldn’t influence her. When talking about hate mail that she might receive, she stated, “Tanks and guns can break my bones but emails can be deleted.”

            When reading this novel, I felt extremely ignorant to reality. I had never thought about what the citizens of Iraq were feeling and experiencing during the war. Through her descriptive examples, experiences, references etc, I was able to really understand the struggle and fear that the Iraqi’s faced in their everyday lives. For example, Riverbend talked about the “stifling heat,” constant gunshots, explosions, yelling, job losses, deaths, raids, debt etc. Can you imagine waking up every morning living in fear?

            I personally am not a person who typically watches the news. However, I am fully aware that the news does not always do the best job of representing reality. In my philosophy class in high school, one whole unit was dedicated to the ignorance of our society. This ignorance is partially based on the fact that the news omits and/or manipulates a plethora of topics. I think it’s a shame that social media has such a huge impact on our society. In essence, history is told by news reporters, not historians. The media has a way of manipulating our society into believing the favorable view, not necessarily the truth. Riverbend really opened my eyes to reality; she gave me a whole new perspective and interpretation of the war in Iraq. 

            Since this course is a Women’s Studies course, I also think it’s important to focus on the women in Iraq during the war. I was shocked to learn that before the war, women made up 50% of the working force. Riverbend stated, “Females in Iraq were a lot better off than females in other parts of the Arab world (and some parts of the Western world- we had equal salaries!).” She then lists the many jobs women held such as “doctors, lawyers, nurses, teachers, professors, deans” etc. However, once the war began, things dramatically changed. Women were not allowed to leave the house unless they were escorted by men. In general, they were encouraged to just stay home. However, Riverbend was determined to go back to work. She was escorted to work and realized that everything was extremely different. One man even refused to look at Riverbend when speaking to her. Riverbend was devastated and learned that “they refused to be responsible for what might happen to [her].” Throughout the novel, it’s apparent that women lost a lot of rights due to the war. Women lost employment rights, they were abducted, sent to jail, murdered etc. Riverbend includes an example about a “prominent electrical engineer named Henna Aziz.” Aziz was assassinated in front of her family- two daughters and a husband. She was told to stay at home because she was a woman, but she ultimately refused. Due to this refusal, she was shot and killed. Riverbend then admits, “She lost her life- she wasn’t the first, she won’t be the last.” Overall, Riverbend really succeeded in representing the harsh reality of the war. 

Blog Post #10

            This week we watched the film, “Boys Don’t Cry.” The film was very engaging and emotional. It focused on a transgender individual named Brandon; Brandon is actually a woman whose real name is Teena Brandon. In the beginning of the film, we see Brandon as a character that continually gets in trouble with the law. Once he arrives in Falls City, Brandon is portrayed as one of the guys. He easily makes friends with John and Tom through an act of violence at the bar, and after this incident, the boys continually drink, cuss, smoke and bumper ski together. However, as the film progresses, Brandon is portrayed as a generous, sensitive, emotional and caring individual. The viewer is able to discover all of these qualities through his relationship with Lana. When viewing the sex scene, it becomes apparent how in love the two are. The extreme passion for one another is evident. At this point, Brandon believes he’s at a perfect place in his life- he’s in a relationship with a woman and he has close friends that love him. However, when Tom and John discover Brandon’s secret, they’re furious. They rape, shoot and stab Brandon due to this extreme secret. Since Nebraska is such a small town, homosexuals, transgenders etc., are not accepted in this town. Tom and John believe that Brandon is not normal and doesn’t embody a true man. However, the one person that accepts Brandon for his true self is Lana. She claims that she doesn’t care “what” Brandon is, because she will love him anyway. This film really opened my eyes to the many issues relating to identity crises in our society. It’s a shame, but many do not accept others for who they truly are because they believe that it’s “weird” or “wrong” or “not normal.” The film also allowed me to witness the constant struggle that these individuals face on a daily basis. No one should be raped or killed because others don’t accept them for who they really are. We are all different and members in society need to become accepting of this fact.

            One of this week’s articles, written by Anderson, focuses on the documentary titled, “The Brandon Teena Story,” and the film, “Boys Don’t Cry.” The one concept that really stuck out to me and was continually repeated in this article was the male heterosexual identity. Anderson says, “Yet what is really in ‘crisis’ as Muska and Olafsdottir suggest, is not Brandon’s sexual identity but the male, heterosexual identity inhabited by people like John Lotter and Tom Nissen- an identity so fragile that, when threatened by Brandon’s ‘masquerade’ of masculinity- knows no other response but violence.” In other words, the issue is not Brandon’s sexual identity crisis, but it’s Tom and John’s masculine identity crisis. When thinking back to the film, Tom and John use violence on numerous occasions, but most notably after they find out that Brandon is actually Teena. The rape and murder scenes specifically represent this use of violence. Towards the conclusion of the article, Anderson states, “Peirce’s direction in this scene (the rape scene) emphasizes the rabid pathology present in John and Tom’s conception of masculinity, one which assumes that committing acts of violence is their natural birthright.” Our society’s view on masculinity is absurd. Just because one is a man doesn’t mean one needs to resort to violence. This concept goes back to previous lessons about the differences between the perceptions of men and women in our society. Society views men as powerful, strong and violent, while women are viewed as sensitive, weak and powerless.

            The other article this week, written by Judith Halberstam, focused on the background of being a transgender and what the term actually means. However, it was very interesting to see different theorists’ views on the term. This article really proved to me that the term is extremely hard to define. Despite this fact, it’s evident that all people are different. Society needs to realize this and accept it.  

Blog Post #9

            Attending the museum last week was very beneficial to understanding this week’s main concepts. While exploring the museum, I was able to notice a wide variety of artwork; the pieces were all very different and expressed different emotions, concepts, stories etc. Depending on the individual, some pieces may be considered offensive or inappropriate. I personally was not offended by any of the artwork, but others may have been. Who gets to judge what really is appropriate? What’s offensive to some, isn’t necessarily offensive to others.

            The lecture focused a lot on the politics of art. In the case of the NEA Four, Holly Hughes, Karen Finley, Tim Miller and John Fleck were targeted by Congress because their work was considered to be offensive, inappropriate, against one’s religion etc. However, I believe that these artists should have the freedom to express whatever they want to. The artists explored topics such as homosexuality, hyper-female sexuality and so on. These topics are very controversial in society but that does not mean that artists shouldn’t be able to express their feelings and opinions about these specific topics. I think the main issue is that the opinions of these artists are not necessarily the same as the majority of society. Because the views being expressed were different than their own, Congress members became offended. The debate was about whether Congress could intervene when the NEA funded work that offensive and so on. However, this technically violates the artist’s First Amendment rights. This weeks reading includes, “The First Amendment of the United States Constitution states: ‘Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech.’”  The reading then states, “Artwork is generally considered speech.” Since artwork is technically considered speech, the artists have the freedom to “say” whatever they want to. The reading clarifies that motion pictures, radio broadcasts, live entertainment, dramatic works etc. all “fall within the First Amendment guarantee,” meaning the artists work does as well.

            I now want to focus on censorship. Censorship ultimately shelters individuals from the truth. One quiz question focused on censorship in high schools and college. In general, I do not believe that anything should be censored. Our society is a diverse society and I believe that students need to understand different viewpoints in order to become a well-rounded individual. For example, instead of being taught that homosexuality is “not normal,” or not being taught about homosexuality at all, students should be able to experience different opinions on the topic and formulate their own ideas. In 2012, the Tuscon school district banned its Mexican-American Studies program. I believe that this is censorship and I believe that it’s wrong. The video we watched expressed the racism involved in this policy. The program was banned because it focused on topics such as violence. Can we really not teach high schoolers and college students about violence even though it’s a part of history? Does this mean we can’t teach students about wars because they are violent? If we don’t give students accurate descriptions then will they be blind to the truth forever? If we ignore facts, we are ignoring important people, places and events that took place in the past. We need to discuss the past and the mistakes that were made in order to strive for a better future. 

Blog Post #8

Attending the National Museum of Women in the Arts was extremely beneficial in expanding my appreciation for the Women’s Studies class. Prior to examining the exhibits in the museum, I assumed that every painting would represent feminist ideas. However, after exploring the museum and upon reflection, I realized that the goal of the museum is to highlight women artists, their extreme talent and their influence on art.  In discussion with the volunteers at the gallery, they mentioned that although female artists’ works are displayed in other galleries, unfortunately, women artists are rarely recognized and represented in the mainstream art world. One of the volunteers referred to the Guerrila Girls project and pointed out that women are more typically displayed in museum pieces because they’re the models in paintings, photographs, sculptures, etc., and not because of the artwork they create. However, after looking at the artwork displayed at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, I became aware of the talent, creativity and imagination that these many artists possess.

            Before analyzing specific paintings I selected, I think it’s important to focus on the actual museum itself. When I walked into the building, I was amazed by the true beauty and elegance of the interior on the ground and mezzanine levels. These floors have columns, decorative wall coverings, gilded accents, chandeliers and a marble floor. The paintings on these floors fit in with the décor of these two levels; the works were portraits of the wealthy and the royals. The paintings were very realistic with rich colors and detailed with images of wealth. I also noted that the paintings on the ground level were created in the16th and 17^th centuries. As I progressed through the floors of the museum, the works became more recent. The decor of the building changed as well.  While the ground and mezzanine levels were opulent, the second and third levels were more bland; basic carpet and walls that were painted with neutral colors.  The paintings on the second and third levels became the decorations for those floors and really made the paintings the focal point.   

The second floor contained the special exhibit titled, “A World Apart: Anna Ancher and the Skagen Art Colony.” This section displayed the landscape of the Danish colony, as well as the people inhabiting the colony, and suggested the differences in gender roles. The first section mainly contained portraits of Ancher’s family members and the activities in which they participated. Since females were not encouraged as artists, she used her family as models. As I moved through the exhibit, I became aware of the different roles assumed by each gender prevailing at the time. In the paintings, women were usually shown cooking, sewing, knitting, taking care of the children and in other domestic activities, whereas men were shown hunting, fishing, farming and other “manly” pursuits.  It was apparent that Ancher favored light and color and there were a few paintings where the subject of the work was secondary to the light’s reflection.  The overall feel of the paintings other than the portraits in the first collection was light and airy.

 Lastly, the third floor contained the Museum’s permanent collection. The first area again mainly displayed portraits, many of them of the artists themselves, although other self-portraits were throughout the exhibit including a famous one of Frida Kahlo. As I continued on, I could see a trend towards modernism, with bolder patterns and colors and using various materials in the composition. This level also consisted of a room with sculptures. The sculptures seemed very contemporary, also using a variety of materials including tires, wax and burlap. 

The permanent collection painting that I focused on was titled "To Kiss the Spirits- Now This is What it is Really Like,” painted by Hollis Sigler. The central element of the painting was the golden staircase ascending presumably to heaven and the angel-like figures on or near the staircase.  At the bottom of the staircase, women in dresses were displayed, but as they progressed up the stairs, they developed wings and became angels. The women figures also started out painted in a darker pink and became a lighter and even lighter shade as the staircase progressed. The bottom of the painting also included houses, while the top depicted the sky and heaven. The darkness of the sky contrasted with the pink angels, and they really stood out to me. I was also able to see the brush strokes in the stars, which made them very vibrant and noticeable. After reading the plaque, I discovered Sigler’s family history of breast cancer. Many of her family members died of breast cancer and she later did as well. I believe Sigler’s use of pink in the frame and the figures represents the battle against breast cancer. Her use of airy angles and a staircase, however, expressed hope that the spirit would go on and that heaven was inhabited by the strong spirits of loved ones.  I believe she was trying to show that death was not as dark as people imagine, and that struggles will come your way, but it’s important to rise above these struggles and never lose hope. This piece was extremely spiritual as well as inspiring.

            The painting that I examined on the second level was titled, “A Stroll on the Beach,” and it was painted by Anna Ancher’s husband, Michael. Similar to Anna, Michael focused on the importance of light and color, as well as the beauty of the landscape in the Skagen Colony. This painting displayed the sunshine as well as beautiful blues, pinks and yellows. The painting portrayed women leisurely strolling along the beach.  When I examined the other paintings in the room, I realized that most of them depicted strong men working hard and fishing at the beach. By putting Michael’s painting in context, I could see the juxtaposition of men vs. women and gender roles at the time. 

This led me to think back to the painting that I examined on the third floor titled, “Lockheed Worker Working on the Fuselage of a P-38," by Edna Reindel. I was attuned to the acute differences between this painting and Ancher’s beach painting. The central figure in the Lockheed painting was “Rosie the Riveter.” She was represented as a powerful women working in a factory during World War II while most men were off at war.  She also appeared to be working with both men and women.  While Riveter looked strong, powerful and determined at her workplace, the women in Ancher’s beach scene were not working at all. The techniques used also seemed to have a purpose.  The Lockheed painting appeared to have shaper shapes and the central figure more in focus, whereas the beach painting was more hazy and airy.   Through the comparison, I became aware of the significance of the different paintings and the different messages communicated by each.

Overall, I enjoyed my experience at the museum. I think the main difference between the classroom and the museum is that you’re able to look at each art piece in three dimensions rather than focusing on a website, slide show screen or other one-dimensional view.  It’s easier to see the colors, the shading, and the play of the brushstrokes in person, making the painting or sculpture seem to come alive.   It was also very helpful to see each piece of artwork in relation to the others so as to get a context of what the artist or museum was trying to say.  Comparisons and contrasts as well as discovering thematic ideas became possible.  In all, I was able to grasp a deeper understanding of each work of art.  

Blog Post #7

I really enjoyed this weeks’ focus. The guided activity and the readings focused on dance. I am not a dancer, however I am enrolled in DANC200 this semester. Before this class, I never realized the importance of dance; I knew dance was entertaining and a form of expression but I didn’t realize the impact it can have on people’s lives. In the beginning of the semester, we had to define dance. I simply defined dance as an art form. However, I soon realized that dance has many aspects to it. We attended a dance event a few weeks ago that focused on preventing abuse to women. The women told a story through their dance and expressed their strength and power. I believe all of this relates to the assignments this week because I was able to understand what the Urban Bush Women (UBW) were trying to express through dance.

            When exploring the website, I focused on the UBW’s core values. I really believe that these core values were represented and expressed in every dance that I watched. The core values include: validating the individual, catalyzing for social change, building trust through process, entering community and co-creating stories, celebrating the movement and culture of the African Diaspora, and recognizing that place matters. The women in the group displayed pride in their heritage and similar to the dance group I witnessed for class, they expressed strength and power.

            I was extremely shocked when I watched “Batty Moves.” Compared to the dances that I had watched prior, this dance was very revealing and somewhat scandalous. The dance involved a lot of movements relating to the hips and butt and the outfits were somewhat revealing. However, after I read, “Memory Walking with Urban Bush’s Batty Moves,” I realized the meaning of the dance. I would not consider the dance to be vulgar because the point of the dance was for the women to embrace their bodies and take pride in them. The dance displayed the women’s strength. The author mentions, “Their costumes hinted at what they intended to do--- kick butts!” I also found it very interesting that each dancer “sang their versions of the song, sharing their African American heritage but also emphasizing their own identities to illustrate both individual and collective identities as women of the African Diaspora.” The author even mentions the significance of the dance and how it reminded her of the childhood games that she experienced in Ghana. When first viewing this dance, one might believe that it is vulgar and inappropriate, however upon further analysis, it genuinely has a lot of meaning. An interviewee said, “African people’s movements have often been described as “lewd and lascivious” by European Americans because we comfortably use pelvic movements in all sorts of dances from the sacred to the flirtatious to the boldly sensual. As African people in the United States, we developed an “in-your-face” approach to our desire to continue our movement traditions of the hips. We developed defiance and resistance to ideas of cultural domination and we carried it in our hips.”

            I also enjoyed reading, “Sexual Politics.” The first sentence really stuck out to me. It read, “Recent feminist scholarship tends to proceed on the assumption that history is really his story—an account of the past written by or about men.” However, modern and post modern dance are the only major art forms in which “the creators, the consolidators, and the second and third generation innovators have almost all been women.” Despite this fact, this might not necessarily be something to celebrate. The author includes, “The fact that it’s difficult to name a major male choreographer who isn’t also homosexual suggests that the art of dance has been, and to a large extent still is, shunned by heterosexual males who regard it as a womanly activity. However, this makes no sense to me. Dancers are considered good due to years of practice, not because of their gender. The author then focuses on the constraints placed on women in the past. Duncan danced without a corset in order to rebel against its meaning. The author mentions, “She rebelled not only against the corset per se, but also against everything it symbolized: the constraints—both physical and psychological—imposed upon women by Victorian Culture.” I believe this aspect of the reading ties in with the UBW. The UBW dance for a purpose. They tell stories when they dance and display their strength and power throughout their dances. Dance is more than what you’re wearing, it’s about the significance and importance of your movements and the stories and emotions that they evoke.

Blog Post #6

            This weeks’ lecture and reading focused on a highly debated and controversial topic in our society: homosexuality. The lecture focused on the debated question, “Are we born this way?” I have always found Lady Gaga’s song, “Born this Way,” to be extremely catchy. However, I did not realize the meaning behind the song until the completion of the lecture. Her song exemplifies the main political philosophy used in arguments today regarding marriage equality. Lady Gaga continually repeats the phrase “baby I was born this way.” Gaga is expressing the idea that people are born gay and they have no control over that. She then says, “There’s nothin’ wrong with lovin’ who you are,” and “Don’t hide yourself in regret, just love yourself and you’re set,” in order to emphasize the point that no matter if you’re gay or straight, you should embrace and be happy with who you are. I think this song is so significant because Lady Gaga is a very popular figure in today’s society. Her words are inspiring to members of the LGBT community and her song raises awareness to heterosexuals that being gay is natural and there is no reason to discriminate against these people.

            The graphic novel, Fun Home, also focused on homosexuality. The novel begins by explaining the Bechdel family and who they are. From the outside, the Bechdel family seems like the perfect family. The family contains a husband, wife, and children, and they reside in a beautiful home. However, this is not exactly the case. The family is not extremely close, loving or affectionate. There are times throughout the novel that Alison mentions the distance between the family members. Alison states, “we ate together but otherwise were absorbed in our separate pursuits.” They were all very different and interested in different things in life. The family also owns a funeral home, which they call “fun home.” I believe this aspect makes the family a bit dark and mysterious.

            Towards the beginning of the novel, Alison mentions that her father is killed by a truck. However, it’s not clear whether it was an accident or whether he intentionally ran in front of the truck. Throughout the novel, I learned a lot about Alison and a lot about her father. The reader discovers that Alison is a lesbian. Alison’s father died shortly after she came out and throughout the novel, Alison worries that her coming out is what forced her father to kill himself. Alison struggled with her sexuality throughout her childhood and early teenage years. When she was younger, she was nicknamed “Butch” and she dressed in men’s clothing. She also cut her hair similar to a male. At this point, Alison was not comfortable in her own skin. However, she became comfortable with herself when she realized that she was a lesbian. When she told her parents, her father was not upset or mad. He mentioned, “At least you’re human, everyone should experiment.” At the time, Alison did not know that her father was gay. Alison’s father wrote her a letter that somewhat seemed as if he was trying to admit to her that he was gay. He didn’t confide in her and he wrote the letter as if she had already knew. His letter mentioned, “there have been a few times I thought I might have preferred to take a stand.” In his letter, it seems as if he is envious of Alison for coming out so easily. Alison was not ashamed of who she was and she embraced the fact that she was a lesbian. However, her father did not have that courage. Perhaps that’s the reason he killed himself; he lived in secrecy for so long and perhaps it was tearing him up inside.” When Alison tried to talk openly about it, her father was a bit reserved. However, he did mention boys/men that he had been with throughout his lifetime and he admitted, “When I was little, I really wanted to be a girl.. I’d dress up in girls clothes.” Because Alison and her father both dressed as the opposite gender as children, I believe this novel brings up the aspect of being “born this way.” I believe that the two were born gay and realized it at different points in their life. However, Alison had the courage to accept and embrace it while her father didn’t until it was too late. His homosexuality eventually caused his marriage to crumble. I believe her father’s death was intentional. Alison mentions a lot of warning signs throughout the novel such as the highlighted passages in novels, marginal notations in books, novels about death etc. I feel as if Alison’s father was not happy with who he was and wanted to escape the struggle that he faced in his life.