Everything to do with Sexuality, Gender, and Visual Art

Collaborative Post #2

            Although we have all enjoyed delving off into our topics separately, I believe it is about time everything visual got together once again to discuss our findings collectively. So let’s get started!

            Racism, sexism, prejudice… Gender and sexuality are everywhere, which is extremely prevalent when looking at graphic design, film, photography, and sculpture through the years and around the world.

Springfield's Historical Monument
1908 Race Riot Depiction

            The great thing about visual art is that it, historically, reminds us of events so tragic that we are shocked into realizing a truth about our society. This is just the case with a sculpture that was placed in downtown Springfield, Illinois in August of 2008 commemorating the Springfield Race Riot of 1908. According to an article by The State Journal-Register, Preston Jackson made two sculptures, each made of bronze, that represent brick chimneys standing in the riot’s ruins. On these chimneys, Jackson decided to shy away from violent images, “opting instead for those that represent the riot’s role as a catalyst for change in race relations. …Barack Obama is there, depicted as a drum major. There’s a handbill announcing, ‘Rally of Citizen’s to End Race War’—an allusion to the race riot’s central role in the founding of the NAACP.” And that’s the wonderful thing about sculpture; it does not have to depict violence to have a strong emotional impact on an individual viewing it. The article finishes with the strong words: “Jackson’s artwork needs to stand as a permanent reminder that these incidents must be addressed immediately, forcefully and accurately—and discussed openly. Only then, as with the race riot, can response to them become a message of unity.” In Springfield, one sculptor was able to use his work to not only commemorate a very moment in Illinois history, but also remind a population that change only comes with constant reality checks and lots of hard work.  

           By looking at visual arts from the past, we can see how our society has (or hasn't) changed, especially along the lines of sexism. Since the beginning of human kind, men have been seen as the "superior" beings. The late 1900s were a very prominent time for ads which were very sexist against women. Looking at the image to the left, we can see just how far some of the ads of the early and mid 1900s went with their sexism. Even though we don't see ads nearly as graphic as these anymore, the ads around us still contain a great amount of sexism; though some may be more subtle than others. Ads today contain much more erotic sexism toward women; and they seem to get worse every time someone opens photoshop.  "Miller, Michele and Ford from Old Dominion University argues that today, sexism is more align with sexist, and the implication of sexuality in the advertising and media" (Chics). It's interesting to look at advertisements from over 50 years ago to see how people viewed women as almost slaves to their men. But not so much as sex slaves as women are mostly seen as today, but house slaves. It would be nice to see a change in the world of graphic design as more and more women begin to enter that career path.

            Throughout the years Disney has reinforced many stereotypes about women and often promoted negative ideas about them. This is prevalent in their movies from the first Disney princess Snow White being hunted down and almost killed by another woman for her beauty only surviving because her beauty attracts a young man, whom she has never actually talked to, and his kiss is the only thing that saves her showing to young girls that looks are the most important thing because they will attract a man who will eventually save you. These negative messages are still prominent in Disney princesses today including their latest one Rapunzle, although she is able to be adventurous and free spirited she still relies on a young man to set her free which she has literally been waiting her whole life for. This doesn’t seem like it’s very empowering for women at all does it? 

Works Cited
Chics, Chinese. "Evolution of Sexist Ads." Less Is More. WordPress.com, 2009. Web. 25 Apr. 2012. <http://whatremainsbaby.wordpress.com/2009/07/30/sexist-ads/>.

"Our Opinion: Sculpture Reminds Us to Take Action against Racism." Http://www.sj-r.com. GateHouse Media Inc., 8 Aug. 2008. Web. 25 Apr. 2012. http://www.sj-r.com/opinions/x1701873655/Our-Opinion-Sculpture-reminds-us-to-take-action-against-racism.
Bell, Elizabeth, Lynda Haas, and Laura Sells. From Mouse to Mermaid: The Politics of Film, Gender, and Culture. Bloomington: Indiana UP, 1995. Print.
Bennett, Jessica. "Disney Princesses and the Battle for Your Daughter's Soul." The Daily Beast. Newsweek/Daily Beast, 26 Jan. 2011. Web. 26 Apr. 2012. <http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2011/01/26/disney-princesses-and-the-battle-for-your-daughter-s-soul.html>.