Art and Sexual Politics.

I'm really interested in looking into the sexual politics within the Arts. 

I have decided in my dissertation for my Degree I will be exploring the question 

‘Has women’s role in the art industry changed from the 1960’s To the present day? From a Feminist perspective’

I will be looking into my question using a Feminist perspective, looking at the relationship of art and social class in different time periods. I want to explore how society and the economy can make it demanding for artists and even create a barrier for certain people to create art.

I will be looking into how women our viewed within our society and how there situation and experience differs from men’s.

 ‘The arts as in a hundred other areas, things remains stultifying, oppressive and discouraging to all those-women included- who did not have the good forture to be born white, preferably middle class and, above all, male.’ – Linda Nochlin, pg 5 Art and Sexual Politics.

When questioning the role of women in the arts you have to also ask the questions like, What social classes are artists most likely to come from in different periods? Do major artists come from families in which their close relatives were  involved in the profession?

The 1960’s through to 1970’s is looked on as the second-wave for feminism,

Dealing with inequalities of laws, role of women in society.

-equal pay act, 1970. Aftermath of the ford machinist strike in 68.

- using the media.

Women were seen as having certain roles in society that they needed to do, look after their husband, be a parent and housework. Art was only ever seen as being able to be a hobby for women, where as men could make a career out of it.

Looking into the question Linda Nochlin puts across, ‘Why have there been no great women artists?’ you have to take into consideration what effects art. Also the political situation and how women are treated generally, women’s experience is a lot different to men’s.

Women put in the category of  ‘Women Artists’ rather than a category that is defined by the work they produce.

-Guerrilla girls

Guerrilla Girls is an anonymous group of radical feminist artists established in New York City in 1985. Known for their posters, books, billboards, appearances and other creative forms of protest, the group aims to expose discrimination and corruption.

1997. Still life exhibition at MoMA which featured only 4 women among 71 artists