Feminism

Question 1

Nochlin

‘Why have there been no great women artists?’

Answer 1

1) women have had a difficult time training as artists
2) method in which art historians try to define and look for greatness excludes women
3) feminist art history not only tries to include women but also challenge the paradigms - ways of thinking

Question 2

First Wave Feminism

Answer 2

Late 18th century
Enlightenment philosophers argued for equality for all
Developed to point of suffrage movement
Died away after WW2

Question 3

Second Wave Feminism

Answer 3

Early 1960s to 70s
Growth of vibrantly feminist scholarly and artistic traditions as well as political activism
Aimed to give women s voice
Enable their full participation in public life and full control of private lives
Art should be treated as neutral, regardless of the sex of the artist
Fundamental reorganisation of society was needed - which would value women on their own terms

Question 4

Third Wave Feminism

Answer 4

1990s
Gay/lesbian scholarship
Queer theory

Question 5

Pollock

‘Vision and Difference’

Answer 5

‘Those canonised as the initiators of modern art are men’
Imply a masculine viewer/consumer
Morisot and Cassatt were both active impressionists
Separated areas of gendered activity
The flaneur
Aims of feminist art history:
The historical recovery of data about women producers of art
Deconstruction of the discourse and practices of art history itself

Question 6

Women’s Art Movement

Answer 6

Challenged the very structures in which art was made and displayed

Question 7

Foucault

Answer 7

Sexuality as a social construct
All concepts are historically formed and contingent, are never universally true
Our concepts and descriptions of the world are discursively produced
Ergo sexuality is a discourse, not an existent
The study of sexuality in 19th century was used as a means of categorisation and control