Theories&MethodsPaigeHyatt

Kiss and Tell Drawing the Line 1988 The article "Framing the Questions: Positive Imaging and Scarcity in Lesbian Photographs," by Jan Zita Grover explores the representation of lesbians in photography, specifically focusing on how lesbian images have been marginalized or underrepresented in mainstream media in the past and present. Grover discusses "positive imaging," which is the intention to create something empowering or affirming to the lesbian identity through photography. She then discusses the fact that these are scarce things which has led to a misrepresentation in art and culture for this group of people. We talked in class about how scarcity of images of this kind is validated, because groups of people do not want to be stereotyped for their identities. Grover explains that images that show lesbians in diverse and positive ways help resist those negative stereotypes. With the scarcity of these images, positive representation creates a form of resistance ag...

Anna Atkins "Dictyota dichotoma, in the young state; and in fruit" from Part XI of Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions 1849 To understand this week's reading, one must fully understand the word epistemology. In short terms it is "the philosophical study of the nature, origin, and limits of human knowledge." In "Indigenous Methodologies: Characteristics, Conversations, and Contexts" by Dr. Margaret Kovach, she looks into her indigenous roots to question individuals' epistemological foundations in order to find out one's biases and approach to research depending on their prior experiences. Kovach describes Indigenous epistemologies as knowledge that things are rooted in relationships between people, their land, and the communities that are built around those things. Indigenous epistemologies shine a light on the connections people have, holistic approaches, and traditions. Indigenous people's knowledge includes an understandin...

Leap into the Void Artistic action by Yves Klein Photographed by Harry Shunk Photographed by János Kender Yves Klein 1960 Meaning, Identity, Embodiment: The Uses of Merleau-Ponty’s Phenomenology in Art History by Amelia Jones covered one of the most important topics of art in my mind. Jones explores how Merleau-Ponty's exploration of art and identity helps us understand the way we view art. She argues that viewing art is not just visual, but an experience. We bring our past experience and life with us everywhere we go, and it has a massive impact on the way we view the world, including art. Jones says that the body plays a critical role in how we engage and react to artworks. She applies Merleau-Ponty's concepts once again to explain that art can bring up ideas like gender, culture, and personal identity. This allows us to have a more in depth experience while viewing art, while also getting more out of the experience because you can use it as a self reflection of your identity...

Naked Spaces: Living is Round Trinh T. Minh-ha 1985 "A Special Third World Women Issue" by Trinh T. Minh-ha discusses the important place that women of color have in society. When a certain role is defined for you in a culture, it is nearly impossible to break free of that. Mihn-ha explains that Third World women are often portrayed in a manner that makes them stripped of their individuality and complexities. They are all grouped together as if they are not their own people living very different lives. A word that stuck out to me through the text is that of tokenism. Tokenism is the act of making an effort to be inclusive or representative in order to give the appearance of diversity. This often looks like placing minority individuals in positions or roles where they may not have substantial influence or power. It can also look like using them for a certain time then once the need for the look of diversity comes to an end, firing them. In class we discussed that in the show T...

Alabama Tenant Farmer Wife Walker Evans 1936 After Walker Evans: 4 Sherrie Levine 1981 This weeks readings "The Death of the Author," by Roland Barthes and "Statement," by Sherrie Levine discussed topics of plagiarism and highlighted our personal thoughts on what we really believe is original. Is anything original? Barthes claims that it is not. If that is the case and nothing is original, it is not possible to plagiarize someones work. This is an interesting concept to me. In a past class, we discussed conceptual art and the way that the idea behind the art is really the art. I have never thought of it that way and was really turned off of it at first, but after some thought, I really believe that conceptual art is one of the coolest art styles. Now what does conceptual art have to do with the topics of originality and plagiarism? We will have to look at an artist I find quite interesting named Richard Prince. He is very similar in his ways compared to Sherrie Lev...

Philip Golub Reclining Sylvia Sleigh 1971 My first response while viewing this painting during this week's discussion showed my unconscious knowledge I have about nude paintings. The instant I saw this painting I thought it was a woman and the fact that it could be a man never crossed my mind. This proves that in society we have an idea of nudity and that immediately goes to women. Even though I am a woman, this is also where my mind goes immediately. This painting is also just stunning to look at. I love the color palette and details in the background and Philip's face. This week's reading, Visual pleasure and Narrative Cinema by Laura Mulvey discusses the types of characters women play in traditional film and what they mean for audiences. Women are seen as visual objects there for visual pleasure for the viewer. They are not the main character. They are often a love interest or something the man in the film saves then becomes the hero. The James Bond 007 franchise is a gr...