of the woman with the sword and a man’s head is deeply embedded in the iconography of Western art. As early as the 12th century, the Judith and Holofernes motif began appearing in book miniatures, decorative arts, paintings, and sculptures. What made this image so intriguing that throughout the centuries, artists kept suggesting their elucidations of Judith and Holofernes’ encounter? Was it because the image appeared to contradict the typical stereotype of a woman as an image of fragile
Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick's Tendencies: Queerness and Oppression Over the last two decades or so, the idea of queerness is one that has been utilized and considered by individuals and communities of marginalized sexualities and genders. The concept is one that has attempted to broaden and deconstruct traditional notions of gender and sexuality in order to include all of their incarnations as valid experiences and identities. Queerness endeavors to include all of those who feel they are a part of
The paintings Caravaggio’s Judith and Holofernes and Artemisia Gentileschi's Judith Decapitating Holofernes (c.1620) were pieces that were painted during the Baroque art period. They are both based on the biblical story about Judith beheading Holofernes. To begin with, the painting by Caravaggio shows Judith recoiling from the gruesome task she is performing. This is emphasized by how delicate she seems to be handling Holofernes. A woman stands next to her in the painting simply staring in astonishment
phenomenological outlook and suggested that this is based on experiences that we live. Butler accepts the notion of a "distinction between sex, as biological facticity, and gender, as the cultural interpretation or signification of that facticity". (Butler, Judith (1988). "Performative Acts and Gender Constitution: An Essay in Phenomenology and Feminist Theory". Theatre Journal. 40 (4): 519–531). In those ideas and theories Butler was able to form an image of “theatrical” or performative of genders in society
Within this paper, I shall evaluate the usefulness of selected examples of Foucault’s theories from a feminist perspective. To begin, a short introduction will outline the era in which Foucault wrote, as this has been seen as influential to his work, inspiring him to move away from the former ideological ways of thinking about the world (Taylor and Vintges 2004, Mills 1997). I shall then go on to consider the changing nature of feminism, which has moved on from viewing patriarchy and men as the oppressors
seen in the novel The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao when looking into the life of the main character Oscar. There are many ways that the idea of gender can be described, particularly in the essay “Performative Acts and Gender Consitiution” by Judith Butler. She tends to lean more towards the idea of gender having a physiological and biological background. Gender is a very controversial topic and this is because people tend not to talk about it. The reason for this is that anyone 's perspective
In 8 AD Publius Ovidius Naso, historically referred to as Ovid, published a body of work that served as a comprehensive history of the world from its Creation to the elevation of Julius Caesar. In its pages, describes a daughter by the name of Iphis, born to Telethusa and Ligdus. During her pregnancy, Ligdus threated his wife with the death of their baby should she not produce a boy. In her despair, Telethusa was visited by the Egyptian goddess Isis who assured her that no matter the baby’s gender
American playwright Tony Kushner’s momentous two-part production Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes documents the varied lives of five men residing in New York City throughout the 1980s AIDS epidemic. A truly unique aspect, which pertains to Kushner’s dramatized narrative, is that each focal male character is homosexual. Although these men may share a collective sexual orientation, they experience their sexuality in their own individualistic ways. Through the lenses of Kushner’s
ignorant of its privileges, and that through the awareness and inclusion of racial movements can feminist theory grow. I will also compare Rich’s article to Simone de Beauvoir’s first chapter, “Biological Data” from her book The Second Sex, and to Judith Butler’s article “Performative Acts and Gender Constitution: An Essay in Phenomenology and Feminist Theory.” Lastly, I will explain how Rich’s article is valuable to myself, to the WOMN 2000 Feminist Thought course, and in broader social contexts
such piece that bares a unique resemblance to a work Caravaggio painted in 1599 is Judith and Holofernes. Painted by Boulogne in 1626, this painting contains many characteristics associated with the