Reaching for the Stars

Sudden Ripples of a Female Voice

When women start playing with the big boys in a widely known male dominated area of something, it gets people's attention. Some examples from history include Joan of Arc, Cleopatra and good ol' Elizabeth the I. All of these brave and determined ladies made some groundbreaking ripples during their lifetimes that can still be felt today because they refused to back down in how they wanted to do something.

During the Post Modern time of the arts, women were becoming more active in anything to do with writing, painting, sculpting etc. They were coming out of the shell of being considered secondary to what was personal and important in a person's life. The West was still in a traditional state of expression where it was left to the man, period. They broke this mold by dipping their much needed creative toe in the pool of oppurtunity.

First up!
Cindy Sherman decided that taking pictures of herself to make a blunt point on the many faces of women that made many women relate to her pictures. Such as her Untititled Film Series that depitcts Sherman reenacting moments from typical B Movie films, she calls attention to the a stereotype for an actress during black and white films. Sherman found her canvas in a camera, and her perchant for costumes would sometimes mistake this for cosplay, except this is legit art. There is a meaningful message that Sherman is sending and I got it loud and clear. Since I am budding photographer, I hoped I got it...

"Look at what I am wearing. How does it make you feel?"

This is Untitled Film Still #21. Seems like a screencap straight out of Casablanca, doesn't it?

#35. When I first saw this still, I first thought it was Lucille Ball from "I Love Lucy".

#30 from Untitled Film Stills. She took a spot on look at women in horror films, I think.

Next up! Miss Judy Baca because as far as I know, she isn't married. She is an pioneerng activists in human equality and creative voice through teaching and guess what? Mural painting! This lady is a powerhouse of motivation when it comes to being creative and sharing it with others. But most of all she calls attention to topics not everyone wants to talk about, such as the poor, the corrupt, the censored lesbian community and just plain equality that we say we want, but don't act in attaining less than half the time. I have a feeling that if she ran for President, she would win because chances are her funding would go to meaningful sources such as the poor, homeless and activist groups for art classes for the less censored instead of million dollar campaigns.

The Wall. A half mile of California's history that covers all kinds of topics and moments that both shaped and defined the state. Her most recongnized and defining work of her ideals and creativity.

Tres Generaciones This really brings my theme home to the main point again. Women. Without use there would be no mankind, literally but we have come a long way from just being wives and keeping the house clean while the men are off fighting other men.This reminds us that behind every generation, there is a grandmother, a mother, a daughter and a future child.

Miss Baca reminds us that being creative isn't just boiled down to the rights of gender, or anything so plebian. It is the distint impulse to simply express yourself how you want, in a country where you are more than free to do so. Be yourself and express yourself in a way that us fun and is strictly you.

 

"The Influence of Feminism in Art." Art History Unstuffed. Web. 17 Apr. 2015. <http://www.arthistoryunstuffed.com/the-influence-of-feminism-in-art/>.

 

"Biography - Cindy Sherman - Photographer, Model, Director, Actor, Avant-Garde Images, Doll Parts and Prosthetics, Movies." Biography - Cindy Sherman - Photographer, Model, Director, Actor, Avant-Garde Images, Doll Parts and Prosthetics, Movies. Web. 17 Apr. 2015. <http://www.cindysherman.com/biography.shtml>.

 

 "Biography." Judy Baca Artist. Web. 17 Apr. 2015. <http://www.judybaca.com/artist/biography/>.