On one side of the spectrum, the sexist theory for why there are no great female artists is that human beings with wombs are unable to create anything that is significant. Nochlin dismisses the vast array of theories that attempt to answer the question, from the extremely sexist to the feminist. It’s also important to remember that as we read this essay now, over 40 years later, there have been several breakthrough artists in which we could consider great, at the time of this text however, it’s safe to say, due to whatever circumstance, there were not any truly great female artists. Nochlin does not try to dispute the fact that there have been no great female artists by her date of her essay, and instead – however controversial this may be – states that if we try and defend women artists, we are only reinforcing the statement. A clear feminist approach has been taken in regards to how this essay has been written, and yet instead of driving her argument forward with appeals to one’s emotions, she provides a historical analysis. Linda Nochlin begins her essay, “Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?” an obvious and arguably unresolvable question yet one which sets the tone for the rest of the essay.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |