1st essay: Triangulation (Draft)

"In the studio the artist has no social responsibility. But when the artist displays his work the situation changes."

Intro 1: 

There are many differing ways in which this quote can be interpreted; ranging from . In this essay I will be considering Shrigley's quote and refining the theme of social responsibility within art to target issues of the female role.

Intro 2:

For this study, I would like to investigate the dynamic roles of women within art and how they have changed and affected the history of art and the way in which we view no only others but also ourselves as a part of a society.

Para 1: John Berger

I would like to reference John Berger and his book entitled “Ways of Seeing”. Berger highlights the idea of the male gaze by first interpreting the definition of “sight”. He states that the human gaze is only in perspective to the individual and that is thus narrow and singular; due to this, when generalised, certain things lack substance and are difficult to relate to. However, in regards to European oil painting and the tradition of the female “nude”, generalising has lead, rather rapidly to sexism and causes derogatory ideas towards the naked female figure. This is summarised in his quote ...

Berger also speaks about the “surveyor” and the “surveyed”, he goes into depth about how the female nude in particular always appears to be staring out of the painting, disregarding the situation around her to focus entirely on the male audience for which the paintings were originally created for, or otherwise known as the “surveyors”. ‘You painted a naked woman because you enjoyed looking at her, put a mirror in her hand and you called the painting “Vanity.”  - john berger

Berger also stated that women look at themselves through the eyes of a man, whereas men look at women. “A woman must continually watch herself”, she is always in the presence of her own image, her sexual objectification follows her always, and she is always aware of it. She has been taught this from early childhood, persuaded to always survey herself as men survey her. (QUOTE)