Type

Text

Type

Thesis

Advisor

Dinkins, Stephanie. | Buonagurio, Toby | Goodarzi, Shoki.

Date

2017-08-01

Keywords

Fine arts

Department

Department of Studio Art.

Language

en_US

Source

This work is sponsored by the Stony Brook University Graduate School in compliance with the requirements for completion of degree

Identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/11401/78180

Publisher

The Graduate School, Stony Brook University: Stony Brook, NY.

Format

application/pdf

Abstract

My intent is to expose the cultural silencing of women's suffering. This silencing of suffering is seen in the way she speaks about miscarriage, reproductive illness such as ovarian cancer, and infertility. The cultural shaming of a woman's body is seen in many forms. A woman is told how to dress, or how to act “you should smile” that she should smile, and that ultimately her body is not hers and that she is only a vessel to bring in a child. Because this silencing is largely tied to the continual shaming of the female body it creates a taboo of a woman’s physical gender; specifically, the female reproductive form. My artwork explores the dialogue of a women’s role in society in relation to her physical gender. Reproductive health rights go beyond the freedom of access to an abortion. It also pertains to those who suffer from reproductive illness as well as to those who want a child and cannot procreate. The emphasis of fulfillment for a woman in our culture is directly tied to her ability to become a mother. When she suffers the loss of a miscarriage, struggles with infertility, or experiences reproductive illness the health care system can be dehumanizing to any women. Through my art practice, I explore women’s societal roles and reproductive health rights through my examination of the relationship between politics and religion in the United States. This relationship still influences women’s societal roles and reproductive health rights. I relate to these issues through my own personal narrative and how Catholicism impacted my life. This thesis explores the artworks and narratives of Judy Chicago, Frida Kahlo and Ana Mendieta and how their works influences my own artwork. | 27 pages

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