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Alexia Mellor's reply to our project: Feminism in art of artists born on or after 1970
Alexia Mellor, 2012-06-14
Humor and play have a longstanding tradition in art as a tool for subversion. Feminism in particular used humor’s ability to destabilize social norms and critically address socio-political issues. In my own practice I investigate the potential of humor to offer insight into the continuing questions of identity formation that the Feminist movement of the 1970s raised. Using performance as a methodology, three of my recent projects address recurring themes from feminism: the workplace, the body, and the domestic.
Feminism in art of artists born on or after 1970
Rules of Engagement: Creating a Feminine Aesthetic of Humor and Play
Humor and play have a longstanding tradition in art as a tool for subversion. Feminism in particular used humor’s ability to destabilize social norms and critically address socio-political issues. In my own practice I investigate the potential of humor to offer insight into the continuing questions of identity formation that the Feminist movement of the 1970s raised. Using performance as a methodology, three of my recent projects address recurring themes from feminism: the workplace, the body, and the domestic.
In Extending the Friendly Skies I use the persona of a 1960s stewardess to enter public space and perform actions from flight safety routines. This nostalgic icon harks back to an era when women’s role in the workforce was often limited to extending the domestic sphere. As a young girl, I dreamt of being a stewardess: the glamour, jet-setting around the world, but as I grew up I became aware of the realities and hazards of the occupation that included random weight checks, mandatory girdles and forced retirement at 30. Witnesses to my performances immediately recognize this figure, amused by her absurdity. However, in this post-9/11 world and the current global economic crisis, the stewardess raises red flags to the dark side of this comical situation.
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