Abstract In this Research paper and through my Studio practice, I search for what binds me and separates me from my children. I investigate abjection theories through Julia Kristeva and Georges Bataille and focus on a particular form I call the maternal abject. This occurs at the time an infant separates from its mother, acquires language and maps its own body. I am proposing that the mapping of the body is the point at which an individual perceives social structures and learns about prohibitions and taboos, hence the abject. I also investigate the relationship between the maternal abject and the artistic process through the writings of Kristeva. Abjection is illustrated through the works of Mona Hatoum, Fiona Hall, Hieronymus Bosch, and Paul Quinn. The maternal abject is illustrated through the works of Mary Kelly, Cindy Sherman, Frida Kahlo, Louise Bourgeois. A possible reading of the maternal abject is given through the works of Gregory Crewdson, Joel-Peter Witkin and Francis Bacon. The studio work is in two parts. The first part is a series of layered photomedia images. The layers consist of a naked female body, which has been merged with Renaissance like Madonna and Child images. Texture, such as stones and spikes, is embedded to signify the fragility and strength of the body. Children are also present and are merged with the adult female body. All images are cradled in a darkened atmosphere in order to draw the viewer inside the images. The second part is a bassinet, which has been drilled and pierced by thousands of pearl-headed steel pins. This piece signifies the dichotomy of the motherhood experience, which on the one hand is rewarding and fulfilling and on the other an abject and isolating experience of no apparent economic value. The two parts interact so that the bassinet piece with its threatening exterior acts as an aggressor towards the photomedia images.

Abstract In this Research paper and through my Studio practice, I search for what binds me and separates me from my children. I investigate abjection theories through Julia Kristeva and Georges Bataille and focus on a particular form I call the maternal abject. This occurs at the time an infant separates from its mother, acquires language and maps its own body. I am proposing that the mapping of the body is the point at which an individual perceives social structures and learns about prohibitions and taboos, hence the abject. I also investigate the relationship between the maternal abject and the artistic process through the writings of Kristeva. Abjection is illustrated through the works of Mona Hatoum, Fiona Hall, Hieronymus Bosch, and Paul Quinn. The maternal abject is illustrated through the works of Mary Kelly, Cindy Sherman, Frida Kahlo, Louise Bourgeois. A possible reading of the maternal abject is given through the works of Gregory Crewdson, Joel-Peter Witkin and Francis Bacon. The studio work is in two parts. The first part is a series of layered photomedia images. The layers consist of a naked female body, which has been merged with Renaissance like Madonna and Child images. Texture, such as stones and spikes, is embedded to signify the fragility and strength of the body. Children are also present and are merged with the adult female body. All images are cradled in a darkened atmosphere in order to draw the viewer inside the images. The second part is a bassinet, which has been drilled and pierced by thousands of pearl-headed steel pins. This piece signifies the dichotomy of the motherhood experience, which on the one hand is rewarding and fulfilling and on the other an abject and isolating experience of no apparent economic value. The two parts interact so that the bassinet piece with its threatening exterior acts as an aggressor towards the photomedia images.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-08T16:52:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Monica.pdf: 1656120 bytes, checksum: 5e8cc31dac409f50d0d93a6151f56c1d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-12-14 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Propõem a construção da performance 1A (UMA), partindo do estudo teórico da teatralidade nos auto-retratos da artista plástica americana Cibdy Sherman. A hipótese levantada é de que a teatralidade na obra de Sherman se evidencia pelo conjunto de suas fotografias, que revelam o jogo de transformação da auto-imagem da artista. O texto se divide em duas partes: a primeira, separada em dois capítulos, apresenta rapidamente artista e obra, para em seguida desenvolver, apoiada em bibliografia especializada das artes visuais, reflexões sucintas pelos auto-retratos de Sherman, através das quais se problematizam a noção de identidade na contemporaneidade, assim como a idéia de arte e artista ligado à noção de originalidade e ao caráter performático do corpo no retrato fotográfico

This thesis takes a closer look at the phenomena of taste in relation to kitsch, art and luxury, analyzing a visual campaign, by the luxury brand Louis Vuitton. The visual campaign is made by Louis Vuitton to promote a collaboration with the postmodern artist Cindy Sherman. In her art Cindy Sherman is stepping away from modern aesthetics turning towards nostalgia and, anti- elitism. In a provocative act she brings in traits of kitsch and other pop cultural references to her art and exposes it to a conflicted art world. Using the well accommodated theoretical framework by sociologist Pierre Bourdieu, I seek to understand the underlying class related aspects of taste occurring in the collaboration between the two. In doing so I investigate the very use of Pierre Bourdieu’s theories it self, and I look to answer how these can help with revelation in a contemporary context. Later the use of Roland Barthes theories on modern myths, will be brought into play, when I shell decode the overall mythical story on taste, that Louis Vuitton, wishes to communicate through the campaign. It shell be concluded that Pierre Bourdieu’s theories, was very helpfull with pointing out the campaigns connection to cultural capital and different classified expressions of taste, that connects it to a growing middelclass, who wants an access to the world of luxury. In the very end I debate the question of taste looking forward, taking into consideration Bourdieu’s critics, to whom the classification of taste is a relic from the past.

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The aim of this work is the qualitative analysis of the new wave of female gaze photographers with a comparison of the female gaze pioneers. For this purpose, there were used photographs by Arvida Bystr​öm​, Petra Collins, Harley Weir, and Cindy Sherman, Nan Goldin, Corinne Day, which were published in fashion magazines such as ​Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, i-D, Dazed, and ​Vice​. The theoretical part examined how female identity has been shaped by western culture and dominant ideology, and how patriarchy paradigm has influenced the visual representation of women in art, pop culture, and advertisement. It is shown through key feminist concepts including Simone De Beauvoir, Betty Friedan, Judith Butler, John Berger, Laura Mulvey, theory of young girl, gagafeminism, and xenofeminism. The second part of the thesis is dedicated to social semiotics analysis of each photograph and the results of this research, which show changes of topics in the female gaze content and the shift to social media-related topics and the virtual representation of women. The work could enrich further research in the field of feminist aesthetics, fashion journalism, photography, advertisement, and social media.

Depuis les dernières années, les études démographiques montrent un vieillissement manifeste de la population nord-américaine, alors que les personnes âgées font les frais de nombreux stéréotypes et préjugés qui participent à leur marginalisation de la société. Nous postulons qu’une « culture gérontophobique » se développe et que les comportements âgistes sont intériorisés par les individus. Au sein de cette culture gérontophobique valorisant la jeunesse, la rapidité, l’efficacité, le refus et le rejet de la vieillesse et des « vieux », plusieurs options s’offrent aux personnes âgées; se conformer aux idéaux de jeunesse et de paraitre de la société actuelle ou les contester en assumant pleinement leur âge et leur corps. Ce mémoire est une étude des séries Society Portraits de Cindy Sherman et Pretty Ribbons de Donigan Cumming qui explorent différemment la représentation de l’âge et l’enjeu de la gérontophobie dans leur série photographique respective. Les études gérontologiques culturelles de Julia Twigg et Wendy Martin, les études féministes de Kathleen Woodward, Michelle Meagher et Judith Butler, ainsi que les théories photographiques d’Anca Cristofovici et Olivier Lugon, vont nous servir à l’analyse de ces deux attitudes opposées face à la vieillesse féminine, victime d’un double standard. Ce double standard dénoncé par Susan Sontag et les études gérontologiques féministes positionne les femmes âgées dans une impasse puisqu’elles sont aux prises avec les préjugés sexistes en plus d’être constamment sous la pression des apparences et de l’âgisme. Dans l’histoire de l’art et le régime des images artistiques, nous constatons un récent mouvement de revalorisation de la vieillesse et de l’expérience des personnes âgées et vieillissantes. De nombreux artistes cherchent à changer les perceptions négatives à l’égard de la vieillesse et remettent en question les préjugés gérontophobes qu’on leur porte. Ce mémoire vise à analyser en détail les images de Sherman et Cumming avant de se clore par une étude comparative de leur série et démontrer comment ce mouvement de revalorisation et de déconstruction des stéréotypes prend forme dans les images photographiques contemporaines. / In recent years, demographic studies have shown a clear aging of the North American population, while seniors face many stereotypes and prejudices that contribute to their marginalization from society. We postulate that a "gerontophobic culture" is developing and that ageist behaviors are internalized by individuals. Within this gerontophobic culture, which values youth, rapidity, efficiency, and the refusal and rejection of old age and "old people", several options are available to older people: conform to the ideals of youth and appearance of today's society or challenge them by fully assuming their age and their body. This dissertation is a study of Cindy Sherman's Society Portraits and Donigan Cumming's Pretty Ribbons series that differently explore the representation of age and the issue of gerontophobia in their respective photographic series. The cultural gerontological studies of Julia Twigg and Wendy Martin, the feminist studies of Kathleen Woodward, Michelle Meagher and Judith Butler, as well as the photographic theories of Anca Cristofovici and Olivier Lugon, will be used to analyze these two opposing attitudes towards old age for women who are victims of a double standard. This double standard, denounced by Susan Sontag and feminist gerontological studies, places older women in an impasse, as they are confronted with sexist prejudices, in addition to being constantly under the pressure of appearances and the cult of youth. In the history of art and the regime of artistic images, we see a recent movement to revalue old age and the experience of older and aging people. Many artists are seeking to change negative perceptions of old age and challenge gerontophobic assumptions about it. This thesis aims to analyze Sherman’s and Cumming's images in detail, ending with a comparative study of their series seeking to demonstrate how this movement to revalue and deconstruct stereotypes is taking shape in contemporary photographic images.