MICHAEL T. FIGUEROA
NIU ART Education+design
Slavery ended in the 19th century in the United States, but the women’s struggle for equality began, GG (p.47, 1998). During this time women artist began push their selves further into the art world despite of what others said. During this era, the technological advances made travel for people (railroad and steamships) more convenient and thus women began to travel the world and live more independently.
Guerrilla Girls (1998), The Guerrilla Girls’ Bedside Companion to the History of Western Art. Penguin Books, England
In response to Ch. 5, I have to say that women of the 19th century are some of the first leaders in women’s movements. Women traveled and went to great lengths to become a person of importance despite their race or gender. I have a great deal of respect for these women because I can only imagine how stressful time it have to be, and their courage to move forward. Not all of them have happy endings, but I can say that all of them have defiantly left an impression on me with their struggles and heroism. Women started to become noticed for their skills outside of “norm” and they wanted to express it and share it with the world.
I feel that it is very important to respect the leaders of the women’s movement and teach our students the history behind some of the struggles women had to make. How can we make a connection with social issues today that somehow relate to some of the women in chapter 5? Racism is still an issue today and its topic is still trending today. Choosing one of the artist’s choices of medium, how could we express social issues in that medium, while paying homage to that artist? What did that artist teach us, that we could show in our artwork?
