An overarching theme in this week’s readings is the dislocation of dominant narratives by challenging the limitations and norms that are present in art. I particularly favored Jayne Wark’s “Conceptual Art and Feminism” article because each of the mentioned artists (Martha Rosler, Adrian Piper, Eleanor Antin, and Martha Wilson)modified Conceptual art to express their concerns with the social climate of the 60‘s and 70’s, as opposed to conforming to the traditional abstract focus of Conceptualism. A common technique that stood out to me was the use of self as both the subject and object, which enabled direct engagement with the audience, induced reception, and commodification of the body as art. I also found it rather creative that Wilson disguised herself into different characters to emphasize that identity is not biologically determined, “singular or fixed,” but can vary depending upon one’s preference.

Thus far in the course we have examined how identity is portrayed as a fixed concept that is generalized and broadly applied to the racialized or sexualized subject, so this article offered a different, true perspective of identity as being flexible. Another positive observation of the article was the portrayal of women as empowered, autonomous artists who possessed the confidence to disclaim the traditional course of Conceptualism and integrate their own ideas of what art should embody. As opposed to previous art that we have observed, these female artists did not portray themselves as sexualized objects which offered a refreshing twist to art’s portrayal of women.

Nochlin: Nochlin argues that we must correct and challenge what is perceived as normal or “natural” and that femininity and masculinity is not a “style” and cannot be determined by the artist’s explored subject.

Wark: Wark gives examples of four feminist artists that reject the norm of abstract conceptualism through concrete, “subject-centered” art that is influenced by social events.

Taylor: Taylor explores examples of female artists whose artwork is independent of male influence.