Key Concepts in Art and Gender Studies

A comprehensive set of flashcards that cover key themes, concepts, and artworks related to Impressionism, gender studies, and environmental activism.

Impressionism

An art movement from late 1800s France focused on light, movement, and atmosphere rather than realism.

En plein air

A French term meaning 'in the open air,' referring to the practice of painting outdoors.

Agency

The capacity of individuals, particularly women in this context, to act independently and make their own choices.

Renoir’s The Green Reader (1894)

A painting that depicts a woman reading, highlighting themes of privacy and viewer frustration in interpreting the scene.

Ambiguity in Art

A quality of works that allows for multiple interpretations, often creating uncertainty for the viewer.

Voyeurism

The act of watching others without their knowledge, often in a sexual context, which some artworks block.

Degas’ Woman Reading (1885)

A painting that features a distorted figure and unclear setting to create mystery and invite curiosity.

Corporeal tempos

Refers to the rhythms of movement, particularly in Degas’ portrayal of dancers as workers.

Stereotypes of Female Bodies

Traditional views that often portray women as passive or decorative, which Degas challenges.

Tenneriello's Behind the Scenes

Examines how artists depict working bodies, particularly women's, revealing hidden social power dynamics.

Labor Representation

How labor, especially that of women, is shown in art to reveal agency and professionalism.

Duchamp’s Nude Descending a Staircase

A work that transforms the traditional nude into a mechanized form, challenging classical ideals.

Fragmentation

A technique used in art to represent movement by breaking figures into pieces.

Futurism

An artistic movement emphasizing modernity, movement, and technology, influencing Duchamp’s work.

Voice Studies

An examination of how voice is shaped by power, culture, and social context, emphasizing who gets to speak.

Marshall Islands Context

An area affected by U.S. nuclear testing, leading to health issues among its inhabitants.

Political Tool in Voice

The concept that altered voices can resist oppression and articulate challenges to dominant narratives.

Cure Narratives

Political claims that falsely imply that conditions caused by radiation can return to a previous norm.

Cross-Cultural Understanding

The recognition that different cultures have unique interpretations of concepts, such as voice.

Radiation Songs

Songs from the Marshall Islands that address themes of silencing and cultural resistance to nuclear narratives.

Sounds of Power

An overview of how musical instruments intersect with gender, shaping social dynamics and expectations.

Gendered Meaning in Instruments

Cultural associations that assign instruments as masculine or feminine based on societal beliefs.

Access to Instruments

The idea that access to specific musical instruments corresponds with social power and visibility.

Gender Norms in Music

Cultural expectations that dictate what instruments are appropriate for different genders.

Social Status in Music

The recognition that playing certain instruments can enhance a performer's social standing.

Jacqueline du Pré

A female musician whose performances showcased both musical skill and an emotional physical expressiveness.

Anthropocene

The current geological epoch characterized by significant human impact on the environment.

Capitalocene

A term emphasizing the role of capitalism and imperialism in the climate crisis.

Ecofeminism

A movement linking the oppression of women with environmental degradation.

Material Conditions in Ecofeminism

The impact of environmental issues on women's lives, especially in the context of food production.

Cultural Resilience

The ability of a culture to adapt and maintain identity through challenges, such as those faced by women.

Kulning

An ancient Scandinavian herding call developed by women to manage livestock, symbolizing feminine voice.

Agency in Working Women

The concept that labor allows women to express their independence and capabilities in society.

Representation of Movement

Art techniques that depict dynamic action and physicality, often reflecting societal changes.

Feminized Labor

Work associated with women that is often undervalued or rendered invisible in society.

Spectator's Desire

The ambition of viewers to understand and control the narrative within artworks.

Ambiguous Representation

Artworks that intentionally leave interpretations open, frustrating viewers seeking clarity.

Renoir and Degas

Two artists whose works challenge traditional views of women and depict them as complex figures.

Labor in Art

The importance of labor depictions in understanding societal roles and power dynamics.

Modernism in Representation

A shift in art focusing on new forms and expressions, often breaking from classical forms.

Visual Language of Work

The artistic vocabulary used to capture the essence and experience of labor in creative expressions.

Cultural Power Dynamics

The complex interplay of power structures that shape societal roles based on gender and other factors.

Invisibility of Women's Work

The tendency for the labor of women, especially in domestic and caretaking roles, to be overlooked.

Decoding Ambiguity

The struggle viewers face when attempting to interpret art that lacks clear meaning.

Rhythms of Work

The inherent tempo or pace reflected in portrayals of labor, emphasizing physicality.

Political Silence

The deliberate silencing of voices or narratives that challenge dominant power structures.

Community and Healing

The connection between voice and community in Marshallese culture, emphasizing cultural significance.

Cultural Intersectionality

The understanding that multiple social categorizations intersect, affecting individuals' experiences.

Gendered Ideologies

Cultural beliefs that define acceptable behaviors and roles for different genders in society.

Environmental Activism

Actions taken to advocate for the environment, which many women engage in as a survival strategy.

Social Control in Music

The mechanisms that regulate participation and expression based on gender or social norms.

Emotional Intensity in Performance

The focus on a performer's emotional expressiveness, often viewed through a gendered lens.

Stereotype Disruption

Artworks that challenge and redefine societal assumptions about gender and representation.

Decorative Femininity

The traditional view of women as ornamental rather than dynamic and integral to societal roles.

Cultural Commentary

Art that reflects and critiques societal values, particularly regarding gender and power.

Interconnectedness of Species

The concept that humans and other species are part of a larger ecological web.