Notes on Psychoanalysis, Semiotics, and Feminism in Art (Transcript) (copy)

Psychoanalysis

A methodological lens that focuses on the inner mind or psyche of the artist and how that psyche is visible in their artwork.

Signifier

The image, word, or sound itself in semiotics (e.g., a dog).

Signified

The concept or meaning evoked by the signifier (e.g., fidelity, loyalty).

Gender as an analytical lens

Examines how gender shapes art creation, reception, and the portrayal of identities.

Cindy Sherman

An artist known for her staged self-portraiture that interrogates female stereotypes and the gaze.

Semiotics

A tool to understand how symbols work and how meanings are constructed in art.

Autobiographical elements

Aspects of an artwork that relate to the artist's personal life or mental state.

Repetition of themes

The recurrence of a particular idea across different works by the same artist.

Pipilotti Rist

A contemporary video artist whose work addresses gender and identity issues.

Feminist critique in art

A method that seeks to highlight the voices and choices of women artists and interrogate power dynamics in representation.

Power dynamics of gaze

Explores who controls imagery and how that affects representation in art.

Meaning shifts in semiotics

The idea that meanings associated with a signifier can change over time and context.

Meret Oppenheim

A surrealist artist whose works exemplify psychoanalytic interpretations of art.

Ethics of representation

Debates regarding the portrayal of subjects, particularly in feminist contexts, emphasizing agency and authenticity.

Narrative and affect in color

The way colors and symbols in art can embody emotions and social meanings.

Agency and viewer interpretation

The tension between the artist's intended meanings and the viewers' projections when interpreting art.

Layered meanings in art

Complex interpretations derived from intersecting methodologies such as psychoanalysis, semiotics, and feminist theory.

David Wojnarowicz

An artist whose work, 'One Day This Kid,' focuses on potential and danger in youth.

Joan Quick-to-See Smith

An Indigenous artist who integrates cultural references into her artwork while dialoguing with art history.

Feminist art strategies

Approaches used by female artists to challenge traditional narratives and assert visibility.

Identity and social meaning in semiotics

The way individuals read signs and symbols in their everyday lives to construct social identities.

Broader cultural implications of representation

How cultural depictions influence societal perceptions of gender and identity.

Visual language in contemporary art

The use of visual elements, typography, and imagery to communicate complex ideas and critiques.