CA

In-depth Notes on Abjection Theme in Art and Body Representation

Introduction to Abjection

  • The theme of abjection relates to the concept of expelling that which is unwanted from the body.
  • The lecturer introduces the subject while dealing with a cold, drawing a parallel between personal experience and the theme.

Doll Design and Bodily Vulnerability

  • Observation about children's dolls: rarely have holes; they are sealed and transformed bodies.
  • Holes symbolize vulnerability and interruptions in the body.
  • Kenneth Clark's observation in "The Nude" discusses the idealized body shapes and the seamless nature of form.

The Margins of Body and Symbolism

  • Mary Douglas: Structures and ideas are vulnerable at their margins; bodily orifices symbolize vulnerable points.
  • Kenneth Clark: the body's margins are not isolated but connected to broader cultural and emotional experiences.
  • Jacques Derrida's inquiries about boundaries in art challenge the distinction between the 'frame' of the work and broader societal contexts.

Female Representation in Art

  • Examination of female nudes as subjects in art; they often symbolize containment and control over the unruly truth of the female body.
  • Linda Mead points out that female nudes serve to shore up societal constructs about women’s roles and bodies.
  • Lisa Lyon, a female bodybuilder, exemplifies strength through control; however, this can relate to disordered perceptions like anorexia.

Gendered Binaries in Art and Philosophy

  • Derrida's theory of deconstruction illustrates how binaries (male/female, mind/body) shape our understanding of ideals and reality.
  • Art representations often show the female (body) vs. male (mind) dichotomy; with the male aligned with reason and ideals, and the female aligned with excess and nature.
  • Examples from artworks (e.g., Venus of Urbino): depiction of nudity connoting control over sexuality and aesthetics versus obscenity.

The Philosophical Context: Ancient to Enlightenment Views

  • Plato's Doctrine of Ideals: Discussion of how material items reflect imperfect forms; introduces ideal vs. real and mind vs. body.
  • Descartes: Advocated for reason as separate from the body, emphasizing detached knowledge.
  • Kant: Explored form vs. matter in aesthetics, and the superficial nature of judgments tied to cultural norms.

Abjection Explained

  • Definition: Abjection is the state of being rejected or purged; it describes a loss of dignity or pride (e.g., symptoms of disgust).
  • Julia Kristeva: Offers a theory of abjection as a revolt against perceived external threats that also threatens one’s internal stability.

The Eucharist and Complexions of Incorporation

  • Eucharistic symbolism: Draws parallels between communion (acceptance of the body of Christ) and cannibalism (the abjected)
  • Pregnancy: A state where definitions of self and other are blurred, relevant to abjection debates.

Artworks Exploring Abject Themes

  • Adrian Piper: Ongoing project involving jars containing her body’s remnants symbolizes the mixture of self and otherness.
  • Kiki Smith: Works challenge bodily norms through representation of bodily fluids in elegant forms, exploring language and identity.
  • Ron Athey: Performance art intermixed with themes of bodily trauma and social fear exemplifies the cultural constraints linked to the body and abjection.

Cultural Responses to Bodies

  • Michelle Meeger: Examines how works cause disgust by presenting bodies outside cultural ideals; engaging in discourse about body image.
  • Jenny Saville: Focuses on the notion of framing bodies in art, particularly distorting or discussing physicality from a female perspective.

Conclusion: The Complexity of Bodies and Culture

  • The body as a subject and abject is crucial in understanding societal norms and how we position ourselves against these.
  • Viewing pain, disgust, and bodily experiences through an art lens provides essential critiques of cultural paradigms around identity and value.
  • The lecture concludes with reflections on how all bodies challenge fixed definitions and how art can express these dynamics.