Overview
This lecture explores how women are depicted and perceived in Western art, focusing on the tradition of painting nudes, the influence of these images on women's self-perception, and broader issues of objectification and identity.
The Male Gaze and Self-Surveillance
- Men dream of women, while women dream of themselves being observed.
- Women are taught from childhood to assess themselves based on how they appear to others, especially men.
- Constant awareness of being watched shapes women's actions and self-image.
The Nude in European Art
- Women appear as subjects to be looked at, especially in nude paintings.
- Being "naked" means being oneself; being a "nude" means being seen naked by others, as an object.
- The tradition of the nude is rooted in the perspective of a clothed spectator judging the naked subject.
- The Genesis story of Adam and Eve frames women as both aware of being looked at and being blamed for that awareness.
- Paintings of nudes rarely depict women as autonomous individuals; their nudity is often a form of submission for the viewer's pleasure.
Judgment, Vanity, and Objectification
- The mirror in paintings symbolizes vanity but also reflects the woman's awareness of being watched and judged.
- Classical themes like the Judgment of Paris reinforce women's value as a contest of beauty.
- The aesthetic judgment of women in art mirrors beauty contests and societal competition.
Differences in Female Representation
- Most nudes are idealized and detached from real women’s experiences.
- Few paintings show women as self-possessed, autonomous individuals.
- Nudity in these paintings becomes a disguise or costume, not an expression of true self.
Women’s Responses and Modern Perspectives
- Women struggle to identify with these idealized, exaggerated images in art.
- Photographs and advertising have influenced modern self-perception but continue the tradition of objectification.
- The theme of availability makes women passive, waiting for the gaze or action of others.
Narcissism, Identity, and Self-Delight
- Women's self-image is shaped by external views (the mirror), while men's is shaped by actions in the world.
- Female narcissism is linked to seeking value from others, leading to a sense of inadequacy and passivity.
- True self-delight and engagement with the world are seen as less available to women due to constant self-surveillance.
Positive Representations and Exceptions
- Rare historical artworks, like Lorenzetti's "Peace," show women relaxed and self-possessed, combining pleasure with thought and authenticity.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Male Gaze — the act of depicting women from a masculine, heterosexual perspective for male viewers.
- Nude (in art) — a representation of a naked body as an object for the viewer, distinct from natural nakedness.
- Objectification — treating a person as an object for use, especially in visual representations.
- Narcissism — self-centeredness arising from viewing oneself through others’ eyes or the world’s response.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Reflect on how images in art and media influence your own or others' self-image.
- Read further on the concepts of the "male gaze" and objectification in visual culture.