The Artist and Challenging the Patriarchy

The notion of challenging the patriarchy through the force of art emerged in the late 1960s, along with the feminist movement, with artists seeking to influence the world and catalyse change through their art. Emphasis was placed on “intervening in the established art world, the art historical canon, as well as everyday social interactions” [The Art Story 2016]. The aim of the feminist art movement was to encourage a re-evaluation of attitudes regarding cultural assumptions and to challenge stereotypes. This concept of feminist art is prominently expressed in the works of Untitled Film Still #15 by Cindy Sherman, Untitled (Your body is a battleground) and Untitled (Your gaze hits the side of my face) by Barbara Kruger, How Women Get Maximum Exposure in Art Museums created by the feminist art group Guerilla Girls, and Dollhouse by Miriam Schapiro and Sherry Brody. These works effectively portray the feminist artist agenda; creating a dialogue between the artwork and the viewer through incorporating the female perspective while challenging the male gaze, confronting widespread assumptions about women and gender roles set by the patriarchy.