Reflection 29/04/21: After my 1-1 with Gary today we discussed the way To Bite B&W Repeat projected feels very violent and becomes more about the after effects of the male gaze e.e. male dominance/violence. We discussed the current debate around it today and this reminded me of Sarah Everard. Is this where I want my work to possibly head? Or could it just be an element to consider?
Hearing the news of Sarah Everard, I felt sick and sad. Sarah’s killer used his police status and hierarchy to abduct her and kill, a policeman is someone you are taught to trust. This was a freak accident but it has sparked something in everyone in the UK and social media which has now reached the whole world. She was found a week later inside a body bag. I felt women were slowly beginning to move forward and out of male dominance, but after this case, women from across the world have spoken out about their experiences and “among women aged 18-24, 97% said they had been sexually harassed, while 80% of women of all ages said they had experienced sexual harassment in public spaces.” (Topping, 2021) but not all speak out as they feel it would be pointless. I myself have experiences and its with stories and figures like these that pushes forward my reason to create the artwork I do. See below.
Women created a vigil to support/mourn Sarah peacefully, policemen brutally attacked women down to the ground for arrest. Face down, on their stomaches. But when the Rangers’ Scottish won the title lat year, the policemen stood by and allowed the men to chant and cheer in massive groups during high COVID restrictions. “Fans were seen lighting flares, marching through the streets and leaving rubbish in several areas” (Perrie, 2021) so, how does that feel right?
Sexual harassment is being shown within programmes and series more commonly now, for example Sex Education, in the third episode they show a situation where a women on a bus with a man touching himself behind her, throughout the episode they highlight the reasons why you should talk to someone/be listened too because its sexual harassment.
“Her death has sparked a wave of fury across the UK, with many women saying they are sick of feeling unsafe. They’re also sick of being told how to avoid being a target and insist the blame rests on the perpetrators of these crimes” (Perrie, 2021) women are sick of being blamed for being raped, killed sexual assaulted/harassment etc or, not being taken seriously, due to what we wear, how we look or how we act. For Sarah, she was wearing brightly coloured normal clothes and flat running shoes. She had no ear phones in and was on the phone to her boyfriend. None of which suggest ‘she was asking for it’ like how everyone labels women. “younger women are constantly modifying their behaviour in an attempt to avoid being objectified or attacked” (Topping, 2021).
With regards to how I feel, it’s sad and scary. I feel this will spark a whole movement for women. This does highlight those cases where men use their hierarchy and patriarchy status for power and control, like the panopticon effect by Foucault. This made me reflect on my current work, Chomp Chomp feels aggressive and the laugh mid way reflects the current situation of men using and abusing women freely because they have control.
Reflection 21/04/21: And Sweet Tooth B&W. It feels destructive and very male dominated regarding the beard and the aggressive bite, which is the aim to exploit this through female experience.
