Presentation Type
Poster
Full Name of Faculty Mentor
Stephanie Miller, Visual Arts; Elizabeth Howie, Visual Arts
Major
Graphic Design
Presentation Abstract
"A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte" is an iconic painting by French artist Georges Seurat that features a group of elegantly dressed Parisians spending a leisurely Sunday afternoon on the banks of the Seine. While the painting is widely celebrated for its technical brilliance, it is also notable for the way it reflects the social norms and cultural values of 19th-century France. One such norm was the objectification and exploitation of Black women's bodies, exemplified by the tragic story of Sarah Baartman, a South African woman who was paraded across Europe as a spectacle because of her body. The bustle, a fashion accessory worn by the woman in the painting, was an earlier example of how Black women's bodies were used as a means of fashion and entertainment. Deborah Willis's book "They Called Her" "Hottentot"" explores Baartman's story and the way it reflects larger issues of race, gender, and colonialism. Similarly, the film "Imitation of Life" by Fannie Hurst also delves into issues of race and exploitation through the story of a Black woman who passes for white in order to succeed in the film industry. Overall, "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte" can be appreciated not only for its artistic merit but also for its reflection of the cultural and social values of its time. The painting serves as a reminder of the way Black women's bodies have been objectified and exploited throughout history, and how we must continue to work towards greater respect for all.
Start Date
13-4-2023 12:00 PM
End Date
13-4-2023 2:00 PM
Disciplines
Graphic Design
Recommended Citation
Hagood, Tiquasha, "Imitation Of Life" (2023). Undergraduate Research Competition. 103.
https://digitalcommons.coastal.edu/ugrc/2023/fullconference/103
Included in
Imitation Of Life
"A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte" is an iconic painting by French artist Georges Seurat that features a group of elegantly dressed Parisians spending a leisurely Sunday afternoon on the banks of the Seine. While the painting is widely celebrated for its technical brilliance, it is also notable for the way it reflects the social norms and cultural values of 19th-century France. One such norm was the objectification and exploitation of Black women's bodies, exemplified by the tragic story of Sarah Baartman, a South African woman who was paraded across Europe as a spectacle because of her body. The bustle, a fashion accessory worn by the woman in the painting, was an earlier example of how Black women's bodies were used as a means of fashion and entertainment. Deborah Willis's book "They Called Her" "Hottentot"" explores Baartman's story and the way it reflects larger issues of race, gender, and colonialism. Similarly, the film "Imitation of Life" by Fannie Hurst also delves into issues of race and exploitation through the story of a Black woman who passes for white in order to succeed in the film industry. Overall, "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte" can be appreciated not only for its artistic merit but also for its reflection of the cultural and social values of its time. The painting serves as a reminder of the way Black women's bodies have been objectified and exploited throughout history, and how we must continue to work towards greater respect for all.