Les Objets; The Objectifying Relationship Between the Woman and her Clothing

Abstract

The French philosopher and feminist writer, Simone de Beauvoir, stated in her treatise, The Second Sex, that a woman "knows that when she is looked at she is not considered apart from her appearance: she is judged, respected, desired, by and through her [dress]." The book, written over fifty years ago, highlights the inequalities between sexes, and the treatment of women throughout history. It is startling that this statement is as relevant in 2014 as it was in 1949. After realizing that the status of objectified women has remained relatively static for half a century, I was curious to delve into the ways women were objectified hundreds of years ago. With an understanding of female objectification, and a love for France and French culture, I turned to the 18th century French aristocratic court of Marie Antoinette, the Queen of Fashion. This beautiful clothing and aesthetic captured my imagination, but I wanted to take a look at it all through a critical feminist lens. In reaction to the seemingly obvious objectifying nature of these garments, I created a series of three large-scale wearable sculptures reminiscent of the clothing worn in the high French court during the late18th century. Through the objectifying design of the sculptures, as well as the interaction between the performer and the piece she is wearing, viewers will observe how women were objectified in these garments, and how they are still objectified today.