At first,I found this project extremely frustrating, since there was almost no option for planning ahead. In assemblage, the source of its meaning is often provided in the materials. When we walked into that thrift shop, I had no idea of what my assemblage was going to be about, because I did not know what my objects were going to be yet. We had twenty minutes, so I rushed around, searching for something to pique my interest. I saw the bag of Barbies and I immediately knew what I wanted to do. I noticed a wooden jewelry box, with a mirror in it, which showed potential.I found a large, red, lacy bra. I searched through the books and decided upon a cheap erotic novel. In the checkout line I picked up an old bottle of red nail polish.
I want people to feel confused and disturbed when they view this piece, for I am confused and disturbed by the reality that it represents. A woman’s body experiences a great deal of pressure. I have noticed that Christian women are pulled in two different directions, both of which have potential to create atrocities that plague our minds and our bodies. We are disfigured by the expectations of secular society and purity culture.
For Christian women there is a pressure for their body to fit the idealized mold of beauty, be sexually attractive, and yet be modest and pure. Not fulfilling the expectations of these societies challenges women to change themselves or be ashamed. Secular society provides women with unattainable goals regarding their bodies, shame driving them to change in order to reach them. Purity culture often shames women into covering themselves up to help men control their lusts, teaching them to hate their bodies. The sinful nature of premarital sex is so drilled into us, that some women feel guilty, even on their wedding night. With these influences, our bodies are expected to be sexually appealing, yet pure. This is confusing.
Many women are so distraught by the reality of these pressures, that they alter themselves in dangerous ways. Many girls experience malnutrition through their eating disorders. Plastic surgery is on the rise. Failure to meet expectations can contribute to mental illness, which can influence someone to cut themselves. This is disturbing.
In both cases, women are depersonalized, often seen as only a body to be used for someone else’s’ pleasure. Our bodies must be pleasing to society’s eye, stimulating the lust of men around us. Our sexuality is treated as non-existent before marriage, and even then, often only as a means for a husbands gratification.
The red represents society’s expectation, and the white the expectation of purity culture. I altered the Barbies to represent eating disorders, plastic surgery, and self-harm. The self-harm Barbies’ cuts are made with the red nail polish. I also painted all of the Barbies nails red. The one in the front, with her scarred arms outstretched, holds society in one hand, and purity in the other. The Barbie in the front is contorted into the classic alluring pose, wearing lingerie and a veil, symbolizing a bride. She is held in that position, her hand and legs screwed together, hinting to chastity and meeting a husbands expectations. The screw that holds her to the jewelry box is also what holds the Barbie with the outstretched arms. She is able to tilt back and forth, pulled between the two societies. Legs are arranged throughout the piece, splayed open. The lingerie, stockings, and several other things, were made from the lace of the bra I deconstructed.
Flowers in this piece represent pleasure. The red flowers, made by the excessive stuffing of the bra, are the pleasures of society. The white flower underneath the bride is the husband’s pleasure. The paper flowers, made from the pages of the erotic novel, are the women’s pleasures, which does not match the color scheme, unimportant in these two societies.
The arms of the Barbies create a box of space, allowing the viewer to look into the mirror, and see their face where the Barbies face should be.
Making this piece was an interesting experience. The hair of the Barbies was a mess, so I had to brush it. I tenderly brushed their hair, caring for them. Then I proceeded to destroy them. It is both confusing and disturbing that we care for our little girls, then as they mature into women, we destroy them.
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