Art and Women Spring 2017: Semester Project: Gaming Justice for Girls

Monday, April 24, 2017

Semester Project: Gaming Justice for Girls

For my Semester Project, I created an Instagram profile named gamingjusticeforgirls as an attempt to expose, review, and critique objectifications that females receive in video games.

Why I did this?

I’ve always been a gamer for as long as I can remember. Gaming was always an escape from reality for me as well as many other people I know. However, the reality of the fact is video games are made by industries in the real world. Industries that use elements such as the Male Gaze in order to sell their products at the the cost of objectifying women in the sole products their players enjoy. These games are consumed by a large percentage of youth, which in turn has an effect on their perception of women later in life. Many of these consequences of the objectification of women in video games are unknown to the majority of the population.

What is @gamingjusticeforgirls about?

Gamingjusticeforgirls is about taking video games in the media, whether popular or unpopular, and exposing the sexist themes it presents and how women are objectified in it. Now this is not limited to (but certainly does include) women being overly sexualized in video games and being portrayed in such a way to satisfy the male gaze. It also includes women being forced into the role of Damsel in Distress where females in the game are portrayed as weak and dainty, needing to almost always be rescued by the main (male) protagonist as an assurance of gender dominance. The profile is meant to expose these themes of objectifications and explain why their mistakes should not be repeated.

What's posted on Instagram?
For the most, each game that is posted features a video that highlights the objectification of women in said game. A few of the videos will have other sources such as Anita Sarkeesian's Feminist Frequency videos to support the objectification is being brought to light in the post, or to expand on a term defined in the post. Now if the content in the game is too graphic for the viewer to witness there are caution signs in the captions to avoid anything someone wouldn't want to to see. Also if the content from the game itself is too graphic for Instagram's guidelines, then only a cover photo of the game will be posted as well as a detailed description of the game in the caption and how it objectifies women. Not everything posted is objectifications, posts such as the one about the game Life is Strange details about everything the game does right for it's main female protagonist and how it should be a goal to which game developers should aspire to when creative in depth female characters with incredible stories.

Username: @gamingjusticeforgirls

Work Cited

Sarkeesian,Anita. "Damsel in Distress: Part 1 - Tropes vs Women in Video Games."YouTube. YouTube, 07 Mar. 2013. Web. 24 Apr. 2017.

"New Super Mario Bros." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2017.

Sarkeesian, Anita. "Lingerie Is Not Armor - Tropes vs Women in Video Games." YouTube. YouTube, 06 June 2016. Web. 24 Apr. 2017.

SmashbrosCh. "Super Smash Bros. – Bayonetta Gets Wicked!" YouTube. YouTube, 15 Dec. 2015. Web. 24 Apr. 2017.

SEGAEurope. "Bayonetta™ - Official Launch Trailer." YouTube. YouTube, 08 Jan. 2010. Web. 24 Apr. 2017.

Arnots2. "Senran Kagura: Peach Beach Splash (2017) Official Gameplay Trailer #2 - PS4."YouTube. YouTube, 17 Feb. 2017. Web. 24 Apr. 2017.

Gamespot. "Life Is Strange - Trailer." YouTube. YouTube, 17 Dec. 2014. Web. 24 Apr. 2017.

Gunn, James. Lollipop chainsaw. Warner Brothers. Interactive Entertainment. Xbox 360.

Senran Kagura: Peach Beach Splash. Marvelous. Playstation 4.

New Super Mario Bros. Nintendo of America Inc., Nintendo DS

Life is strange. Computer software. Square Enix, n.d. Web.

Mystique.Custer’s Revenge. Atari 2600.

Bayonetta. Wii. Sega of America , 2009. Web.
Auerbach, David. "Was This the Most Sexist Video Game of All Time?" Slate Magazine. N.p., 24 July 2014. Web. 27 Apr. 2017.
IGNentertainment. "Catherine or Katherine: Trailer." YouTube. YouTube, 21 June 2011. Web. 27 Apr. 2017.
TheRadBrad. "Catherine: Ending - Catherine True Ending [5 of 8] (Gameplay)." YouTube. YouTube, 06 Aug. 2011. Web. 27 Apr. 2017.
TheRadBrad. "Catherine: Ending - Katherine True Ending [1 of 8] (Gameplay)." YouTube. YouTube, 03 Aug. 2011. Web. 27 Apr. 2017.
Hochschartner, Jon. "“The Legend of Zelda” Is Classist, Sexist and Racist." Salon. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2017.
https://rlv.zcache.com/girl_power_electronic_symbol_for_gamer_female_sign_poster-r83c6817e3040486e86e99bb682b6c071_wvk_8byvr_324.jpg

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FINAL EXAM Tuesday, 5/9 at 3pm

Study Guide for the FINAL EXAM can be found here

NO NEW READINGS

SEMESTER PROJECTS DUE 4/24 by 11:59pm

-You must create a post on the blog for your project. This post will be part of your project grade. The post must include a link to your project (including pdf projects) online.

-Include a resource list and bibliography at the end of your post listing your research and inspiration.

-The presentation/post of your project should be a "pitch" or short description of what you have made and should be clear, inspiring and high energy. Imagine you are trying to have a group decide to fund your project for further development this is how you should present the summary on the blog.

-All projects MUST be published and distributed to an audience (outside of the class) before presenting in class. Please include appropriate links to your projects online in your post!

-Print projects such as paper zines, essays and pamphlets must be handed in to me in class. Please provide descriptions of how these have been or will be distributed to an audience online or in print.

EXTRA CREDIT POST (5%)

due Saturday 4/29 on the blog

Visit the Brooklyn Museum or Gateway Projects Space or another exhibition of your choosing that focuses on a female artist or artists. Suggestions:

The Dinner Party by Judy Chicago at the Brooklyn Museum

Marilyn Minter: Pretty/Dirty at the Brooklyn Museum

The Gateway Projects/ Project For Empty Space Gallery: Hiba Schahbaz: Self Portraits at Gateway Center in Newark, NJ

http://www.projectforemptyspace.org/current1/

*You may find and choose another exhibition - email me if you would like to check if it is appropriate before visiting and completing the assignment.

Observe the exhibition(s) extensively and read any supporting materials, wall text and curatorial statements. Do additional research to help you place the work in historical context and to read any scholarship and critique that has been published about the work. Use your experience in the gallery and your research to answer the following questions:

What themes are explored in the work of the artist and in the exhibition? How does the work address gender, patriarchy and feminism? How does the medium and scale influence the messages? How does the exhibition and supporting materials relate to the message of the work? Does the curatorial work add to or change the work of the artist? Is the venue (gallery/museum) important? Does how the audience sees the work (where, when and how) change its meaning or effect? Does seeing the work itself and not a reproduction online or in a text change the impression, meaning or impact of a work? How is this important to the discussion of art?

Use examples from the artist(s) work to illustrate and briefly explain various themes we have discussed throughout the course about gender, race, class and art history. Be sure to illustrate your post with various images. Please reference the Brooklyn Museum and/or the exhibitions you visit extensively. Cite any research!

~800 words, citations and bibliographic info and several images with captions MUST include images you have taken at the exhibition. See the checklist for blog posts below for guidelines to remember when editing your post.

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Due 4/18

NO NEW READINGS - work on your semester projects

Post 4 due 4/18

Can you name 5 women artists?

Concentrating on contemporary artists, choose 5 women artists to illustrate and briefly explain various themes we have discussed throughout the course about gender, race, class and art history.

You can organize your post into genres, 'isms, political or societal messages, aesthetics, techniques or personal narratives. You must choose a clear thesis and the 5 artists carefully. Your post MUST include artists working today. Be sure to illustrate your post with various images (and/or videos) and to cite your research. Please reference the Brooklyn Museum and the exhibitions of the Sackler Center if you visit.

Feel free to include or tie in the topic of your final assignment if appropriate. You can use this opportunity to dive into that research for this post if you can find overlap.

~1000 words, citations and bibliographic info and MANY images with captions.

__________________
Due 4/11
NO NEW READINGS - work on your semester projects

Semester Projects are now all due on the blog at midnight on 4/24 BEFORE our last class meeting.

++Semester Projects will no longer be presented in class.++

Blog posts will be 10% of your project grade so spend time forming these. Think of the blog post as a summary as well as "pitch" to the class of your project.

Group 8 presents (Marely, Aritha, Shani, Ny-Asha)

__________________

Due 4/4

READINGS:Chadwick, Ch.13 pg. 378-422

Post 3 Modernism

What is modernism? How did women artists in Europe influence the techniques and development of modernism and the movements of abstraction, german expressionism, dada and surrealism? What important circumstances aided these and how were women integral in applying the techniques of design and craft in these new approaches to art? Please include examples of each and the specifics of these new approaches to art and art-making of the 20C.

~800 words. Include citations of the class readings in your post (Chadwick and Guerrilla Girls). Please be sure to include at least five images (examples) and two links. See checklist below for other issues to consider and include in your post.

POST CHECKLIST: Refer to this checklist for guidance on the post structure and expectations

-Images should have captions. What is the image? Why is it included? Is it referenced in your text?

-Edit!! grammar, spelling, sentence and paragraph structure.

-Links must link! -please make sure your links LINK. Why is the link included? Think about how the hyperlink is used online. Integrate your links into your writing. They should augment the information provided.

-Images must be sized correctly and should fit in the body of the blog.

-Check your formats in general. Spacing issues, indentations, font sizes, are your images appearing correctly?

-In body CITATIONS of the READINGS (author, pg)

-Include a brief "works cited" at the bottom of the post with the two (or more) readings you are citing from.

TWO TWEETS tagged #artandwomen

Group 7 presents

_______________

Due 3/28

READING: Chadwick, Ch.12 +13, pg.355-422 , Guerrilla Girls pg. 80-91

UPDATED FULL PROJECT PROPOSAL WITH RESOURCES

~One page - printed and handed in - explaining the topic you have chosen to focus on and research, the medium you hope to explore in creating your project (research paper, essay, video, art project etc.) See the project description on the syllabus for more details and to help formulate and design your project. This is a very self-designed assignment. Please use this opportunity to plan a project that focuses on your talents, your strengths and as an opportunity to learn and explore something of your choosing.

Please be as specific as possible. Also include some RESEARCH you have done or are planning, inspirational examples you are looking to as models and other resources you plan to use. Remember that this should be a portfolio piece for you. Be thoughtful in designing how this project might best fit into your professional ambitions.

Group 6 AND Group 7 present

TWO TWEETS tagged #artandwomen

__________________

Enjoy your Spring break! No class Tuesday 3/14

Due 3/21

READINGS: Chadwick, Ch. 9 + 10 pg.252-315, Guerrilla Girls pg.59-79 AND Chadwick, Ch.14 pg.423-466, Guerrilla Girls pg. 80-88

Group 5 presents

TWO TWEETS tagged #artandwomen

________________

MIDTERM EXAM IS 3/7 in class at 2:30pm

Slide List for the midterm exam

POST 2 DUE 3/7**

(**extension)

What were the expected roles of women in Europe in the Middle Ages? How did roles for women change throughout the Renaissance and into the 19C? Please explain how these roles influenced the lives of women artists and the subjects of their work. Using references to the readings and to discussions in class, please use examples through the 19C to illustrate the challenges women artists faced. How did they overcome these or reference them in their work?

~800 words. Include citations of the class readings in your post (Chadwick and Guerrilla Girls). Please be sure to include at least three images and two links. See checklist below for other issues to consider and include in your post.

Refer to this checklist for guidance on the post structure and expectations:

-Images should have captions. What is the image? Why is it included? Is it referenced in your text?

-Edit!! grammar, spelling, sentence and paragraph structure.

-Images must be sized correctly and should fit in the body of the blog.

-Check your formats in general. Spacing issues, indentations, font sizes, are your images appearing correctly?

-In body CITATIONS of the READINGS (author, pg)

-Include a brief "works cited" at the bottom of the post with the two (or more) readings you are citing from.

No Readings Due

No Group Presentations

No Tweets

_______________

Due Tuesday 2/28

READINGS: Chadwick, Ch.8 Impressionism pg.228-250

SEMESTER PROJECT TOPIC DUE 2/28

Choose a possible topic for your semester project. Type up a few sentences (or a whole page) with the idea you would like to pursue. You will hand this in at the beginning of class. Your topic can focus on an artist, a genre, a style, a social issue addressed by an artist/artists, a collective of artists, artists as activists, a particular theme throughout several artists' work, a specific artwork analyzed, etc. Please specify how you plan to share this project with an audience. We will discuss these ideas further in class.

*Remember this project should fit into YOUR portfolio and also satisfy something that you want to accomplish.

TWO TWEETS tagged #artandwomen

________________

Due 2/21

READINGS: Chadwick Ch.6 pg.175-204, Ch.7 pg.205-227 and Guerilla Girls pg.47-57

Group 3 presents

TWO TWEETS tagged #artandwomen

________________

CLASS CANCELLED 2/7

There is no class today. Please review readings due today for next week. Post 1 is due on the blog before 11:59 tonight 2/7. I will adjust the syllabus to reflect today's cancelled class.

Due Tuesday 2/7

READINGS due: Chadwick, Ch. 4 + 5 pg.115-174, Guerrilla Girls pg.39-45

POST 1 due: Male Gaze

Please answer the following questions based on the readings and class discussion. Use your own experiences and realizations to help illustrate your understanding of the material. You must cite from the readings in order to explain and analyze the arguments made in the readings.

What is the male gaze (as described by John Berger) and why is it pervasive in art and in popular culture? Give illustrative examples. What is patriarchy (as described by bell hooks)? Give examples. How have you come to understand these structures and in what ways has this understanding changed your views about various art and media examples and of your own identity and role in these structures?

~800 words. Include citations of the readings in your post. Please be sure to include at least two images and two links. Watch the videos (from class) to help your analysis.

Group 2 presents

TWO TWEETS tagged #artandwomen

_______________

Due Tuesday 1/31

*YOU MUST HAVE THE TEXTBOOKS

READINGS DUE:

Catch up on readings from last week

And Chadwick, Introduction and Ch. 1, 2 + 3 Guerrilla Girls pg.7-37

Group 1 presents!

MINI POST assignment due on the blog (if you have not already posted) assignment will be marked late unless you are newly registered for the class.

TWO TWEETS tagged #artandwomen

Post 1 will only be due Tuesday 2/7

____________

READINGS 1+2 ARE NOW AVAILABLE ON BLACKBOARD Apologies for the delay. Please read all 4 readings before class on 1/24.

Due Tuesday 1/24

READINGS DUE 4 readings total. see below.

On Blackboard:

two readings can be found as pdfs on the class Blackboard site under "Course Documents" in a folder called "Readings: Ways of Seeing"

1. John Berger, Ways of Seeing, Chapters 2+3

2. bell hooks, Understanding Patriarchy

Online:

3. Linda Nochlin, Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?http://deyoung.famsf.org/files/whynogreatwomenartists_4.pdf

From class texts:

4. Guerrilla Girls, pg.7-17

MINI POST due - Critical Artist Expression

(a SHORT POST on the blog)

Find and research a female identified artist whose work (you believe) critically addresses a cultural, social or political issue. Share this on the blog with a short description and one or more images of her work. If you have trouble posting to the blog, bring in the information about your artist to class as a print out.

TWO TWEETS tagged #artandwomen

___________________

Link to the Syllabus

Link to the Class Video Screenings

It is helpful that everyone in the course reviews several key terms crucial to the course material. Please review this important list of terms and some statistics on female artists in the art world.

Readings on the syllabus, unless otherwise specified, refer to chapters in your texts:

Whitney Chadwick's Women Art and Society

and

The Guerrilla Girls' Bedside Companion to the History of Western Art

**Additional readings can be found on the class Blackboard site and will be specified here for each class. Please check the blog for additional readings.