contextual research for FMP

1. CONTEXTUAL RESEARCH -
FMP
Jodie Wood

2. INITIAL REACTION
My first thought for this project was to explore the theme of feminism found
in art. Seeing examples of Perry’s work made me think of my previous
fanzine project where I researched the Riot Grrrl Era in the 90s. Perry’s Pre-
Therapy Years work were made during the Riot Grrrl Era and he was heavily
influenced by society around him.
Recently, I’ve found myself being more interested in the history of feminism
and how it inspired a vast number of media – films, books, songs, print, art
etc. Even before I was offered the Grayson Perry project, I wanted to create a
print project based around feminism and want to combine the two for my
project. This project is slightly different as I have to find a way to display it
digitally, as it will be going into an art gallery.
Alternatively, I wanted to create a short documentary about the topic at
hand, however, due to the pandemic, I had to shift my ideas slightly and
choose a digital print project, meaning that I could do it from home, without
having to make contact with people. I prefer doing print-based projects
anyway because I find that I have more control about ever aspect of the
project – colours, lighting, structure, content – things that you can’t always

3. INITIAL REACTION
Big influences for this project are the likes of Frida Kahlo, Grayson Perry and
other artists who explore different kinds of identity and femininity in their
artwork. I’ve like it when art has different meanings, and it can be inferred in
different ways to the individual person. This immediately brings to mind
different media theories – Reception Theory by Stuart Hall and Uses and
Gratifications theory. For my research, I will explore these different theories
and how they are used in art to convey messages.
I really want to explore how powerful the feminist movement is – especially
in art – and how identity differs from people. I think research different types
of identity and what they really mean will help me understand how they are
used in art.
I want my final product to look very clean, polished and minimalist, to create
a quiet but powerful aesthetic. I will look at different art
blogs/websites/magazines/brochures for different design ideas when it
comes to the production of my project.

4. mood
board

5. Basic,
minimal
editing
style to
create an
inviting,
knowledgea
ble look –
fits in with
art
brochuresVery quiet colour scheme,
allowing the art pieces
featured inside to standout –
this will bring out the
vibrance in the artworks.
This also means that the
colours won’t overwhelm the
page, making it loud, rather
then reserved.
Bold text
used for
the main
title,
contrasting
with the
very light
text used
for the
smaller
catchlines
under the
main titles.
This is the
same for
Using a minimalist design will contrast with the topic at
hand. Simpler designs add a sense of poise and
professionalism that it quite reached with a louder editing
style – mainly used by tabloids and informal magazines. A
minimalist style invites readers in by using very simple but
very effective editing techniques which make the reader see
a cleaner more professional cover, making the magazine

6. LIGHT RESEARCH

7. THE WAVES OF FEMINISM

8. FIRST-WAVE FEMINISM
First wave feminism is the first act of feminism shown in history. First wave
took place during the 19th and 20th century and its most famous
achievement was votes for women. This was achieved by the works of the
group The Suffragettes.
It was in 1792 when writer Mary Wollstonecraft brought up the idea of
gender equality. Her work inspired the Suffragettes to take shape and fight
for their rights. To this day, she is known as the fore-mother of British
feminism.
However, it was only middle-class white women who were involved in first
wave feminism, it wasn’t until second wave feminism when women of colour
and a different class were given a voice. This is most due to societal views of
race and class at the time, meaning that women in different classes or races
weren’t seen as equals – even with their own gender.
First wave feminism dates back as far as 1809, when action began to take

9. FIRSTWAVE
FEMINISM

10. SECOND WAVE FEMINISM
Second wave feminism took place in the 1960s, beginning in the United
States. This lasted almost 2 decades, spreading all over the world. Different
from first-wave feminism, second wave feminism tackled topics such as
sexuality, family, the workplace, reproductive rights, and official legal
inequalities. It focused on demolishing male dominated institutions,
question the patriarchy and cultural practices in society.
This was a major wave as it brought attention to sexual assault, rape,
domestic violence and women’s shelters. It brought changes in custody and
divorce laws.
Second wave hit everywhere. Songs were inspired by the movement, making
them still iconic to this day. An example of this is ‘I Am A Woman’ by
Australian artist Helen Reddy. It was about being a women and loving it,
empowering the movement even more.
The movement triggered the use of birth control for women around society,
making unwanted pregnancies to be less frequent.
It was harder for women of colour to fight for their rights, as society
discriminated against them for the colour of their skin, as well as their
gender.

11. SECOND WAVE
FEMINISM

12. FEMINIST SEX WARS
Feminist sex wars took place in-between second and third wave feminism.
This wave tackled issues surround sexuality and sexual activity.
This topic split the community in two, those for and against the issues. The
issues in question were pornography, erotica, prostitution, lesbian sexual
practices, the role of transgender women in the lesbian community,
sadomasochism and other sexual issues.
Anti-pornography - This movement battled against the sexualization of
women's bodies in media. Groups fought legally with big names such as
Rolling Stone and their 1976 album Black and Blue, the film Snuff, and
violence against women in pornography and media. They also argued that
porn was made by men for men, not taking women into account.
Sex-positive – they argued that sex was a woman’s pleasure and shouldn’t
be demoted.
Prostitution was also brought up in this debate, saying that it forced women
to do it because they had no alternatives. However, it was argued that not

13. F
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14. THIRD WAVE FEMINISM
The 90s gave us the third wave of feminism – the Riot Grrrl Era. This began
in the United States in Olympia, Washington by a group of punk feminists.
Third wave feminism tackled subjects such as intersectionality, sex
positivity, vegetarian ecofeminism, transfeminism, and postmodern
feminism. They embraced individualism and diversity and started to define
what it meant to be a feminist.
Third wave feminism was the most influential to modern feminism.
The second wave of feminism is often accused of being elitist and ignoring
groups such as women of colour and transgender women, instead, focusing
on white, middle class, cisgender women. Third wave feminists questioned
the beliefs of their predecessors and began to apply feminist theory to a
wider variety of women, who had not been previously included in feminist
activity.
One of the main goals of Third wave was contraception and birth control and
the reproductive rights of women. They also fought for reclaiming
derogatory terms as their own, embracing them rather then taking offence.
Sexual liberation was also a massive part of third wave feminism, claiming
that sexual liberation was a way for women to get their power back.

15. THIRD WAVE FEMINISM

16. FOURTH WAVE FEMINISM
This started in 2012, and is the current wave of feminism. This wave focuses
on the empowerment of women, intersectionality, using the internet to their
advantage.
Actions being made in this wave is decreasing the wage gap, campaigning
for equal pay and equal opportunities. This wave is different from the other,
because all women are equal within the community, rather then excluded.
The community itself has grown more powerful throughout all the waves as
it it has created a stronger bond and invited new members to join – from all
genders.
Social media has become a tool to the feminist community, allowing them to
reach people all over the world, teaching them about feminism and the
history. It is used to empower women, promoting women run businesses or
events.
In Europe and for Latinas, fourth wave feminism came earlier – in the 90s – it
has only now become a world wide wave.

17. FOURTH WAVE
FEMINISM

18. ARTISTS INFLUENCED BY
FEMININITY AND IDENTITY

19. GRAYSON PERRY

20. WHO IS GRAYSON PERRY?
Grayson Perry started out as an artist and later came on to be a presenter on
television and a writer. He is most known for his ceramics, tapestries and his
cross-dressing personality, Claire. He explored topics such as femininity,
identity, sexuality, gender and societal problems in his art.
The main exhibition of his work that I will be looking at are his Pre-Therapy
Years. This was a line of ceramics made in the 80s and 90s, heavily inspired
by society at the time and questioning gender stereotypes and identity. It
was also inspired by Perry’s personal history.
Perry had an abusive child-hood, he wasn’t accepted by his family for
wanting to dress feminine. He left his mother’s house to live with his father
after his stepfather was abusive and violent towards him. After moving in in
with his father, his sister found his journal where he wrote about wanting to
dress in women’s clothes and was thrown out by his father. He went back to
live with his mother until he left for university.

21. Perry’s
work

22. LUBAINA HIMID

23. LUBAINA HIMID
Himid was born in Zanzibar Sultanate. Her art focuses on reclaiming
historical identities. She was one of the first artists involved in the
Black Art Movement in the 80s. She was appointed an MBE for
Services to Black Women’s Art. She has organized many different
exhibition for black women artists.
Her work revolves around slavery in Europe and reclaiming the
identities of their motherlands. Her work takes a different shape then
the other artist I have looked at because she studied theater design.
She fought fiercely for black artists to be taken seriously, creating
paintings which display her frustration with how society acts towards
black people - women in particular.
She studied art and design constantly as she worked, sharpening her
work. She used clothes in her paintings to create a secret language
for the women in her paintings.

24. Himid’s
work

25. FRIDA KAHLO

26. FRIDA KAHLO
Kahlo attended the renowned National Preparatory School in Mexico City in
the year of 1922. There are only thirty-five female students enrolled in that
school and she soon became famous for her outspokenness and bravery.
Here, she met muralist Diego Rivera for the first time.
After sustaining serious injuries, Kahlo completed her first self portrait as
she was healing. "I paint myself because I am often alone and I am the
subject I know best“
"Really I do not know whether my paintings are surrealist or not, but I do
know that they are the frankest expression of myself“
Kahlo used her portraits to show pain that she felt from the accident and
during her life.
In the 9070s, after Kahlo had died, she became a massive part in the
feminist movement, as she was an icon for female creativity.
She played with self expression is her art and her identity and experiences as
a woman. She is a key part of modern feminism.

27. Kahlo’s work