Aesthetics for Birds

Aesthetics and Philosophy of Art for Everyone

Diana Tietjens Meyers on Women’s House (sunglasses)

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This is entry #39 in our 100 Philosophers, 100 Artworks, 100 Words Series.

Philosopher: Diana Tietjens Meyers, University of Connecticut, Storrs

Artwork:Women’s House (Sunglasses)Sanja Iveković, 2002-present, Inkjet print, 100 x 70 cm

Words: Gender for women and girls: glamour plus violence. Iveković appropriates advertisements in which elegant models wear expensive sunglasses and complexifies the message by adding a red strip with the name of a shelter for battered women and a white rectangle with the name, nationality, age, and story of a woman who took refuge there. These glamour-pusses wear fancy shades to hide black eyes inflicted by violent men. Works in this series of jarring juxtapositions have appeared in art museum exhibitions and plastered on the walls of city streets. Wonderful that they are equally at home in both venues.

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