Martha Rosler: Irrespective
When we think of art, we imagine very articulate and imaginative paintings with easy to comprehend meaning and complex colors. Often these paintings define our definition of art, restricting the diverse genre of art to a very specific style However, art is much broader than such a narrow field of expression. The category of Avant-garde art pushes the boundaries of traditional art and challenges the accepted norms and guidelines of accepted art. Martha Rosler, an American artist, embraces this genre of art and uses various mediums in order to present radical and thought provoking art. She challenges the image of women in society by presenting very abstract art pieces to convey her message.
In the art piece shown above, North American Waitress, Coffee-Shop Variety, Rosler challenges the treatment of women workers in the food-service industry in the 1970s. She experiments her presentation of ideas by displaying it in a memesis of a scientific point-and-label diagram. By using such an abstract way of presenting her message, Rosler brings attention to the way women were patronized and discriminated against in the food-service industry. She highlights the various restrictions placed upon women, such as the need to have cleanly pressed collars, well-polished shoes and slip concealed skirts. This utilization of her abstract art brings more attention to the plight of women in the 70s than a regular painting might. It allows for the representation of a larger issue of sexism in the 70s and its various forms in different industries.
Rosler’s usage of the scientific point-and-label diagram, allows her to highlight specific and outlandish restrictions women faced in the workforce. This underlying idea serves to politicize this artwork and makes it a far grander art piece, in terms of meaning, than a simple diagram. By pointing to specific aspects of a woman’s uniform in the food-service industry, Rosler highlights the larger issue of discrimination against women; a political issue. The presentation of a larger political issue molds the art piece into a political statement and serves to present the ideas of inequality. Such display of hurdles that women faced, allows for subconscious comparison with men and furthers the need for equality between men and women.
The combination of Rosler’s experimentation and the underlying political message of the art piece serves to enhance the overall message and impact of the art. The radical and boundary-shattering presentation of sexist ideas and restrictions against women stretch the extent of simplicity behind the art piece and allow for a profoundly displayed message.
I love this piece of artwork and I am so happy you commented on it, because I forgot to take a picture of it, and now I get to comment on this post. When I looked at this image, I was immediately brought back to thoughts from my elementary and high school days. Even my time in seminary in Israel last year on my gap year. In Jewish tradition there is a law that women are supposed to dress modestly. According to most Rabbis, this means that you should wear a skirt that covers your knees, a shirt whose collar covers the collarbone, and sleeves should approach the elbow. No revealing part of a women’s body should be showing. This piece of artwork took be back to a time when I was in elementary school and I wore a little v neck shirt, and my teacher saw my collarbone. She took me into her office and showed me a diagram of a girl’s body and pointed to the neck area and said that I have to cover that part of my body. It was degrading and embarrassing for me, a 6th grader to be called out like that in an office of authority. Just like you point out that the American waitresses were patronized in the restaurants, I felt patronized too. I identify with this piece or art and I am happy that you chose this piece to talk about, to shed light on an important subject.
Suhaib, I really like that you chose this work of art because it definitely has elements of Avant-Garde. I agree with you that her piece is experimental in the sense that she used a very unique way to present her message that women are discriminated in the food industry, but I think Rosler may be taking it a step further by suggesting that women are discriminated in general opportunities by being allowed only low level jobs such as being a waitress. Overall, great job on this post.