My exhibition titled The Parasites of Society: An Analysis of Male Objectification and Ideals For Women in In An Artist’s Studio analyses and exposes the male Victorian standards and treatment of women that existed in the 1800s and in Christina Rossetti's In An Artist's Studio. In the poem, Rossetti writes about a male artist who's studio features paintings of only one woman. Although he paints the woman in an attractive, favorable way, it becomes obvious that this is not how the woman truly exists. Rather, she is sorrowful, and lacks an identity and voice. The male artist, who seemed to be innocently painting a lovely lady on canvas, turned out to be rather egocentric, and supresses the woman. Christina Rossetti's intention for writing this poem- as well as other poems and stories alike- was to bring attention to the Victorian society in which she grew up in. Being raised very religious, she was even constantly surrounded by men who believed that women must look and act a certain way. In an effort to call attention to these unjust sexist expectations, she began writing poems like this one. This exhibit encompasses some backround on Rossetti's upbringing and the society that existed around her, as well as the male objectification of women that exists within In An Artist's Studio.
Credits
Juliana Saric