Rochester Institute of Technology RIT Scholar Works Theses 12-6-2016 Feminist Complaint Department Sarah Taavola
[email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.rit.edu/theses Recommended Citation Taavola, Sarah, "Feminist Complaint Department" (2016). Thesis. Rochester Institute of Technology. Accessed from This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by RIT Scholar Works. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses by an authorized administrator of RIT Scholar Works. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. ROCHESTER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of The College of Imaging Arts and Sciences School of Art In Candidacy for the Degree of MASTER OF FINE ARTS in Fine Arts Studio Feminist Complaint Department by Sarah Taavola 12/06/2016 Thesis Approval Thesis Title: Feminist Complaint Department Thesis Author: Sarah Taavola Chief Advisor: Elizabeth Kronfield __________________________________ (Signature) Date: ____________________ Associate Advisor: Michaël Amy _______________________________ (Signature) Date: ____________________ Associate Advisor: Heidi Nickisher _______________________________ (Signature) Date: ____________________ Chair, School of Art: Glen Hintz ___________________________ (Signature) Date: _____________________ ABSTRACT This body of work and research is focused upon finding connections between the artist’s personal trajectory, Surrealist ideology, and Feminist texts. Starting with the Surrealist’s ideology of the unconscious, dreams, and use of objects, the artist investigates the eroticism and fetishization of female imagery. Surrealist work is brimming with portrayals of women as man’s mediator, muse, femme-enfant [child- woman], source and object of man’s desire, and the embodiment of l’amour fou [crazy love]. These representations of women depicted through fragmented female bodies transform into objects to be easily used and consumed, like furniture or food.