The Woman from Willendorf caught my attention because it can be connected to our view of women in our society. When I say view, I mean the ideal physical body that society implies to women, usually through media. If you look at this figure you can see that it is a healthy, full woman with exaggerated curves. As the reading said, the artist may have been trying to express health and fertility. To people back then, curves seemed to be a thing of beauty. As I look through magazines and TV shows today, I don't think our media tries to send that same message of health and fertility. Today, women are praised if they are thinner, even if it they look sick or unhealthy. More and more women ask themselves if they are "too big" or "too fat" because what they see the most is other women who are thin and considered "chic." So with that said, I ask myself how did things change so drastically since the Woman from Willendorf? Why don't we also see these exaggrated curves as beautiful and healthy? Some people claim that we are beginning to accept curvier women more and more. But in my opinion, the look of being very thin is always going to be popular and implied as ideal through the media. The Woman from Willendorf really makes me think about how times have changed!
1 comment:
Very good comparison! I too have noticed that the sculptures and paintings of women used to portay us as full figured and healthy. A women then with curves was seen as strong enough to bear chilren and to live through harsh weather conditions. She was also seen as beautiful. The imagery of women has changed drastically over the last few milleniums. I know fuller figured women used to be seen as "wealthy" at certain points in history. If you really stop to think about it it is only here in America that super thin has become the in thing. But the same people who see a piece of art like the Woman from Willendorf are the same people that look at a rounder woman and call her fat. Change starts with the individual. Sadly, I also think this super skinny trend is one of the reasons that women today are having such difficult times getting pregnant. I think that an appreciation for art can lead to an appreciation for others. It's kind of a wierd concept, but if you think about it it makes sense.
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