Red Ajah International Womens Week - Cultural Influence and Challenges

[theicewitch]

Welcome to Red Ajah International Women's Week Cultural Thread:

 

 

A woman's role in a patriarchal world was one of a shadow, an ornament or a work horse. She was to be seen and not heard and if She had opinions She kept those to herself. There were women whose brilliance was more often than not hidden behind a subservient smile at dinner when men of lesser intellect expounded on the truths of the day. They walked in and out of art galleries knowing that they too were capable of works that would rival those that hung on the walls but they also knew no one would look upon their works because they were just women and what did a woman know of art.

 

What we are here to celebrate are those women who refused to smile demurely on the sidelines of life. These are the women who took a chance and let their light shine amid the men who cried foul.

 

These women are those who took a chance, they are the women who painted, designed, guided nations, and tended the followers of many faiths. They did not stand by sidelines... they lead the way.

 

They took a chance, they risked life and limb, and they shined brightly.

 

 

 

We start with Women who took chances growing our cultural depths by bringing the arts into the realm of women.

 

 

 

 

Culture

 

I. The Arts

A. Painting

B. Architecture

C. Music

D. Other Creative fields dominated by men

 

 

I have included Links to help with the discussion.

 

Helpful Links:

 

Women Painters

http://en.wikipedia..../Judith_Leyster

http://en.wikipedia....ki/Mary_Cassatt

http://www.okeeffemu...g/her-life.aspx

 

 

Architecture

http://en.wikipedia...._Mahony_Griffin

http://architecture....saz/p/hadid.htm

http://www.centrecou.../keichline.html

 

Music

http://oboeclassics....bache/women.htm

 

 

Please feel free to share you opinions on women in the arts.

[theicewitch]

I studied art history while earning my BFA. We covered the masters of every era and at every turn I was greeted by men up until I turned a page and saw Mary Cassatt, a woman painter during the male dominated Impressionists Movement

 

 

I then went on to read about Georgia O'Keefe and her flowers

 

And was assaulted by optical art of Bridget Riley

 

But it wasn't until I took the course "Women in Art History" did I discover many well hidden art secrets. Well hidden from students who took traditional art history courses, well hidden from me, a young woman artist. Yes, one of the secrets I learned was a Dutch Golden Age Painter named Judith Leyster

 

 

These women went before me in a field dominated by men. They made it so I was not out of place in my major in my desired field of study. They went before me so that I could become who I am today, A woman artists. Granted I am a Graphic Designer type and not a painter but I started out in a studio surrounded by paint brushes and turpentine; Unabashedly painting, without worry or shame... my worthiness unquestioned because of my gender.

 

Something these women made it so I could do. Self Portrait 2004

 

 

Tell me your stories or share your favorite woman or women in any visual or performing arts. What did these women do for you?

[Moon Sedai]

While definitely not a "favorite woman," by any means, one woman of cultural note would be Leni Riefenstahl.

 

Never heard of her?

 

 

She was a dancer and actress in Weimar Germany who, in the 1930s became a director. She directed Triumph of the Will, a rather famous Documentary about the Nazi party, and Olympia, about the 1933 Berlin Olympics. In these two films, she created a number of film techniques still used today, including how to film mass audiences and ceremonies {like in Star Wars} and how to film sporting events.

 

 

Her films are complete Nazi Propoganda, and I do not encourage her films on that standpoint. Artistically, they are very beautiful. But, they sell the Third Reich and Hitler as something amazing.

 

She was the last living public figure connected to the Nazi party, and died only a few years ago at over 100.

 

I am currently taking a History course about Nazi Films.

[theicewitch]

I will have to look for a copy online tomorrow.

[Torrie]

Ahmoonda, I have never heard of her. While I don't agree with how she portrayed the Nazis, there were still people that loved Hitler. From what I understand, he was an amazing speaker and someone who was full of charm. For those reasons, people liked him, despite what he did.

 

How did she change mass audiences, ceremonies, and sports? What did she do differently?

 

 

I think one of my favorites is Dorothea Lange. She was a photographer who focused on depression era works. In 1918, she opened her own photography shop but later gave it up to study and document poverty and immigrant rural life.

 

One of her best known works is her 1932 Migrant Mother.

 

Her description of the mother of seven was:

I saw and approached the hungry and desperate mother, as if drawn by a magnet. I do not remember how I explained my presence or my camera to her, but I do remember she asked me no questions. I made five exposures, working closer and closer from the same direction. I did not ask her name or her history. She told me her age, that she was thirty-two. She said that they had been living on frozen vegetables from the surrounding fields, and birds that the children killed. She had just sold the tires from her car to buy food. There she sat in that lean-to tent with her children huddled around her, and seemed to know that my pictures might help her, and so she helped me. There was a sort of equality about it.

[theicewitch]

Ahmoonda, I have never heard of her. While I don't agree with how she portrayed the Nazis, there were still people that loved Hitler. From what I understand, he was an amazing speaker and someone who was full of charm. For those reasons, people liked him, despite what he did.

 

How did she change mass audiences, ceremonies, and sports? What did she do differently?

 

 

I think one of my favorites is Dorothea Lange. She was a photographer who focused on depression era works. In 1918, she opened her own photography shop but later gave it up to study and document poverty and immigrant rural life.

 

One of her best known works is her 1932 Migrant Mother.

 

Her description of the mother of seven was:

I saw and approached the hungry and desperate mother, as if drawn by a magnet. I do not remember how I explained my presence or my camera to her, but I do remember she asked me no questions. I made five exposures, working closer and closer from the same direction. I did not ask her name or her history. She told me her age, that she was thirty-two. She said that they had been living on frozen vegetables from the surrounding fields, and birds that the children killed. She had just sold the tires from her car to buy food. There she sat in that lean-to tent with her children huddled around her, and seemed to know that my pictures might help her, and so she helped me. There was a sort of equality about it.

 

She did some very lovely and touching work.

[Moon Sedai]

Riefenstahl designed the processes used to film sporting events. the "on the field camera" work you see while watching the Superbowl, she developed that.

She also found a way to clearly film mass groups of soldiers and crowds.

[theicewitch]

Riefenstahl designed the processes used to film sporting events. the "on the field camera" work you see while watching the Superbowl, she developed that.

She also found a way to clearly film mass groups of soldiers and crowds.

 

 

That is really quite impressive.... I bet few know that.

[Moon Sedai]

There is a scene at the end of "Star Wars" where a crowd of people stand and watch as Princess Leia gives a medal to Han and Luke, with Chewie standing as a guard.

 

That is almost a direct copy off of Riefenstahl's film style.

[poetstorm]

While definitely not a "favorite woman," by any means, one woman of cultural note would be Leni Riefenstahl.

 

Never heard of her?

 

 

She was a dancer and actress in Weimar Germany who, in the 1930s became a director. She directed Triumph of the Will, a rather famous Documentary about the Nazi party, and Olympia, about the 1933 Berlin Olympics. In these two films, she created a number of film techniques still used today, including how to film mass audiences and ceremonies {like in Star Wars} and how to film sporting events.

 

 

Her films are complete Nazi Propoganda, and I do not encourage her films on that standpoint. Artistically, they are very beautiful. But, they sell the Third Reich and Hitler as something amazing.

 

She was the last living public figure connected to the Nazi party, and died only a few years ago at over 100.

 

I am currently taking a History course about Nazi Films.

I've seen Triumph of the Will. Her filming skills were pretty awesome for the time.

 

Ahmoonda, I have never heard of her. While I don't agree with how she portrayed the Nazis, there were still people that loved Hitler. From what I understand, he was an amazing speaker and someone who was full of charm. For those reasons, people liked him, despite what he did.

 

How did she change mass audiences, ceremonies, and sports? What did she do differently?

 

 

I think one of my favorites is Dorothea Lange. She was a photographer who focused on depression era works. In 1918, she opened her own photography shop but later gave it up to study and document poverty and immigrant rural life.

 

One of her best known works is her 1932 Migrant Mother.

 

Her description of the mother of seven was:

I saw and approached the hungry and desperate mother, as if drawn by a magnet. I do not remember how I explained my presence or my camera to her, but I do remember she asked me no questions. I made five exposures, working closer and closer from the same direction. I did not ask her name or her history. She told me her age, that she was thirty-two. She said that they had been living on frozen vegetables from the surrounding fields, and birds that the children killed. She had just sold the tires from her car to buy food. There she sat in that lean-to tent with her children huddled around her, and seemed to know that my pictures might help her, and so she helped me. There was a sort of equality about it.

 

Now that is amazing. I'm so fascinated by stories from the depression. *runs to go find mroe of her pictures*

[theicewitch]

Today we Add to the Cultural Mix!

 

 

Today we are adding Women in Politics and Women's Rights into the mix. Cultures around the world are predominately patriarchal and that puts women at a disadvantage coming out of the gates. Many women have fought tooth and nail to be taken seriously in the political arena. Many have come before us in the Western world to gain us access to those arenas but many women are still fighting for the right to protect themselves and their daughters from the whims and prejudices of their societies.

 

Please add to our discussion of Women in Cultures and celebrate women in politics and their fight for rights as well as continuing with the Women who brought culutre our world with visual and performing arts.

 

 

II. Politics

A. Women in power

B. Women's roles in Eastern Cultures and Politics

C. Women's roles in Western Cultures and Politics

D. Pros and Cons of a Matriarchal System vs Patriarchal

 

 

Helpful Links:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ela_Bhatt'>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ela_Bhatt

http://womenshistory...omen_Rights.htm

http://www.asian-nat...rg/gender.shtml

http://mideast.forei...lias_data_title

http://www.usatoday....lumn13_ST_N.htm

 

 

III. Rights

A. Women's Rights through the ages.

B. American Suffragettes

C. The Modern fight for Women's Rights

D. Those who are still fighting

 

Helpful Links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women's_rights

http://en.wikipedia....iki/Suffragette http://womensrightsw...rg/wrtoday.html

http://www.china.org...s/cw/139081.htm

http://newsfeed.time...s/?iid=moreonnf

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unity_Dow

http://en.wikipedia....i/Stasa_Zajovic

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ela_Bhatt

[theicewitch]

I have question for you:

 

Would women have ruled the world better?

Would we have retained our more gentle approach or would we have adapted and evolved into a more aggressive animal and shown the same bravado and disregard for humanity that many men in politics seem to show?

[Torrie]

Would women have ruled the world better?

Would we have retained our more gentle approach or would we have adapted and evolved into a more aggressive animal and shown the same bravado and disregard for humanity that many men in politics seem to show?

 

 

Interesting questions. Would women have ruled the world better? I'm not sure. I think women would have had less wars, but I am not sure it would have been better. At times, those wars were needed. I can think of several counties which would not be free if certain wars did not take place. I think the better question might be: Would a woman be able to start a war, if it was needed.

 

I read some books where the roles were reversed and the woman went and did politics while the man stayed home with the kids. When I get home I will try to find them.

[theicewitch]

Oh, now, that is one I had not considered... I believe given the need for something be done, and if that was indeed the only solution to that end, that I could start a war. But I tend to do what needs done. Kinda a rip the band aid off kinda duck.

[Nyanna al'Meara]

I have question for you:

 

Would women have ruled the world better?

Would we have retained our more gentle approach or would we have adapted and evolved into a more aggressive animal and shown the same bravado and disregard for humanity that many men in politics seem to show?

 

Wow, never thought about that...well, I think govts would actually function differently in a lot of ways, if women had developed the system - just can't say distinctly in what ways. Remember politics started with men from the very beginning, i.e. in ancient Greece and Rome with the Senates etc. The fact women were 'possessions' from the very start means that they had no involvement in the growing of such ideas. Hmmm... I think women would favor a more...well, can I say related to communistic ideas way of life? Preferring to cultivate their own country, where everyone helps to feed each other. Plenty men would be available for hard labour if we didn’t have armies etc*giggles* But I'm sure that women would work the same. Women are not exactly lazy and helpless when we have the responsibility of caring for a people, nay? On that note, I consider women would have believed in equality, from the start.

Also, I wonder if we would be where we are today – not because women are cleverer or dumber than men, but that we value other things?

What I mean is, men ruling the world from the beginning have set up the interests of people and their nations today. If women ruled, would we be so advanced in technology, sciences etc? I’m not talking about women today (a lot of us interested in these subjects), but the maternal approach we could have taken from the start? Focusing more on caring for our families, developing food sources and the health of our nations, than on conquering and taking riches and luxuries by force? We might be much further developed concerning housing, nutrition, etc. Our religions may even be different than what we have today – if we had continued to worship fertility spirits and goddesses as women did in the ancient world? Would we have focused so much on the technologies of war and travel? But on the wellbeing of our own people…

 

I am not sure if I’m making myself clear, but I’m really intrigued by this idea…

 

 

Would women have ruled the world better?

Would we have retained our more gentle approach or would we have adapted and evolved into a more aggressive animal and shown the same bravado and disregard for humanity that many men in politics seem to show?

 

 

Interesting questions. Would women have ruled the world better? I'm not sure. I think women would have had less wars, but I am not sure it would have been better. At times, those wars were needed. I can think of several counties which would not be free if certain wars did not take place. I think the better question might be: Would a woman be able to start a war, if it was needed.

Hmmm…..would women have enslaved people and countries, what do you think? Would everyone be free from the start? Interesting would be if we had a means of knowing what women were like in ancient times, if they would have been cruel tyrants if they had power (see Semirhage-ish women), or the maternal, natural caring side take over?

 

 

 

Sometimes I think it would be great to live like in the Two Rivers – far away from one ruling power, a Women’s Circle in every township

[Nyanna al'Meara]

Speaking about politics; Kate Sheppard was the New Zealand woman who lead NZ woman's suffrage movement, and was successful for the first time ever to achieve votes for women! She's on our $10 note.

 

Read about her here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kate_Sheppard