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gorillagirlsEmilyLoftis

Through their presentation, the Gorilla Girls illuminated a familiar but too often ignored theme of inequality, touching on a personally provoking subject; sexism and racism in the art world. Exposing society's ethnocentricities, the Gorilla Girls went on to recall some of the 'justifications' they had received when questioning gender and racial injustices. What I found most shocking were the numerous comments eluding to the lack of minority's representation as a result of the 'inadequacies' of different races, backgrounds, and gender. It just seemed so ridiculous, the cyclical reasoning of ignorance; minorities are excluded from having their work displayed in art museums, yet, the public view is, since their artwork isn't displayed, they must not be as talented. Thereby, if artists variant from the 'white male stereotype'are not as talented, then their work shouldn't be displayed in the first place. This is where the discriminatory reasoning reaches a plateau, preventing progression and cementing these degrading typecasts.

Recognizing that the only justifications made for the lack of work created by females and diverse races were clearly claimed out of ignorance, I was shocked to see the utter lack of reason for such a high percentage of under-representation in the very field I had often viewed as one of the most progressive. After all, art has been called upon throughout history to illuminate the injustices of the time; providing powerful political messages and inspiration for reform in times of societal repression. Ironic how, in our era, the very repression that we are facing is within the art field, inhibiting expression, different viewpoints and, essentially, the voice of minorites; subduing a past, a story of what is 'different.' However, it is now more than ever in our hyped up society commoditizing 'nationalism' and 'the all-american way' that what is 'different' is the very thing we need to hear; the very thing we need to remember we all are.

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