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Women Writers and Artists: Modernist (Im)Positionings
In this beautifully illustrated and provocative study, Bridget Elliott and Jo-Ann Wallace reappraise women's literary and artistic contribution to Modernism. Through comparative case studies, including Natalie Barney, Virginia Woolf, Vanessa Bell and Gertrude Stein, the authors examine the ways in which women responded to Modernism and created their artistic identity, and how their work has been positioned in relation to that of men.
Bringing together women's studies, visual arts and literature, Women Writers and Artists makes an important contribution to 20th century cultural history. It puts forward a powerful case against the academic division of cultural production into departments of Art History and English Studies, which has served to marginalize the work of female Modernists.
Bringing together women's studies, visual arts and literature, Women Writers and Artists makes an important contribution to 20th century cultural history. It puts forward a powerful case against the academic division of cultural production into departments of Art History and English Studies, which has served to marginalize the work of female Modernists.
224 pages, Paperback
First published October 12, 1994
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About the author
Jo-Ann Wallace
6 books1 followerJo-Ann[] Wallace is Chair of the Women's Studies Program and Professor in English and Film Studies at the University of Alberta, and co-author of Women Artists and Writers: Modernist (Im)Positionings.
(from http://books.google.com/books/about/W...)
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May 7, 2019
This is an excellent study of women who were part of modernism and their struggles for acceptance and equal treatment. There are those you would expect to be here; Virginia Woolf, Vanessa Bell, Gertrude Stein and Djuna Barnes; others less expected; like Marie Laurencin and Nina Hamnett. Natalie Barney and Romaine Brooks also feature.
There are lots of ideas and references to follow up and a good analysis of how each of the women were appraised and received at the time. The analysis of domestic, private and metropolitan spaces is interesting. It isn’t an uncritical study and the human contradictions are explored: Barney’s retreat into fascism and Barnes’s long isolation. It is a reconfiguration of modernism, looking at the superficial analysis of the women involved in the movement that pervaded the contemporary reports and even more modern analyses.
There is a poignancy about each of the women who play a part, centred on the trials and tribulations and abuse they each underwent. Woolf, of course stands out and I knew most about her; her feminism was more thought out and based on her years as a labour activist. Hamnett I had heard of from the memoirs of Julian Maclaren Ross, who captured her sad later years. Her first memoir and I have managed to find and intend to read soon; I think her story is the most poignant. However they are all fascinating and stand out as women of genius.
The illustrations are wonderful and all in all it was a joy to read about eight wonderful women; there’s plenty to argue with and much to learn and follow up on. The tensions and battles with the background of patriarchy are set out carefully and the range of sources is impressive. Anyone interested in modernism should read this.
There are lots of ideas and references to follow up and a good analysis of how each of the women were appraised and received at the time. The analysis of domestic, private and metropolitan spaces is interesting. It isn’t an uncritical study and the human contradictions are explored: Barney’s retreat into fascism and Barnes’s long isolation. It is a reconfiguration of modernism, looking at the superficial analysis of the women involved in the movement that pervaded the contemporary reports and even more modern analyses.
There is a poignancy about each of the women who play a part, centred on the trials and tribulations and abuse they each underwent. Woolf, of course stands out and I knew most about her; her feminism was more thought out and based on her years as a labour activist. Hamnett I had heard of from the memoirs of Julian Maclaren Ross, who captured her sad later years. Her first memoir and I have managed to find and intend to read soon; I think her story is the most poignant. However they are all fascinating and stand out as women of genius.
The illustrations are wonderful and all in all it was a joy to read about eight wonderful women; there’s plenty to argue with and much to learn and follow up on. The tensions and battles with the background of patriarchy are set out carefully and the range of sources is impressive. Anyone interested in modernism should read this.
Displaying 1 of 1 review