HST-465 Monumental Women: Female Public Space
Of the estimated 5,575 statues depicting historic figures in the United States, only 559 of them commemorate women, and this disparity is echoed around the world. What are we to make of the gap between the historical "monumental woman" and the physical structures that celebrate them? This class examines global efforts to memorialize important women through monuments, museums, and other public spaces. It will focus on how acts of memorialization produce public and collective memories about the past, and how these bring up issues of patriarchy, subjugation, inclusivity, and representation. We will explore the contradictions between women's empowerment and historical exploitation, expressed in things like pussy hats and other feminist gear, in artistic representations of the female form, in exploration of cultural difference, and in grass-roots and official forms of activism.