We were Guerillas before we were Gorillas. From the beginning; the press wanted publicity photos. We needed a disguise. No one remembers; for sure; how we got our fur; but one story is that at an early meeting; an original Girl; a bad speller; wrote 'Gorilla' instead of'Guerilla.' It was an enlightening mistake. It gave us our mask-ulinity. Ever wonder about the abundance of naked male statues in the Classical section of your favorite museum? Did you know medieval convents were hotbeds of female artistic expression? And how did those "bad boy" artists of the twentieth century make it even harder for a girl to get a break? Thanks to the Guerrilla Girls; those masked feminists whose mission it is to break the white male stronghold over the art world; art history-as we know it-is history. Taking you back through the ages; the Guerrilla Girls demonstrate how males (particularly white males) have dominated the art scene; and discouraged; belittled; or obscured women's involvement. Their skeptical and hilarious interpretations of "popular" theory are augmented by the newest research and the expertise of prominent feminist art historians. "Believe-it-or-not" quotations from some of the "experts" are sprinkled throughout; as are the Guerrilla Girls' signature masterpieces: reproductions of famous art works; slightly "altered" for historic accuracy and vindication. This colorful reinterpretation of classic and modern art; as outrageous as it is visually arresting; is a much-needed corrective to traditional art history; and an unabashed celebration of female artists.
#361015 in Books 1998-02-01 1998-02-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.86 x .25 x 7.87l; .61 #File Name: 014025997X96 pages
Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. A perfect addition to the herstory of artBy VIRGINIA DACOSTAA delightful expose on women artists gives just enough information for researchers to build on. I use this book for my Women Artist class and add to the Guerilla Girls information with additional images both from the women artists themselves and from male artists with similar themes as a point for class discussion. Would love to see a more extensive book but maybe I should do that myself!4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. women in artBy Eileen P. Kopelmanwomen have been left out of; and shortchanged; in the art world. This is a book with interesting information about female artists that you may not have come across before. The writers are activists for women in art. The cartoony character of the book; while whimsical; makes one wish for a larger book on the topic with more information. It's great as far as it goes.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Makes learning about art history really fun and amusingBy JessicaAssigned as the textbook for my women in art class. Makes learning about art history really fun and amusing. Thought it would be kind of a dry subject; but this has made it so enjoyable. Great book.
