Date of Award

2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Humanities

First Advisor

Anderson, Kim

Area of Concentration

Art, Psychology

Abstract

This essay examines the symbolic relationship between food, the female body, and societal perceptions of women shaped by the male gaze, connecting these themes to my own artwork. Drawing inspiration from religious and historical narratives, my work critiques the alienation and commodification of women through symbolic and cultural representations. Through the analysis of artist Sarah Lucas and art historian Linda Nochlin, I explore how food is tied to femininity and desire, reflecting societal expectations of women as both providers and objects of consumption. Simone de Beauvoir’s The Second Sex provides a theoretical foundation for understanding the alienation of women when conforming to imposed ideals of femininity. Furthermore, Melanie Klein’s object relations theory informs an analysis of Rona Pondick’s sculptures, while Lacan’s mirror stage shapes my discussion of Suzanne Valadon’s The Forgotten Doll (c. 1919). These analyses illuminate the ways cultural narratives shape female identity, echoing themes in my art. The essay also examines Clara Peeters’ symbolic still lifes and Judy Chicago’s The Dinner Party for their critiques of women’s roles in art and society. By blending historical symbolism with personal critique, my work builds on the traditional female nude to challenge societal expectations and highlight the tension between pleasure, guilt, and the cultural consumption of women.

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