Who Does She Think She Is?

"Who Does She Think She Is?"

She's a woman, and an artist, and a mother. Why is this still an issue? Why is anything about whatever women do besides marry men and raise babies an issue? If you're a woman and you do some kind of art, whether you choose to marry and/or raise kids (and it's all about choice, isn't it?) should not be anybody's business but your own. It shouldn't make you a bad mother or a less serious artist any way you do it.

And yet, it does, as this dumb-ass review of the movie from Time Out NY indicates:

This documentary encapsulates everything that gives feminism a bad name, from whining about patriarchal society to celebrating the goddess within. . . .  Pamela Tanner Boll’s thesis—it’s hard to be both mother and artist—neglects to mention that it’s tricky for anyone to make a living as an artist.

Missing the point anyone? Of course it's hard to make a living as an artist, but it's a hell of a lot easier when you have built-in childcare and a personal chef, and are living in a society that says it's fine for you to make art. It's not about how hard it is to make art; it's about how hard it is to make art as a woman and a mother in a society that doesn't support you and only sees one role for you: bearer of Great Artist's children, and Helpmeet.

Honestly, that stupidity makes me want to crack somebody upside the head. Or cancel my subscription. Doing that right now, in fact. Watch me: here I go.

Watch the trailer. Go see the movie. Read the blog. More information here.

[Cross posted at Blogorrhea. H/t to Art Biz Blog]

Comments

[Emily]

I opted not to renew TONY a few months ago because it had really dumbed down. And yes, it also seemed more sexist.

[Lee Kottner]

Here I thought it was just my own aged crankiness. Thanks for the affirmation. That's exactly the impression I've been getting for the last six months or so. Their staff writers sound like a bunch of frat boys on a constant kegger. I've got five more issues left on my subscription, and like you, I'm not renewing.