Mrs. DALLOWAY (Lady Bruton vs. Clarissa Dalloway)

Lady Bruton is very difference from Clarissa for she “had a reputation of being more interested in politics than PEOPLE”. (105) not only that, she was raise in great health, in other words, she had great acquaintance. She was the “general great-great-great-grand daughter.” Respect is something that she was born with even Richard pointed that out.

Richard stated “ she ( Lady Bruton) should have being the general of dragoons herself.” (105) Dragoon were typically named for soldier trained to fight but transport himself on horseback. Lady Bruton hated the idea of women that gets in their husbands way from fulfilling their duties in the government and public affair. She feels like Clarissa do so perfectly as she purposely throws parties to reject men from their “post abroad” Lady Bruton get together between Hugh and Richard was strictly business. She wanted Richards’s support of her involvement in the affair about emigration of young ladies to Canada. Hugh was present for he was able to pass the words out. He was working for the Times. In Bruton, I see brute in the sense that Lady Bruton represent a bully, she bullies and dominates her society. I don’t think Lady Bruton thinks much of women for she “often suspended judgment upon men in deference to the mysterious accord in which they, but no woman, stood to the laws of the universe.”

Lady Bruton has no sense of compassion, contrary to Clarissa who put together parties to bring individuals together. She thinks of her parties as a gift to the world, to the people that she encompasses by. Often she notices that people around her were lonely and she was one of them. She sees her party as a way to fight that loneliness for she is surrounded with very important people. People now were having conversation Clarissa thought. Earlier we have seeing how apart her husband and she have grown. Richard could not bring himself to say “I love you.” this emptiness exists between husband and wife.

Clarissa wants to create life for her and others, Virginia clearly shows that Richard did not care about his meetings since he did not remember if it was about “Armenians or the Albanians” But still he excuses himself as he head to a meeting that he did not care about.

At first, I thought of Clarissa as those rich, weak and stupid people but I have notice how much she has grew as she pays attention the life that she lives in. Though both Peter and Richard did not support her parties. “She was the perfect hostess” said Peter. Clarissa did not care for she believes closeness is the key to a successful life not love or religion or even power if I may add.

Mrs. Dalloway (The Growth OF Elizabeth)

“Oh she would like to go a little further. Another penny was it to the strand. Here was another penny then. She would go up the Strand. She liked people who were ill.. So she might be a doctor. She might be a farmer. Animal are often ill… And she like the feeling of people working. It was so serious; it was so busy. In short, she would like to have a profession… She penetrated a little furthering the direction of St. Paul’s. She liked the geniality, sisterhood, motherhood, brotherhood of this uproar. It seem to her good….” (136-138)

This happened during Elizabeth bus ride. This represent where Elizabeth live her childhood behind. She is becoming an adult. She remembers the time she used to think how immature her mother used to think of her. When she use to play with dolls, when she was attached to old slippers. Those times were “charming” (138) but now we can see she is different for she is already thinking of a profession. She does not have a clue yet on what she wants to do but she know that she know she “would like the feeling of people working.” (136)

we can see how different she is from her mother. She sees herself working, in other to support herself and others, individuals that are less fortunate. But Clarissa wanted someone to support her for it is the reason why she decided to marry Richard Dalloway instead of Peter. Clarissa likes the attention that guys give her which is the reason she likes to see Hugh Whitbread because He makes her feels young. But throughout Elizabeth Journey in her bus ride, every man were already fallen in love with her but “she felt bored.” Elizabeth was not interested in things like that. She wanted to live her life for herself something her mother; Clarissa did not know how to do.

Even Sally could see the difference between those two women as she notices the behavior of both at Clarissa’s party. Elizabeth indeed has growth into someone that is aware of her surrounding; she has grown into someone that her father is proud of. When Richard finally notice her daughter at her party, He could not believe is eyes. “Who is that lovely girl? He said and suddenly he realized it was Elizabeth, and he had not recognized her, she looked so lovely in her pink frock!”(194) pink a seductive color, but most importantly Pink means that the color White is no longer present, in other word, Elizabeth is no longer innocent, she is no longer a baby. Thought this path, life is running in the eyes of Elizabeth as she thinks about her future profession.

MRS. DallOWAY ( hat making)

“We shall have a beautiful hat! He murmured, taking up this and that, Rezia kneeling by his side, looking over his shoulder. Now it was finished- that is to say the design; she must stitch it together. But she must be very, very careful, he said, to keep it just as he had made it.” (143)

I think this moment is very important in the novel since it is the first time we see individuals that are happy and healthy. We can see joy in their conversation. As Lucrezia kneels besides his husband as they admired the hat that they just create, immediately made me think of creation. They focus on what they are doing, every details seems important to them, especially in Rezia’s eyes as she takes her time to sew the work that her husband and her had created. This moment show how compassionate and loving Rezia is. Most importantly how caring she is about the world around her, for she had created a hat for the Peter’s who didn’t even ask her to.

Through the making of the hat, they communicated with each other. Something they have not done in a long time. This hat brought them closer. “For the first for days, he was speaking as he used to do!…Never had she felt so happy! Never in her life!” ( 143) Because of the hat they were able to talk and joke about their neighbors. It rejoiced Lucrezia that they were “ poking fun privately like married people”(143). This hat brought them for a second together. A moment of joy, so by sending that hat as a gift to a soon to be married couple cold represent a long lasting, happy marriage.

But why did Virginia chooses a hat? What is so special about hats? I Google hat, most site told me how to make a hat but I wasn’t interested in that. However what took my attention is the fact that both men and women wear them. The idea of an equal marriage. A common thing that link man and women. Virginia’s writing is amazing, she is an exceptional women for she is able to find the smallest things to shows how women plays many role in society. Hats can also protect one, from the sun and also to warm one’s body parts. So hat can be seeing as protection. A symbol that serves as protection to the Peter’s marriage.

FEMINISM IN THE ART WORLD: WANGECHI MUTU THE POWER OF COLLAGE.

Wangechi Mutu, a contemporary Kenyan born artist is known for the distinctiveness of her works which includes both painting outline images on Mylar and using collages to call attention to the female figure. In an article on Mutu, Enright Robert remarks just like most artists, Mutu’s work emphasize on her personality and her experience in life. Mutu’s popularity did not come effortless; she faces and climbs different types of mountains that life had thrown at her. Enright listed how coming from Kenya, studying in Wales, to living in the street of New York City was not an easy transaction. However, despite the calamities that she encounters, Mutu was able to get into graduate program at Yale. Stepping foot to this land of opportunity, as Enright acknowledges Mutu fought to get a degree from an Ivy League school because of their worldwide reputation. By doing so, both people form across the world and those of her native land will take herself and her work more seriously.

Mutu’s artworks are exceptional. One of her art work “untitled” which is a mixed media on Mylar done in 2003, Aldorando admitted that it is to challenge the viewers perception about “the objectification of the female body”.(Aldorando) Most of Mutu images cut out, originate form pages of fashion, national geography, and porn magazines. Mutu images choice is what types of individuals read them and their view on feminism.

Mutu’s collages are like warning of medical and cultural problems that are to come and sometimes they can be seeing as premonition or even as a threat. For that reason, her “collages are equally grotesque” (Kanzanjian) as they are elegant, equally seducing as awakening the viewers. Those characteristics of her work question the viewers’ awareness of women because in Mutu’s painting, it is the women who are in charge through their diverse personalities. Mutu completes the female body with odd prosthetics of different materials; those materials are expressive because it captures the viewers as they let themselves aware of their insolent behavior and sympathize with the female view. Melissa Lo approves that Mutu’s work are “decorative and loud” however once burned into one’s memory her work are “dreamlike and haunting.” (Melissa) knowing the power of collage because it is like traveling a 360 degrees of learning explains Mutu in an interview with Barbara Krugher, Mutu admitted to Robert Enright “When two ideas come together, it doesn't always create a logical result, it doesn't add up to what people expect, and you can't tell where one begins and where one ends". This feeling is mental, sensual and everything would agree Mutu because that how she portrays collages. (Wangechi) Mutu takes the viewers and makes them analyzes the more important aspect of the female body, so they can see beyond the stereotype of the universe in both race and gender role.

As a women artist, Wangechi Mutu knew how many of friends including herself have being taken for granted. As a Kenyan-born artist, she also knows the feeling of always feeling alienated because of the milieu she was raised. Mutu knows how many time women of different background have being strike by the waves of life, Women know how it feels for an ocean surface wave to violently smash into a rock. Mutu’s works not only depict the lives of young black females but her work also illustrates the struggles of every women no matter what group of ethnicity thy comes from. Mutu became the spokesperson of every female “who are figuring rather than figures”. (Keith) In her mind we are rocks because we are able to survive every hardships and abuses that was thrown in our way.

In Wangechi Mutu’s Untitled, the 2003 mixed media collage on Mylar, Mutu uses collages that are both elegant and perverse to show the wonder of the female body. All at once, she shows the beautiful, the disease, and the weak parts of women. With this mix, Mutu is able to make the viewers conscious of what is like to be a woman as she grabs the audience with everyday images and connect it with the female body. By having random images, viewers could interpret her work differently because they take a object and relates it with the most cherished or even the most painful moment that is most important in their life. By doing so, Mutu brings out their consciousness of feminism.

In the untitled, the 2003 mixed collage; it was the overall shape of the lady, especially from torso up that grabs my attention. Gracefully her hand embraces her body as if to give it a hug. Her brown torso looks as if it was cut from a model magazines; it shows simplicity and kindliness because of the neutrality of the color. Though elegant, the brown torso is very dependable, for it is only when accompany with a more complicated mixed color, which appear to be a skin disease that we are able to truly see how beautiful every part of the female body truly is. Later, my head was turned to her puzzle eyes. Complicity, crime, distress, hurt, pain, pity and shame all arise from her silent but trickery eyes.

On her Back, her head and her legs Mutu uses different types of vibrant colors that is able to get the viewers attention. It looks like those parts of the body were affected by some sort of disease. The skin disease on her back is green with white polka dots. Also, on her back, an eager looking half man half woman is present as it tries to grasp on the female back. With her spider hand he or she does not looks like as if it would be letting go anytime soon. it is as if both individuals are connected to each other. By having this male personality attached to the green disease skin and blending makes me realize that the man is the cause of the infection. Our unsolved mysteries, our unsettle desires and our need to be accepted by the male figure is sucking the life out of every women. It is the want and the need to be accepted by man that is making the female figure appears weak. Many women of this generation have forgotten the history achievement of their gender; how far they have came. However, the majority of women them still walk head down in front of man mentioned Rich Barlow in the Boston globe. (Barlow) He then continues by saying the reason that women are inferior to man is because of an internal glass ceiling that derive form our ambition, our sense of limitation, our need to be in a relationship by waiting and expecting particularly affirmation. (Barlow) Women have became so desperate which sometimes result from certain upbringing. Many women do not thrives for higher goals, because some have giving up looking due to rejection, while others does not dare to even dream. It is all of those emotions that women carry around them, as they being crush days by days by harsh behavior form the male figure that bringing them to their graves.

Her bold, elegant head looking up bring out her lovely eyes and her full mouth. The affected skin on her head appears more delightful with the light yellow and the light green. Form torso down to her legs, the skin disease is quite noticeable with the usage of vivacious colors. Dark brown, bright yellow and blood red are the color present on her legs. Beneath her knee to her ankle, the skin seems to have worsened with a bright red; it appears as if the skin were to explode. This color indicates danger, a warning for every women that let man be the sun of their life. The color also indicates that it is time to get up and challenge ourselves into becoming less dependable of man.

The majority of the color uses on her leg is yellow; a meaningful, and important color. It is the color of the sun. Another color that is on the leg is white, forming white polka dots all around the former. By having white, a color of cleanliness, innocence and purity contradict the color. However, together this complexity creates something so elegant which shows women for they are a being that is encompass by many flaws, however we punish them too much for those flaws by forgetting they are just being just like man. We all make mistakes, why does the woman should be exhorted more severely. Mutu purposely covered the female body with the disease because as a woman she has experience we have became scapegoat for many because as Putili Gea let us know in an article title “ Wangechi Mutu” that anything that is desired or despised is always placed on the female body. (Putili) There is a lot of artificial extension and cut images that replace many of the female body parts, they are very different form one another. However, by assembling them to make to human body, Wangechi create an incomparable beauty.

Red bubbles are then release from a red wine bottle that is partly a woman. The bottom of the wine bottle is replaced with a black and white image of the leg of a woman. It is situated to the right of the female body which is also facing to the right. The red wine can be seeing as blood, it is foreshadowing the idea that if women do not stand up for their rights, they will find themselves buried next to their mothers, their grandmothers if not even their own daughters. Our life spend will be short just like the life cycle of a butterfly which is all around the female body. There are four butterflies, one that is to the left, in front of the body, underneath her folded arms. The other three butterflies are behind her, two that are closer to her body and one that is on the right far away from the body. If women keep changing themselves to please the nature of man, just like butterflies, in their different phases in the environment that is best suited for them, women will know little of this world.

The wine with half of a women body to the left could be seeing as a waste of a very expensive object, just like women. By forgetting the worth of wine, a luxury object, we have disregarded the value of women. Just like a wine, many might have worked their tails off to possess it, however after some months; they put it aside collecting dirt.

Kanzanjian acknowledges that Mutu expresses the power of the naked female body throughout her works. Art creates it own “tragedy” (Keith), in which help the women to create their own personalities. The viewers become conscious because they become aware of what they neglected. Keith believes that the female body loaded with unspoken time is converted into language, a story of the self. Mutu believes that the bodies represent those of women who have being “silence by past and present colonization” (Keith) and for whom the silences of history have not ended.

Mutu unique and creative talent have impress many, bringing Jeffrey Dutch confesses that Mutu is one of the five most powerful artists that he has come across in the last ten years. (Kanzanjian) while ART news believes that Mutu is one of the 25 movers, shakers and makers in the art world. (Keith)

Lucian Freud has remarked through Picasso’s works, anyone can use their intent to make anything. For Freud, Picasso could make a face feel like a foot (Feaver) but I believe that Mutu is able to take the dirtier foot and turn into an elegant female figure.

Mutu is a well-educated person, she is aware of her surrounding like the Guinea fowl is aware of the least bit of noise. In the Untitled, 2004 mixed media collage and painting on vellum, Mutu creates a females body with parts of motorcycle. Though she uses technology in this piece, Mutu was able to send out the message of the importance of the female body.

The woman looks as if she is floating in mid-air. She is letting herself go with poise by crossing her brown feet with a black knee high pantyhose with black shinny high heels. By wearing black, she appears stylish, sexy, elegant and powerful. Her open hand shows that she is letting go of everything as she let us in with her power of creation.

By having part of a machine incorporated in the female body, Mutu is letting us that women have a sort of a machine. The blue parts of the motorcycle are situated in two places of the female body. One is around her neck which is a part of the body that is very flexible. Also, it is the passage that enables us to breath. Without it this machine, the female body would not function. Another motorcycle part, the engine is situated around the sex organs of the female body. In its absence, the function of the machine would not be performed because it represents the idea of the female sex organs, in other words, the role of women in creation, bringing a new life to the world. However, this differences between man and women that should be seeing as a gift, becomes a burden for all women because of them being taking advantage of. For now, Society uses this gender differences to rank those two beings where women became the machine and man, the operator. Women are seeing in one light only from many generations as if they do not have other function. They are to create, create and create until the operator sees that they are truly worn out, as they move along to a much younger, fruitful, productive machine.

By choosing to position the motorcycle parts in the places that she did, Mutu becomes the spokesperson of those individuals who are always being figure rather than figures (Keith) because society thinks they know the limit of women. Noonan Erica, in the “young women embraces Friedman at 84, she says feminism still has work to do” Admitted that many details of life are stills women responsibility. She notices that even though men are taught to be more sensitive, to observe more, to exhibit the kind of understanding that women do naturally, they cannot be compare to women because they are yet at the point where man are able to define things, like a woman capability to perform it naturally. (Noonan)

Around her pregnant stomach, a good amount of blood is being release, forming a big red, chaotic ball. Coming out of that big red blood is a brown butterfly connected to the women embryo chord. The butterfly which represents the creation of women has a compound antenna. A strong bond exists between those two beings because of how it holds onto the embryo chords. However, at the tail of the butterfly, the end point of the chords, a gray bubble is form which looks as if the butterfly, the just born is ready to explore its new environment.

Mutu can have many reasons for choosing a butterfly to represent a just born. One can be since before a butterfly became a butterfly, it undergoes different phases, from being a caterpillar, to a larva, then to a butterfly just like a kid who once was an egg however day after days started to grow inside the mothers’ wombs for a typical period of nine months. Also, Mutu chooses butterflies to bring again the idea of the life spend of both individuals. Mutu is able to shows that if women see themselves only as machine as they are being portrayed by society this will result to their downfall. Endless creating will only wears the female body out which are clearly show in the painful, hurting, and tormented eyes of the fatigued body of the women.

In addition, this female character does not seem to have taking care of herself for a very long time. She looks exhausted and very weak as she let herself being imported by the world because at a glance she looks as if she is floating, letting herself go. Her armpit looks if not shaves for years and her hair looks very chaotic. She has baggy eyes as if she hasn’t sleep for days and her body is very pale. The body is letting the world know that it has enough but as many female characters, society tries to speak over their head as they ignores them, like ignoring a beggar.

In the middle of her head, a long white cord is coming out which can represent her brain. Her brain is coming out, because as a machine the machinist do all of the thinking for them. Their life is being control. They do not need a brain because they are always being told what to do.

Women has became society’s slave because their function in life. Noonan observe that the road to the top for women is complicated if not blocked by child-rearing. Women are seeing as alien however neither Terrence, a roman poet who once was a slave, Mutu nor any supporters of civil right will agree with the way women are being treated. “Homo Sum; humani nihil o me alienum puto” wrote Terrence. “I am human; top me nothing human is alien.” (Feaver) Mutu believes that nothing in this planet or universe is alien because we all came form the same place; we are completely part of this thing that we live on. (Enright)

One of Mutu’s works that relates to her native land is the piece Art and Fur in which shows the beauty of Kenya. However, Mutu would not use the word “beauty” to describe Kenya because she believes it is a sensitive and politicized word for people who have a hard time describing their own culture. (Enright) This very strong piece revolves around the strong face of an independent woman with shares similar traits to a lion. The lion is a very powerful animal because it him that looks over the jungle. By being quick to their feet, lions are able to be anywhere in a blink of an eyes, bouncing from different location to fulfill his needs.

The traits of a lion can be found in a woman because of their ability to perform multiple tasks. However, in many culture, women are taking for granted. Knowing the absence of a woman in their life would be a life of turmoil, chaotic. A woman will do everything in her power to support their family. Throughout their life, they have known different emotions. Their emotions have becomes like the waves of the ocean. They try their best to control something unmanageable by putting a smile on their faces as they try to be strong for their friends and families. They choose to ignore those calamities and look forward for the next days

There are marks in the face of the women as if she has being scratched repeatedly in the same place. And those marks are here to stay because females more than males carry the marks, the language, and the nuance of their culture declared Mutu while observing the portrait of Arcim-Baldo-Iike. (Putili) Despite those marks full of painless history, the right eye of the women remains fierce which displays the power and strength within women. Through her eyes, Mutu is able to exhibit physical, psychological and commercial forms of violence that are inflicted on the female body. (Murray)

On The place of her left eye, Mutu incorporated a face of a person. With the additional eyes, this shows one quality of women; caring. Women naturally are able to observe and care for everything around them. However, this does not stop the unfair treatment that they receive daily by man.

A huge inequality exists within the life of the African family; one example is the facts that polygamy has not being suppressed. However in the state in which multiple marriages is forbidden, the Anglophone part of Africa which is where Mutu is born, adultery is usually tolerated from husbands, while it is considered a crime for the wives. (Gender) Throughout Kenya, and all around Africa, many girls have being circumcised. This historical event was known in 1956; however it until 1997 that is was outlaw (Gender) which proves how little society has considered women. Why wasn’t this injustice try to be resolve? It is because they did not think they were doing anything wrong, “it is only just women” they must have told themselves. Women were not worth the help.

The World Health Organization has estimated about 40 percent of African women to have undergone operations of this kind. Through her painting Mutu shows the persistency of women, by how far they have come. Mutu is aware that women in front of society are women in a battlefield. Unfortunately, most women will lose if they find themselves giving into the pressure of society. Women does have a choice, however it is up to them to fight for that voice because there is no such thing as free lunch in this world. As Cathy Young would have agree, it is tie to stop this stereotype “mommy wars” because women find themselves questioned in the work world about the importance of the role of a mother. Through her works, Mutu is able to emphasize those negatives ideas for she tries to open up the eyes of the viewers on the competence of women. there are many battle to be fought concerning how women are placed in society, (Enright) Mutu wants us to see and this is why we must women must walk heads up with fierce eyes while ignoring all the marks that she has receives in life. All this is to help, protect and support the important group of people that are coming behind us. (Lee)

In the piece “Art and Fur”, a great amount animal’s fur which looks like the fur of a bear tries to cover the women face. The fur represents every male dominant trying to veil the voice of women. The fur appears brown; however two types of color brown are distinguish as we are able to take a closer look at the painting. To the right of the painting, the perimeter of the fur is of a light brown as it tends to get darker and darker in the surface area. To its left, the brown is extremely light.

In the middle of the painting, a lot seems to be happening. A piece of wood and some part of the body system are detected. Mutu is trying to get us loss in the mind of this young female by getting the viewers to sympathize to the role of women. Also, by entering the mind of the women, especially the mind of an African women, we can sees how it feels to be lost in the waves of life as many of our African whose souls still are which is why “the sea is a graveyard for many of us”. (Kanzanjian)

Throughout her works, not only was Mutu able to speak for many women who have lost their voice either because of cultural problems or historically ones but also Mutu expresses herself about this world. Mutu want us to see that women will always find a rock thrown at her face. However those problems will not stop until many of us choose to make it clear that just as male, every female are what we called “human being.” Having being label “women”, it comes with a lot of hardships that are trying to hold us from succeeding and for this Mutu describes any culture as being as “a wealthy, fat and overfed pig” in the RESONANT SURGERIES: THE COLLAGE WORLD OF WANGECHI MUTU by Robert Enright because she notices that is the starting point of all those headaches that women faces.

Being the opposite sex is a treat for all, we are crashed by who is supposed to be the stronger one. Women are categorizing as being the “other”. Yet, it is by being the other “these chimeras, theses creatures, these women warriors come from… they’re not me, per se, they’re human conditions” confessed Mutu in an interview with Barbara Krugher. Mutu have witness the power of being the other a long time ago whish might be the reason why she expresses herself through collages.

In society, women are the “other” however as a young child in 1992, in Kenya, Mutu watched mothers protesting the imprisonment of their sons by taking off their clothes to SHAME the authorities. (Kanzanjian) Those are trying to let the soldiers that they know they are women but being a woman does not mean to ignore your rights of being heard. However, the stories of those women were heard throughout Africa. Back then, many natives might have thought that those mothers have lost their mind. Mutu is able to learn the power of the female body. By accepting of being themselves, those mothers were able to bring the head of those male down. As women, we have to accept who we are and show credibility and whatever we choose to achieve. We have to get out of our comfort zone and speak out in other to create a stance. If we do not see our worth, how can we convince or expect the male figures to take us seriously as they hear us out. This is the reason be why in most, if not all her pieces, Mutu expresses the strength in women by showing both their beauties and their flaws, and their strength and their weaknesses.

Among those changes, Mutu was able to see how a panga which is the machete use in Rwanda to cultivate which not only help the soil but also its inhabitants. However, this panga went from being a working tool to being a “killing tool” (Kanzanjian) which took the lives of millions of Africans. Aware of those different changes in life, both the good and the bad, Mutu is hoping to the facts that one day, Neither race nor gender would stand in anyone ways of succeeding. It is time to see men liberated from “macho” and women liberated form “female submissiveness”, it is time in which men nor women should be described as “opposite of each other”. (Noonan) it is time for a change.

Works Cited
Aldarondo, Cecilia. “GHADA AMER + WANGECHI: MINNEAPOLIS.” ArtPapers 31 no3 66 My/Je 2007. WilsonWeb. Boston Public Library. Apr.16 2008
http://vnweb.hwwilsonweb.com.ezproxy.bpl.org/hwww/results/results_single_FTPES.jhtml

Cecilia explains how many years ago, little or no attention were pay on the feminism work. Now, she sees that we analyze and gives much more attention to women artist. One of the artist that she mentions was Wangechi Mutu. Cecilia thinks Mutu brings up the problem of “what to do with one’s body”.
Aurichio, Laura.” WANGECHI MUTU.” Art Papers. 30 no5 60 s/o 2006. Wilson Web. Boston Public Library. 26 Apr. 2008.
http://vnweb.hwwilson.om/hww/jumpstart.jhtml?recid=0bc05f7a67b1790ed247052b3016b2a96ffc43410374cf0456f930be1ffba46aebdae3c9549966ae&mt=H

In this article, Laura let us see that Mutu works is a mixed of various knowledge. Not only does she bring her heritage and being a woman in the art world but also she keeps herself informs of what going on around her. Laura let us know of how one of her works was done with an architect whose name is David Adjaye.

Barlow, Rich. “SPIRITUAL LIFE.” Boston Globe. Boston MA: May 27, 2006 pg B2. Proquest. Boston Public Library. 28 Apr. 2008.
http://proquest.umi.com.ezproxy.bpl.org/pdqweb?did=1043306901&Fmt+7&clientld+21123&RQT=309&VName=PQD

This article explains how the idea of women inferiority goes back to spirituality and religion. This article criticizes women of today because they do not know how far they have over come historically because the majority of women still walk head down in front of man.

Feaver, Williams. “The Great Dictator.” ARTnews. Summer 2007: 178-181.

This is a story of a journalist, Louis Aragon who asked Picasso to draw Stalin who had just died for “Les Letters Francaise”. Picasso drew a young boy, who for many viewers did not correspond with Stalin personality. They were disappointed because they did not see the man of steel that they wanted to see. Picasso let us know that he purposely draw Stalin like that because he believes one should paint or draw beyond the obvious.

Kazanjian, Dodie. "fierce creatures; Kenyan artist Wangechi Mutu has brought her fresh and vividly energetic vision to figurative art-spinning fantastical tales of folklore and modernity." Vogue. (June 2006): 214. Expanded Academic ASAP. Gale. Boston Public Library. 7 Apr. 2008 http://find.galegroup.com.ezproxy.bpl.org/itx/start.do?prodId=EAIM
In this article, Dodie explains how fascinated she is by Mutu’s works. She is well informed about Mutu for she is able to inform us how in 1992 Mutu witness a group of mothers protesting the imprisonment of their sons by taking off their clothes to shame the authorities. She also touches on how Mutu struggle in other to survive in this art world

Keith, Maims J. “WANGECHI MUTU: problematics Susanne Vielmetter.” NKa. no21 123-3 fall2007. Wilson Web. Boston Public Library. 26 Apr. 2008.
http://vnweb.hwwilsonweb.com/hww/jumpstart.jhtml?recid=0bc05f7a67b1790ed247052b3016b2a92612f9a402bfc7f80a49e5d1f962bda788fc30357bd63bd7&fmt=H

In this article, the author explains how Mutu has made a big change in the art world. He notice by making the viewers analyzing her works, they becomes more aware of the action neglected by themselves and others.

Koening, Wendy. “WANGECHI MUTU: MEMPHIS.” Art Papers. 31 no2 62 Mr/Ap 2007. Wilson Web. Boston Public Library. Apr 26 2008.
http://vvweb.hwwilsonweb.com/hww/jumpstart.jhtml?recid=0bc05f7a67b1790ed247052b3016b2092612f9a402bfc7f89da31a9c93166c96be2e30f00e93d979&fmt=H

Koening explains Wangechi first solo which was both her mixed –media collage works with an installation of hanging clothes. Koening was able to give her opinion on some of Mutu art work especially the “Jini-fericious female creature” and the installation of the hanging clothes.
Melissa, Lo. “ WANGECHI MUTU.” Flash Art (International Edition). 38 146 My/Je 2005. Wilson Web. Boston Public Library. 27 Apr. 2008.
http://vnweb.hwwilconweb.com/hwww/jumpstart.jhtml?recid=0bc05f7a67b1790ed247052b3016b2a96eda0f808631bd7f72a8fbc3526442f04e3f97ff0a453a25&fmt=H

In this article, Melissa uses Wangechi’s painting to explain how women can have different personalities all at once. Women can be provocative, delicate, and sexual all at once. Melissa mentions Wangechi’s powerful drawings that represent the strength of every woman.

Murray, D.C. "Wangechi Mutu at SFMOMA." Art in America. 94.9 Oct 2006: 205(2). Expanded Academic ASAP. Gale. Boston Public Library. Apr. 26 2008 http://find.galegroup.com.ezproxy.bpl.org/itx/start.do?prodId=EAIM

In this article, the author Murrayy elaborates on three of Mutu’s works. Her first piece of work wa the “Chief’s Lair’s a Holy Mess” (2005) which show a grotesques mutation of the female body. Then “The Bloody Old Head Games” (2005) a collages forming a women in a high heels crushing four males heads. At last “thrones” where there is an upside down wine bottle that is dripping in small quantity.


Noonan, Erica. “Young Audience Embraces Friedan; At 84, She Says Feminism Still Has Work To Do.” Boston Globe. Boston, Mass: Feb 27, 2005. pg. 3 Proquest. Boston Public Library. 28 Apr. 2008.
http://proquest.umi.com.ezproxy.bpl.org/pdqweb?did=801308281&Fmt=7&clientld=21123&RQT=309&VName=PQD

This article let us know of how Friedan helps with the women movement and the idea of pro-choice. She explains the complication of a women life and how many things that we do are defined by men.


Putili,Gea. “Wangechi Mutu.” Flash Art 41 136 Mr/Ap 2008. WilsonWeb. Boston Public Library. Apr.16 2008 http://vnweb.hwwilsonweb.com.ezproxy.bpl.org/hwww/results/results_single_FTPES.jhtml

This is a quick put in magazine a conversation between Mutu and the interviewers. It took place during Mutu first solo exhibition at Victoria Miro Gallery. Mutu let her in on why she chooses specific collages. Wangechi, Mutu. “When this artist says her goal is to keep moving, keep changing, work that’s a little more frightening every time, she really means it. Here she talks to another artist who doesn’t mess around.”
Wangechi, Mutu. “RESONANT SURGERIES: THE COLLAGE WORLD OF WANGECHI MUTU.” BorderCrossing. Enright, Robert. 27 no1 28-46 2008. Wilson Web. Boston Public Library. 26 Apr. 2008.
http://vnweb.hwwilsonweb.com/hww/jumpstart.jhtml2recid=0bc05f7a67b1790ed247052b3016b2a9380a111f02d1a2dce820d06f9e4407e01f255cf5f4fb5196&fmt=H

This article talks about Wangechi, her childhood to what she did to be where she is right now. Wangechi explain how she comes about choosing the collage she does to the war in Sierra to what bring racism.

Wangechi, Mutu. Full Text Brant Publication. By Barbara Krugher. Apr.2007 v37 i3 pg 118(4). Infotrac. Boston Public Library. Apr. 16 2008
http://infotrac.galegroup.com.ezproxy.bpl.org/ilw/infomark/0/1/1/Purl+Rc1_BRC_0_A161206496?sw_aep+mlin_b_bpublic

In this magazine, Mutu explain how her ethnicity is use as an explanatory device. However, she explains that by being African does not mean that she is able to understand how all Africans should feels or think. She also share with that it is because many viewers does not go past by just being a viewers hat they stereotypes many artist works.

Young, Cathy. “FEMINISM REVISISTED; [ THIRD EDITION].” Boston Globe. Boston, MA: Dec 19, 2005. pgA17. Proquest. Boston Public Library. 28 Apr. 2008.
http://proquest.umi.com.ezproxy.bpl.org/pdqweb?did=943428411&Fmt=7&clienttld=21123&RQT=309&VName=PQD

This article explains how everything that happen revolves around our sex role. Cathy Young wants us to see that family life and career life should not be a choice in which one has to be sacrifice. Women should protest because they have the right which many have forgotten

Works Consulted

Ammarati, Domenick. “Do Not Go Genitally.” Modern Painters. Feb.2008: 69-73.

Domenick explain how Logan Melissa emigrates to Germany to meet with Iannone Dorothy to discuss the evolution of women artist. In their converstion, both individuals agree on how their works are not taking seriously, because as many criticize their works by referring to them as pornography because of how she expresses the beauty of the female body.


Barone, Michael. “Young Women, Feminism, and Hillary Clinton. ( voting behavior of young women).” US. News & World Report. Jan7 2008 pNA. Infotrac. Boston Public Library. 27 Apr. 2008.
http://infotrac.galegroup.com.ezproxy.bpl.org/itw/infomark/1/1/1/purl=rc1_BRC_0_A173166594?sw_aep=mlin_b_bpublic

This article let us know how in Iowa Hillary is losing to Obama with a wide margin among young women. It also gives some reason of why might be the cause of such behavior.

Erbe, Bonnie. “If Hillary Looses, Do Women Lose?” U.S. New &World Report. Feb 13, 2008 pNA. Infotrac. Boston Public Library. 27 Apr. 2008.
http://infotrac.galegroup.com.ezproxy.bpl.org/itw/infomark/1/1/1/purl=rc1_BRC_0_A174763084?sw_aep=mlin_b_bpublic

This article go deeper in feminism for they are able to say that losing Hillary does not mean that women loses because they see even more feminism in Obama because he is more pro-choice that Hillary.

Kirwan, Richard. “Ancient Times.” Modern Painters. Spring of 2002: 54-56.

In this article, Kirwan wants us to see the power of what we called “fashion” because many artist works got rejected because of the artist choice of work. Many consider works that they do not understand as being dull. He gives one example of an artist that went thorough the same thing, Paul Klce.

Lee. R. Felicia. “A Spiritual Mother of Spoken Word for a Hip Hop Generation.” The NewYork Times. Jan 29, 2005 pB11 col 02 . Infotrac. Boston Public Library. 27 Apr. 2008.
http://infotrac.galegroup.com.ezproxy.bpl.org/jtw/infomark/1/1/1/purl=Rcl_BRC_0_A127892557?sw_aep=mlin_b_bpublic

In this article, Lee talks about Sonia Sanchez during one of her performance. Lee believes that it is Sanchez that awakes the power of poetry in a lot of African and other minorities.

Siva, A. Michael. “ Love is message as Maya Angelou addresses 700; centenary.” NewYork times. Mar.11 1990. Proquest historical Newspaper 2004 pg 44. 28 Apr. 2008.
http://proquest.umi.com.ezproxy.bpl.org/pdqweb?VName=HNP&RGT=309&DID=115066267

This article show one of Maya Angelou speech to a college graduate. She emphasizes on ethic values and the power of women.

Zukowski, Karen. “The artistic hearth: the fireplace in the American aesthetic movement.” The Magazine Antiques. 173 no3 86-95 Mar.2008. 28 Apr. 2008.

This article explains the power, beauty of art in many things that revolves around us especially in architectures.

Summer Search

Dear Summer Search

Not so long time ago, I left my country to come America not knowing what to expect from a world that is different from my own; a world with different culture and language. However, in between that phase I went to a very challenging interview with you guys. Be that as it may, I knew the minute that I walk out of that I changed into a different person. I am gratified because after my interview, I feel that a weight was lifted from my shoulder. Owing to your support, I apprehend to open up to others. Before, I would participate in various activities however, because I am a taciturn person, I would not be notice by anyone. For instance, I could go volunteer somewhere, do whatever I was supposed to and later find my way out. Now, I take my time to interact with everyone. Now I am ask what happen to that shy and quiet girl. I became very sociable and such is life is my being part of the summer search program. What Summer Search make available for each of its student is like a dream come true. I think they have made me a better person by allowing me to see the different aspect of life.

Last year, I had the chance to go to Adirondack, New York on a field ecology program where for the first time I went hiking, canoeing. This trip was amazing, because I have learned my love for nature. This year, I went to Peru and Bolivia. Oh, my God! What an experience? My first week, I stay with my host family in a province called Urubamba. Despite our language barrier, my host family made me feels at home. During our time there, we volunteered at a school by painting their walls and teaching the Peruvian students about our culture through the "cha-cha" slide. However, one experience that has a great impact in my life was during my stay in Bolivia. I did hard biking on a trail know as "death Row". After completing this trail, I remember feeling so invincible. YES! I am thrilled that I went to Peru out all the choices that were offered to me by my mentor. I loved everything about Peru from the people to their taxi.

Coming back form this trip, I notice how I take a lot of things for granted such as the time that I spent with my family, the opportunity to make something of myself, lights, the water, and the Internet that we use everyday like crazy in my house. I see that I am pretty lucky because I have both my parents and summer search to be there for me whenever I fall which is pretty often and also they makes sure that I take the best path in my life

My College essay ( my favorite piece of writing)

Eight telephone lines per 1000 inhabitants, dilapidated ports and bridges, limited access to water, and low employment: this is life in Haiti. This reality, combined with my interest in math and architecture, has led me to pursue a degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering. At the age of eleven, I decided I wanted to be an engineer, wandering in a field, pencil behind my ear, watching my work being completed. My goal to improve the infrastructure of Haiti originates after being stuck beneath a bridge. That moment seemed like the end of my world, but the experience led to me realizing my goals.

This experience occurred during a visit to my grandparents’ home in the Haitian countryside. Many of the bridges we passed over throughout our journey were in bad condition. Despite that, many cars and trucks went over those bridges daily. The one bridge that I will never forget though is the one that my family chose not to cross. Instead we decided to cross the river underneath the bridge which resulted in us being stuck. As I looked up at the bridge above us, I noticed its rotten and moldy sections and was frightened by the possibility of it falling on us. After five minutes we were able to get out of the river but that experience showed me the work that needed to be done to bridges in Haiti.

In the weeks after this incident, I realized that I wanted to make a change. But how could I, when I had neither a wealthy family nor well-connected acquaintances. The only career available for a woman at the time was of a secretary, a seamstress, or a nurse. The thought of becoming an engineer was just a fantasy. However, my fantasy became more attainable once I got to taste this land of opportunity. In the U.S, I saw opportunity everywhere, even while sitting on the subway. I see advertisements for such things as colleges, job opportunities and free health care. As the train moved towards it destination I saw that the only one that could stop me from reaching my goal was me.

Thirty or forty years from now, I want to look back and see my contribution to society, especially in third world countries. I want to share my knowledge with future generations in a remarkable way. I have already begun building my own bridges to connect me to what I want to do in life. Every choice that I have made and will make in the future will benefit me in becoming the creative engineer that I have always wanted to be. Whether it’s from working hard in school to get good grades or taking a summer math class to improve in the subject, traveling to New York to participate in an Adirondack field ecology program, or to Peru and Bolivia to do community service. I have made decisions that have been my bridge to a better future and I cannot wait to see the other bridges that I will continue to build.

Tom Philllip's Humument

Page 30

Page 30

On page 30 of Tom Phillips' A Humument, Phillips compares our uncontrollable emotions that we expresses to the different seasons of life because both can be so unpredictable which sometimes leads to the regretful choices that we often make. With its uses of color, Phillips’s parallel work show the power of light and dark, summer and winter, the sun and the moon, sane and insane, and cold and hot. Phillips demonstrates it is only when an individual take his time to think, when he does not react by emotions that they can clearly see what the world has to offer.

To began, the first thing that struck me is the parallel style that exists in Phillips’ work. He diagonally divided his work by is uses of color. In the bright side, there are different uses of yellow which represent the color that is evoke by light, by the sun. From the right top to the bottom corner will be found Indian yellow, chrome yellow, gamboges, cadmium yellow, cadmium orange and rust. All of these lights, color represent different emotions that are not easily manage which make it extremely hard for individuals to use common sense. In the bright morning, Phillip’s explains that in a young man name Jackson goes home in July. July is the warmest month of the northern hemisphere for Phillip purposely chooses this moth to show how sometimes the heat plays in the emotions of individuals. To continue, Phillips explains that Jackson sees himself as “wing-room love poet” who is how every man and women let themselves empower by lust and butterfly in their stomach. Suddenly they are turn into “poet”, they want to express themselves. Man are turned into dreamer, they have let lust take over their life. Every action that are made, their every line or their every thought is about women. As we go down, the light, the brightness starts to fade. The color is as pale as the opposite color. As the heat diminuend, Phillip shows that is when that Julian was noticing what was happening to him. “Julian in poetry nitzs- My dear” he stated surprisingly.

As I look closely at the shape of the right piece of Phillip work, I notice how unbalance, chaotic the outskirts of that side of his work. Many cuts and holes can be found which in other words explains what have become of men in distress. Their life has become disorderly, uncontrollable, and antisocial since they have became blinded by the light, the heat of the sun. In that period of time, the period of love, of emotions men have became weak.

To continue, the other side of piece of work, the color is very pale, the color gray represents tranquility, calm and stillness, the opposition of disorder. Comparing to the opposite work it is more clean, and pure. Phillip shows that the mind of the man has become saner for it is ability to control its thoughts. In other to control what is revolving around him he must behaves like a brick, or like a moon which is clarifying the way for the world but does not show any emotions. This kind of life is a balance life since gray is not either black or white but a shade between those two colors.

The Character is able to think more clearly about “stuff” and acting like a “love-poets”. By living this kind of life, one is able to process his or her thoughts. Viewers can see that the mind of the individual is more rested because they are able o reflect to their past and noticed that they are “tired of ming eyes glasses.” Phillip wants to show that it is it minds that plays an important role on the decision of men. The mind is the stream of consciousness and it is manifested as the combinations of ones thoughts, perception, emotions and imagination

The border of this work and as a whole demonstrates stability, contrary to the opposite side of the Phillip piece of work. Phillips through art and poetry is able to send a message to the world about the ability and the power of the mind of an individual. It is up to them to decide whether they will remains blinded or whether they will try to learn to control their life.

Crying does not come easily

Maman always says that I don’t have a heart; I need to learn how to control my emotion. But I don’t know how. I have come to realize that I live in a world where nothing comes as a surprise to me anymore. After, ton ton Macoute came to power, everyone is waiting for a change. They are hopeless citizen. I won’t say that a reform wouldn’t be nice especially in the situation we are in today, but hoping to a point where that’s all you do is just nonsense.

This morning, Maman asks me “would I cry if she dies?”

I answered: pouki which means why?

She got mad at me. Of course I would cry, I just thought that is a question she shouldn’t have asked me. I know I don’t cry easily. I know I am the kind of person who suck thing in and get on with their lives. But she is Maman and I love Maman.

La Plaine remains the same. Every night, Bullets are heard like fireworks night and day. I am tired of this whole mess. However now, it does not bother me as much as it did when it first started.

My classmates always ask me “how can I always complete my home works in time despite where you live.” Calmly, I respond: “when you are assemble together and gossiping on how much homework, we have in English, history class or counting the number of bullets shot each night. I am in the basement of my house with an oil lamp and starts doing my homework.

Those are old news; I don’t have time to spend in something that will bring me nowhere.

Today as I was coming home from school, in my sister’s car, I saw a man got hit by a car and died at the same moment.

My sister started to freak out, I had to shake her out of that phase to remind her that we were going somewhere. When we got home, she told my mom about the accident.

Seeing how calm as I was, she asked me “jenny where we you during the accident”

“With Sabrina, Maman, I was sitting in the passenger seat” I said calmly

She looked at me And Said “Why aren’t you in Shocked”

“Why should I be when what happened already happened not even my shocked can change that.” She looked at me and walked away.

People should not let emotion runs their lives. I witness an accident a Jacmel. Blood were everywhere. Bystanders are just walking by and start asking what happens. They talk between in each other so much that they had forget that someone was in need in front of them. I walk toward them and ask the lady in red “can I call any of your family that will be able to bring your friends to a nearest hospital” There is no such thing as an ambulance in Haiti.

If it wasn’t for me and of course my pocket phone that poor guy would have lost all of his blood. Being too emotional, people cannot think straight. That’s not what we need if we want to survive in a country whose power is getting abuse by the government.