Lindsey , Natalie ,Heidi
Project 5
Battleground
This piece examines the hypocrisy of many politicians who claim to place the highest value on human life, but only when it seems convenient. Our garment aims to reveal this double-standard and discuss the absurdity of “pro-life” statements while these right-wingers simultaneously turn their backs on those who have needlessly lost their lives to gun violence, thus placing the value of an unborn fetus above that of a real human being. Our piece is a fashion garment made for a pregnant woman, meant to illustrate the way in which we have turned women’s bodies into a political battleground. The words on the dress are quotes from Republican politicians and the GOP official website on their stance on abortion, coupled with imagery associated with the NRA. This seemingly unrelated coupling becomes extremely linked as the viewer is forced to examine how hypocritical these stances on these issues is. The textile design is accompanied by intricate lace-like illustrations which at first appears somehow beautiful, righteous even, evoking associations with Victorian fashion, royalty, power, and a lifestyle of refinement, respectability, and luxury. Upon closer examination we realize not only the confusing implication of the words themselves when thrown against a pro-gun, pro-violence backdrop, but laced within this intricate pattern is imagery depicting male sperm, referencing the way that women’s issues (such as abortion) have become dominated by men, in addition to and also the hyper-masculine culture that is associated with gun ownership in the United States and how toxic masculinity has quite literally posed a threat to life in the U.S.
Process:
Final piece:
