Women in shunga: Questions of Objectification and Equality
Women in shunga: Questions of Objectification and Equality
Author(s): Louise BoydSubject(s): Gender Studies, Cultural history, Visual Arts, Gender history, 17th Century, 18th Century, 19th Century, History of Art
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego
Keywords: Shunga; Sex; Art; Feminism; Objectification;
Summary/Abstract: The objectification of women in art and pornography is often seen as harmful. However, Martha Nussbaum’s articulation of seven types of objectification shows how it can be benign or positive depending on the context. This paper utilizes Nussbaum’s ideas to examine the objectification of women depicted in shunga, sexually explicit art created in 17th-19th century Japan, and how it differs from European art of the same period. It also explores related issues of equality, sexuality, and agency.
Journal: Estetyka i Krytyka
- Issue Year: 55/2019
- Issue No: 4
- Page Range: 79-100
- Page Count: 22
- Language: English