Dissecting The Western Woman Artist; An Artist's Dialogue by Amy E. Fraser
Chapter 2 Muscle
Feminine Strength
One of the most prominent physical aspects noted during the external examination of the subject was her large, powerful, muscular form. The exaggerated size and strength of the muscle structure points to a meaning beyond aesthetic choice. Further investigation into the concept of female muscle has led to a number of answers about the subject, her beliefs and the cause of Amy E. Fraser’s art.
Physiological and Cultural Aspects
Muscle is tissue composed of elongated cells, the contraction of which produces movement in the body. All men, women and animals possess this vital tissue. However, the word muscular is most commonly used in association with definitions of masculinity. Webster defines muscle as the power of force, especially of a coercive nature. The sentence example provided for this definition was, "They put muscle into their policy and sent the Marines". Their example is a clear inference that masculinity is an appropriate synonym for muscle. Webster's example further states that muscle means to make one's way by force or fraud. The word muscle has many other common masculine associations in Western culture. Men commonly refer to their penis as the 'big muscle' and, in our culture, the word muscle is interchangeable with the words stamina, power, virility, potency, brawn, prowess, might, grit, sturdiness, energy and vigor.
Cultural Misconceptions About Masculinity And Femininity
Middle class Western culture has constructed their conceptions of masculinity based on the ideals of competitiveness, personal ambition, social responsibility and emotional restraint. Lower class masculinity is directed toward physical toughness, endurance and male bonding. Western femininity is thus based on the opposite of these masculine ideals. In our culture, to achieve ultimate femininity is to become everything man believes he is not. In the past, the feminine woman was thought to be overly emotional, lacking in ambition, drive and motivation. She was said to be uncontrollable, irresponsible, weak, powerless, subservient, docile, soft, meek, passive, spiritless, submissive, compliant, yielding, inferior, inadequate, bland, lethargic, shallow, crawling, boot licking and completely lacking in the virtues of masculine muscle. Unfortunately, time has been slow to change these misconceptions of femininity.
History And Western Tradition
Throughout history, Western culture has succeeded in making woman feel less worthy than man. In the past it was commonly believed that it was woman's muscular weakness that predisposed her to passivity. These archaic views of a weak, less aggressive sex were the unfortunate result of patriarchies' unreliable and antiquated information, tentatively based on biased studies of culture and biology. Western woman was encouraged to believe that her value came from her procreative ability. She came to devalue her embodiment, and became a victim to the 'feminine' identity defined for her by early Western society.
Moving Toward New Visions Of Femininity
I believe that if a woman resigns herself to the inequality of Western culture's traditional definitions of femininity, she increases and strengthens its debilitating boundaries. She will be beaten in advance, overflowing with her own self inflicted defeatism. She will not know what it means to aim high because of the limits previously placed upon her ambitions. Caution condemns woman to mediocrity. To succeed she must acquire a taste for adventure and be willing to experience life for its own sake.
Today there are no (legal) restrictions for a woman, nothing can be forbidden to her because of her sex; her limits are boundless, except for the limitations she imposes on herself. As long as women continue to struggle with their embodiment, they cannot produce the energy it takes to become 'muscular'.
I believe a woman must have self realization to be truly feminine. She must value herself as a human being and find satisfaction in being female. To become truly feminine, she must blatantly be what she is. She can give meaning to her life by lending meaning to the world. Each woman can make her person the instrument of her art, regardless of what form her creativity takes. She will find femininity in the celebration and acceptance of her female body. Sexual validation occurs through realizing ones womanly strengths. Building female muscles means thinking, taking action, working, living and creating. One should not regret life’s lessons of violence and suffering because they too strengthen the powers of female muscle. Woman needs to possess technical skills, sound logic and definite knowledge. She has to have the confidence and ability to undertake, invent and dare. She must challenge herself and continue to seek out difficult tasks in order to hone her female muscle. She has these resources available within herself, but, it is a matter of accomplishing those tasks before she can enhance and enlarge her muscled existence.
Breaking The Restraints Of Western Femininity
I am not suggesting that women take on masculine identities. I just believe that we need to reevaluate what we believe is feminine. One way I choose to define my own conception of femininity is through the powerful potential of the female muscular system. One's conception of femininity depends on one's conditioning and being feminine cannot be defined by one specific quality.
The muscular woman in my works is not beautiful by standards of Western culture. But, to me, she is beautiful because of what she represents. It is her potential, power, intelligence and integrity that make her truly awe inspiring. She has won possession of herself. She has overcome the limitations of Western society. She lives for, and through, her embodied self; she will not accept the outdated notion that she is the weaker sex. She knows she is capable of invention and originality. She can not be beaten or defeated ever again.
I also represent the hard core, muscle bound woman in my paintings because art is a serious endeavor. It takes thought, action, discipline and dedication. A work of art is not a mirage, it is a solid object that takes labor and consideration. In order to create, one must have skill and knowledge as well as the strength to pull it off. To be a great artist, one must consistently remain professional and never be discouraged by criticism. The fact that others do not find this woman beautiful is, at times, disturbing for me. However, she will prove herself. She has confidence in the muscle she has developed, she is a competent woman who has the will and strength to succeed.
The muscular woman in my works is not beautiful by standards of Western culture. But, to me, she is beautiful because of what she represents. It is her potential, power, intelligence and integrity that make her truly awe inspiring. She has won possession of herself. She has overcome the limitations of Western society. She lives for, and through, her embodied self; she will not accept the outdated notion that she is the weaker sex. She knows she is capable of invention and originality. She can not be beaten or defeated ever again.
I also represent the hard core, muscle bound woman in my paintings because art is a serious endeavor. It takes thought, action, discipline and dedication. A work of art is not a mirage, it is a solid object that takes labor and consideration. In order to create, one must have skill and knowledge as well as the strength to pull it off. To be a great artist, one must consistently remain professional and never be discouraged by criticism. The fact that others do not find this woman beautiful is, at times, disturbing for me. However, she will prove herself. She has confidence in the muscle she has developed, she is a competent woman who has the will and strength to succeed.
She Represents Who We Strive To Become
The image of the muscular woman in my works is a wish, a hope and an inspiration for humanity. She is the muscle bound woman within each of us. Her outward appearance is an exaggeration of woman's most basic attributes. She is the all knowing woman, our oldest, most ancient ancestor. Each of us carries her within ourselves. She is the seeker and seer of wisdom and truth. She helps woman to appreciate her body's abundance, functions, mass and volume. She teaches us the value of the tangible, physical, solid and real. She celebrates the corporeal, human, living and fleshy aspects of our embodiment. She helps us to realize our potential energy, vitality, potency and vigor as bodily beings.
One does not have to agree with or wish to look like my muscular image of woman to possess her fine virtues. I have created an image representing feminine accomplishment and potential, but not necessarily one of pleasing appearance. Accomplishment should be the true feminine demonstration of desirability and worth.
The muscle bound woman is a blunt, direct and forthright individual. She has sustenance, stamina, endurance and vitality. She is proficient, advantageous and resourceful. She is a woman who is bright, impassioned, animated, diligent and purposeful. Her ideas are strong, solid, sound and cogent. She must exert herself for her success, but that is of no real consequence to the headstrong, willful and resistant muscle woman. She knows that she is admired and her presence commands respect. She has earned her self esteem, pride and dignity through her life's challenges. She is a woman who is active, dominant, forceful, aggressive, energetic and alive. She is full of enthusiasm, intense, fierce, and ecstatic about her dreams and desires. She is a woman full of possibilities, and she has the capability to overcome hardships. She has fortitude, self control and poise. She is mature, elegant, and graceful. She is Chief, Master and Leader. She is a compelling, influential and seductive woman. She is a rare individual who will surpass, exceed, go beyond and rise above the mundane. The muscle bound woman will prevail, her essence lives in all women; she will continue to survive and prosper within me and my works.
One does not have to agree with or wish to look like my muscular image of woman to possess her fine virtues. I have created an image representing feminine accomplishment and potential, but not necessarily one of pleasing appearance. Accomplishment should be the true feminine demonstration of desirability and worth.
The muscle bound woman is a blunt, direct and forthright individual. She has sustenance, stamina, endurance and vitality. She is proficient, advantageous and resourceful. She is a woman who is bright, impassioned, animated, diligent and purposeful. Her ideas are strong, solid, sound and cogent. She must exert herself for her success, but that is of no real consequence to the headstrong, willful and resistant muscle woman. She knows that she is admired and her presence commands respect. She has earned her self esteem, pride and dignity through her life's challenges. She is a woman who is active, dominant, forceful, aggressive, energetic and alive. She is full of enthusiasm, intense, fierce, and ecstatic about her dreams and desires. She is a woman full of possibilities, and she has the capability to overcome hardships. She has fortitude, self control and poise. She is mature, elegant, and graceful. She is Chief, Master and Leader. She is a compelling, influential and seductive woman. She is a rare individual who will surpass, exceed, go beyond and rise above the mundane. The muscle bound woman will prevail, her essence lives in all women; she will continue to survive and prosper within me and my works.
Muscular Concepts In My Own Art
There are many versions of feminine muscle shown in the gallery of AEFraser.com. One example is Prognosticator. The central figure effortlessly supports the weight of a giant egg. In this scenario, the egg can be symbolic of the unknown, the future, our potential, or any number of frightening possibilities. In other words, if this symbol were a real weighted quantity, it would be massive. However, due to the concepts invested in muscle, we can depend on this woman’s strength of character and be assured that the egg will not fall. We read her expression as one of awe and wonder. Anticipation toward the egg’s potential is expressed. Not seen or felt is any fear of responsibility. The true muscle bound woman is aware of her abilities and unconcerned with the heavy burdens and challenges that her potential may produce. A similar interpretation may be made regarding the foreground figure in Cloaked Fear. She exhibits feminine muscle with her obvious willingness to act as leader, mother and protector. Interpretations of the muscle-bound woman in my works may vary. However, one consistent interpretation is that she will always be a woman worth reckoning.
For more Art and Information on Amy E. Fraser go to Aefraser.com All images and text from "Dissecting The Western Woman Artist: An Artist's Dialogue" copyright Amy E. Fraser. All rights reserved. Amy E. Fraser's Master's Thesis. Original Publication by Dartmouth College 2000.