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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.
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.
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.
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