46. The Un-Heroic Act: Representations of Rape and Sexual Violence within Art History with Melody Thornton

Jo's Art History Podcast

TRIGGER WARNING

This episode contains references to rape and sexual violence, which some listeners may find upsetting.

Welcome back to Jo’s Art History Podcast.

This week I sit down with Melody Thornton to discuss the representations of rape and sexual violence within Art History.

Melody talks us through 5 works from within the history of art which, on first appearance, seem perfectly innocent.

We discuss misleading titles, the language used to describe / justify the scenes / what is happening and why these images continue to be celebrated within the history of art despite depicting violence towards women.

This episode has left me asking more questions than it has given answers and I want to thank Melody for being such a brilliant guest and discussing this topic with me.

Melody is incredibly knowledgeable about this subject, having had it inspire her series of photographic works which sees her save women throughout art history from their abusers as part of her master’s degree. Please check out her series via her Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/melodythorntonartist/

I completely understand this topic is not for everyone, however, art history is full of depictions of women (and men) suffering at the hands of an abuser and I feel it is important to have this conversation. There has been essays, catalogues and exhibitions based around this subject.

Any episode I release is never meant to upset or anger anyone, only educate and start a discussion. Please do listen, this conversation is an important one.

Links for further information:

The un-heroic art: http://employees.oneonta.edu/farberas/arth/arth200/Heroic_Rape.html

Leda and the Swan: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leda_and_the_Swan_(Michelangelo)

The Rape of Europa: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rape_of_Europa_(Titian)

Artemisia - Rape Survivor and her Revenge: https://www.dailyartmagazine.com/artemisia-gentileschi-rape-survivor-revenge/

Apollo and Daphne: https://www.carpediemrome.com/apollo-and-daphne/

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