Citizen Rose (2018)
2/10
Feminism and equality through art or, self-recognition, pretentious therapy and self justifiction?
25 May 2018
There's the cause and case for not just feminism but equality for all and this gets somewhat mired down by McGowan's self-importance. Her supposed honesty turns out to be just her views on what she feels is right, who is wrong and little justification beyond what either drifts or, alternately, shoots off tangentially. Yes it's easy to be in the right when you've been a victim who can keep pointing to it but to then use that as a base for all manner of supposed deep and justified positions; on whatever springs to mind, in thought and fed out in art, then becomes watered down and up for legitimate critique and ultimately sad. I'm not sure whether some of the current 'in your face' movements will be of aid or detriment to feminism and women in the long run but I am fairly sure that McGowan's overly emotive show ultimately will not be. Mixing personal truths and events with art in a supposed activism can all too often lead to something, how ever well intentioned, arriving at what can be seen as a quest for self-recognition, justification for the 'way you are' and pretentiousness. Keep oft repeating that patriarchal society and/or the lower percentile (!) are the ills will only get you so far before the/your point becomes labored and denigrates the good that this show presumably aimed at. A case in point being Yoko Ono, who had the massive fame and support of John Lennon, but ultimately her feminist art and views drifted into what were seen by many as nonsensical ravings. McGowan clearly didn't take note that she needed to be rather more substantive than a victim who spoke out with fame, at least in part from it, and righteous intent. Therapeutic this is not.
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