This and That: Avatars of Feminine Power
27 Jun 2008 19 Comments
in Allegory, Art, Culture, Iraq, Politics, bigotry, gender
First up, possibly my favorite painting in the entire world, Rembrandt’s Pallas Athena. I’m well aware that many people think it may not be by Rembrandt himself, but like, whatthefuckever, the painting stands on its own two feet, or would if it had feet instead of a frame. Rembrandt would look at that and say “God, I wish I’d painted that,” I mean, assuming he did not:
Could it rock any harder? I mean, really.
Next up, this very 21st-Century image from the Guardian of a newly-graduated Iraqi policewoman firing at a target.
Jun 27, 2008 @ 23:21:32
Powerful images, both of them.
The most iconic of the 21st century for me was the falling man.
Jun 28, 2008 @ 05:20:37
I hope the Iraqi policewoman has a concealed-carry permit.
Jun 28, 2008 @ 07:16:16
Well if she’s pointing it at you, it’s not very concealed, is it?
Jun 28, 2008 @ 08:38:51
I dunno, to me, Athena looks like a guy in that painting. I am sorry. I know you are awful fond of it. But, hello, guy?
Jun 28, 2008 @ 10:08:38
Girl in a helmet – it that anything like the boy in the boat?
Jun 28, 2008 @ 10:09:12
is, not it. Damn
Hey, another freebie for your cuss-o-meter!
Jun 28, 2008 @ 11:12:36
Well, his son modeled for it if legend is accurate. Which, of course, is its own whole gender war metaphor right there.
Jun 28, 2008 @ 19:51:46
I would comment but I fear that may lead to me being sacrificed in some arcane way – - -
Jun 28, 2008 @ 19:55:48
You will be eaten first when the Earth is cleared off, but that won’t be till the stars are right, so I wouldn’t worry.
Jun 28, 2008 @ 21:23:28
That Pallas Athena painting is beautiful. I don’t really think she looks like a guy, but then again maybe I’m just some kind of sexual predator masquerading as a heterosexual celibate. OK, not so celibate *I’m looking at you, baby*, but you get the picture.
Jun 28, 2008 @ 22:52:24
When I have total world domination, the Pallas Athena will hang to the left of my desk, and John Everett Millais’ Ophelia will hang to the right of my desk. The path of human womanhood lies between these two extremes, and it is a bent and twisty one.
Jun 30, 2008 @ 21:35:03
I agree with Fraser. Athena doesn’t look like a guy. I believe the idea of a women has changed during the past few hundred years. The warrior goddess shouldn’t look like the ideal 21st century women…She is a warrior goddess for goddess sakes.
Oct 20, 2009 @ 19:16:26
I think it is a beautiful painting, no one could paint Athena better than that, and no she doesn;t look anything like a guy!!
Oct 20, 2009 @ 21:07:44
Glad you like it. And I know several guys prettier than that, but none that look more kickass. It’s very Emma Peel as Centurion.
Oct 21, 2009 @ 03:04:47
I discovered this week that one of the channels I get here in English is showing The Avengers every afternoon – the ones with Emma Peel in them. It’s really been taking me back. Such cool haughty elegance. Plus she could break a man’s arm with a flick of her wrist. Love it. The clothes are great too.
Also love the painting.
Oct 21, 2009 @ 20:23:25
Cool. I’m on an Emma Peel kick lately, finding the old hit by the Allies to download. Hope it’s on itunes: http://www.hauntedfieldmusic.com/Allies.html
Dec 18, 2009 @ 03:47:10
Nice.
Dec 18, 2009 @ 03:54:39
Glad you liked it. I was really struck by that photo and thought this would frame it well, conceptually.
Jun 04, 2010 @ 17:25:54
Wow… Pallas Athena is really beautiful ^_^ I hope there are paintings of Hera and Aphrodite that are as powerful as this one. This really depicts the beauty of one of the three most beautiful Goddesses in Olympus. ^_^