THE ARTWORK OF KlSS & TELL, SHONAGH ADELMAN AND DIANA THORNEYCROFT by Laura ...

129 Pages·1998·6.21 MB·English

INTERVENTIONS INTO DISCOURSES OF IDENTITY:
THE ARTWORK OF KlSS & TELL, SHONAGH ADELMAN
AND DIANA THORNEYCROFT
by
Laura McCoy, B.A.(Hons.), 8-Ed.
A thesis submitted to
the Foculty of Graduate Studies and Research
in partial fulfillrnent of
the requirements for the degree of
Master of Arts
School of Canadian Studies
Carleton University
Ottawa. Ontario
July 28 1997
O Louro McCoy. 1997
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Thesis contains black f white
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ABSTR ACT
In this thesis i examine the artwork of a group of coniemporary Canadion
feminist artists: Kiss & Tell, Shonagh Adelman and Diana Thorneycroft. In
connection with the work of these artists. I explore the regulation of sexuolly
explicit irnogery in Canada, and sexliality itself as regulation. I identify three
strategies shored by the artists: the deconstruction of dominant images, the use
of performance and the method of working collaboratively. My anoiysis
considen the potential interventions into discourses of sexual identity that are
allowed or encouraged by the artwork. i conclude that artwork such as this can
play a vital role in altering how we conceive of and act out sexual identities.
ACKNO WLEDGMENTS
1 would like to thank:
Mary Louise Adams, my Thesis Supervisor. for al1 of her encouragement and
assistance with the topic, and for reading and commenthg so usefully on al1 of
the drafts of the proposal and the thesis.
Kotherine Arnup for interesthg discussions on sexual identity, and for employing
me to help in her research.
My Thesis Support Group: Nancy Janovicek and Lori Waserman. for al1 their
encouragemeni. for reading many drofts and giving helpfu! feedbock, and for
letting me know thot I could do it when 1 thought I couldn't.
My family and friends who always encouraged me and gave much needed
moral support.
The artists: Kiss & Tell, Shonagh Adelman, and Diana Thorneycroft, for ollowing
me to reproduce their artwork in this thesis.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1l
iii
Acknowledgments
Table of Contents
List of illustrations vi
List of Appendices viii
1. INTRODUCTION 1
2. THE WORK OF KlSS & TELL, SHONAGH ADELMAN
AND DIANA THORNEYCROFT
3. THE REGULATION OF SEXUAL REPRESENTATION
4. INTERROGATING DISCOURSES OF IDENTITY
5. CONCLUSION
Illustrations
Appendix 1
Appendix 2
Bibliography: General Works
Shonagh Adelman
Kiss & Tell
Diana Thorneycroft
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Barbara Kruger
Unfif/ed{ Your Guze Hits the Side of my Foce), 1 98 1 .
Kiss & Tell
Drawhg the Line - lesbian sexuul poh7ic.s on the wull 1 99 1 .
B/w photograph.
Kiss & Tell
Drawing fhe Line - le~bianse xuolpoh'fics on fhe wull 1 99 1 .
Blw photograph.
Kiss & Tell
Dru whg the Line - lesblan sexuu/poh'fho n the wull 1 99 1 .
B/w photogroph.
Kiss & Tell
Drawhg fhe Line - lesbien sexuu/poh'fic5o n fhe wu4 1 99 1.
B/w photograph.
Lorna Boschman and Kiss & Tell
Still from True lnvenions, 1992.
Video.
Lorna Boschman and Kiss & Tell
Sfill from True /nver~ions1, 992.
Video.
Shonagh Adelman
'Expose' from Tele Donna, 1993.
Blocklight box.
Shonogh Adelman
Mosfbafk 1993.
Computer generated cibachrome print.
Shonagh Adelman
Cunibud 7 993.
Corn puter generated cibachrome print .
Shonagh Adelmon
Plast/;s,1 99 3.
Computer generated cibachrome orint.
1 2. LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS (continued)
13. Shonagh Adelmon
Groscunf , 1 993.
Cornputer generated cibachrome print.
1 4. Diona Thorneycroft
Untit/ed /Fih Bn'de), 1 9 9 2.
Silver print .
15. Diona Thorneycroft
Untitied (Fib Bnndes,) 1 9 9 2.
Silver print.
1 6. Diano Thorneycroft
Untited (fiore),1 99 2.
Silver prinf.
17. Diana Thorneycroft
Untifled /TwW 1 993.
Silver print .
18. Diono Thorneycroft
Untifed /Mutruska Dolu, 1 993.
Silver print .
vii
LIST OF APPENDICES
APPENDIX 1: Canodiun Crimino/ Code,S ection 1 63.
APPENDIX 2: Canadian Chorfer of Righf s und Freedoms,
Sections 1, 2, 15 and 28.
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTlON
Art threatens not only because it is a spoce that re-presents cultvre; it also
embodies the sphere in which change tokes place
-
Beavis 1996:32
In this thesis, i will focus on a group of Conadion artists who are creating
imager/ thot responds to their own desires. artists who ore reclaiming
representations of women (of themselves) and infusing them with specifically
feminist and personal meanings. In pursuing these ends. the artists use a vonety
of strategies, including the deconstruction of dominant visual codes,
collaboration, performance and explorations of penonal experience. Through
their work the artists challenge the regulatory categories that control discourses
of sexuolity in Canadion society at the present tirne.
The artists who 1 will consider in this thesis are: Kiss & Tell, a lesbian art
collective from Vancouver. made up of Penimmon Blackbridge. Susan Stewart
and Lizard Jones: Shonagh Adelman. a Toronto/New York artist and curator; and
Diana Thorneycroft. an ortist from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Ail of these artists create
work that engages with discussions of sexuality. the regulotion of sexuality and its
relation to constructions of sexuol identity.
In our society art is a somewhot marginal form of expression compared to,
for instance. advertising. Far fewer people will ever see the work of these artists
thon will see any Hollywood movie, or on issue of Peop/e MugoUne. While this in