Shapeshifter: A Transcendence from Woman to Slug
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Date
2024
Authors
O'Shea, Ellen
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
This text serves as a companion to my terminal creative project,
Shapeshifter, which documents the transformation from woman to slug
and elaborates on the sociopolitical and cultural contexts that inform my
artistic practice. This writing is a cultivation of the three-year journey of
research and production that has culminated in this body of work,
drawing connections between my visual art and the realms of feminist
studies, consumer theory, and contemporary art.
My work investigates the intricate trappings of societal influences that
shape identities, particularly through the lens of female consumerism. In
a world inundated with messages designed to manipulate desires, I
survey the pervasive phenomenon of being brainwashed by the allure of
paraphernalia. As a female artist, I have an acute awareness of how
corporations capitalize on women, feeding them a constant stream of
superficial ideals and materialistic desires. I am in a unique position as
both an outside observer and an inside participant, critically examining
the dynamics of the beauty advertisement industry.
With the rising popularity of ‘slugging’—a routine involving excessive
layers of moisturizer applied to the face—I find myself drawn to this
trend while simultaneously questioning its underlying impulse.
Description
23 pages
Keywords
female consumerism, slugging, feminine iconography, transcendence