Compare and Contrast Christine de Pizan’s the Book of the City of Ladies and Judy Chicago’s the Dinner Party, Essay Example

Christine de Pizan’s The Book of the City of Ladies gives reference to the Roman Catholic “The Annunciation” by giving light to the “extreme immoral and inconsistency of women.” (De Pizan, 1999). This express behavior is vehemently disproportionate and opposite of the pure and humble life that the Virgin Mary portrayed. Christine states a figure appears to her showing vision of reason, rectitude and justice. The figure appears to tell her she has to build a humble place for women to exist so that they can live against the injustices created by man against women. The Lady of Reason brings Christine to a new and fertile ground where she is supposed to commence building the new land with the use of a pen. This land through pen will serve as the foundation for the City of Ladies. Reason collectively invigorates Christine with hope of other ladies that have been through situations of judicially ruled mighty territories and wishes for them to no longer have to defend themselves from insurgents and other terroristic acts. Reason comes to play with the women who have suffered injustices but have waited with humility and patience for their day of justice to come. Reason is the foundation by which the city will flourish and advises Christine to turn over the new job to her two sisters. Through the salvation of rectitude, de Pizan will be able to house all of her followers in mansions and new domiciles. The acts that are occurring are those that happened before The Annunciation was made and the Virgin Mary was asked to be the Mother of Jesus Christ. Mary was prepared for this holy job and chosen because of her pure virtue and untainted soul. Rectitude is most important because it focuses on the family unit and brings to reality the understanding and concept that family can only be achieved through faithfulness, pious wives and loyal dedication to loved ones and even the ones we did not truly love prima facie. De Pizan claims women are truly stronger than men emotionally and are the rock solid foundation of any relationship. A woman earns a certain distinction amongst others through her unchanging integrity, devotion, and generosity. Physical attributes come are viewed secondary when truly looking into the true character and personality of a real woman. Christine wishes to fill the city with very loyal and noble women and once this was accomplished she turned her work over to her sister, Justice.

At this point Christine brings the Virgin Mary to act as a mentor for the rest of the holy ladies of the city. The Virgin Mary “serves as a guide and as a Queen.” (De Pizan, 1999). Many women of the city were severely chastised for worshiping the Lord Jesus Christ. Many had gone astray but came back to their faith ever so devoted. Many women went through relentless abuse in different forms for many reasons but their spirits never died. Many of these women were made saints in the name of the Virgin Mary. Women were forced to dress as men in order to be free to practice their faith and religion with persecution. Mothers witnessed torture and death to their own children. All of the three virtues had been completed then the city was turned over to Christine. Christine announces the city is a safe haven for all women to find respite and be delivered from persecution and torture from men. The city shows that women can unite to form a bond of strong devotion, loyalty and high virtue that all good women possess.

The 1960’s was a revolutionary movement period for the inalienable rights of women and it is just that movement that captured the veracity of Judy Chicago’s The Dinner Party. During this period there was no news of women in art, feminist movements, books or religion and churches. “H.W. Jansen stated there was not even a mention of one woman in history books.” (“The Dinner Party”). This movement was a huge progressive movement for three women to gather together and make this magnificent piece of art which lies at the Brooklyn Museum. This monumental installation which eventually became famous was laid by Judy Chicago and hundreds of other pro-activist women during the years of 1974-1979. What is ironic is this established role in Western Civilization was usually reserved for the male population. The Dinner Party consists of a triangular masterpiece laid on a triangular table measuring forty eight feet in all. It was orchestrated for a humble and finite gathering place for women initially. Each woman who contributed a porcelain plate to the artwork is individually honored for doing so. The runners that accompany the plates symbolize meditation. The most important feature is the vaginal cord like look that symbolized feminism and helps to bring out its equilateral embrace for the women of America.

Judy’s piece of art work did not become famous alone. It originally appeared in “San Francisco in 1979 before touring the country in Europe comprised of a triangular table for 39 notable women in history with 999 other names inscribed on it.” (Sheiner, 2010). The women represented were from an array of histories including Primordial Goddesses to Georgia O’Keefe. The butterflies on the artwork are there to represent the female genital area. Critics say the piece of art is still recognized by many today as an importance piece because of the political and social influence it has on women’s rights such as the lesbian movement and birth control rights, etc. Many art critics called this representation of women by their genitals “reactionary and essentialist”. Others viewed the art as vulgar, seductive and radical but that was mostly citizens and not art critics. Female sexuality and the ability to express that sexuality is important because of the times when the art was produced and the oppression many women received throughout the years. This work of art is similar to other works of art which depict a mother and a child sucking on the breast of the mother. They are considered Sexual Politics works of art. This art and feminist theory is neither puzzling nor nostalgic for it represents the time of change that was needed for women. Art was used and a means of making this reality. Some were concerned about the worship of goddesses and some were simply concerned simply because the art was very proactive and women of different color were just not accustomed to that way of thinking. You might say the art was ahead of its time or made a very strong stance for women’s rights. Some people simply do not share enough or rather any knowledge of the complexities of the feminist movement in the 1970’s therefore cannot appreciate the access gained painfully through art and other measures.

What The Book of the City of Ladies and The Dinner Party have in express common entity is the fight for righteousness for women. Both generations were times of oppression which needed to be unleashed. The Book of the City of Ladies addressed the issue by having women show their special sides of humility, loyalty and honor to gain common ground with men. The Dinner Party simply exposed the public to a different aspect of giving women rights which were already afforded them through the United States Constitution but oppressed by men for whatever reasons. It was depicted and given shape and movement through art which obviously left a strong and viable lasting impression until this day.

References

De Pizan, C. The Book of the City of Ladies Suffolk, England Penguin Books, 1999.

Chicago, J. (2010) The Dinner Party Retrieved November 4, 2010 from, http://throughtheflower.org/page.php?p=10&n=2

Sheiner, M. (2010) Sexual Politics: Judy Chicago’s “Dinner Party” in Feminist Art History Retrieved November 4, 2010 from, http://marcysheiner.tripod.com/DinnerParty.htm