BP #4 - Shut up Eve

Printmaker Andi LaVine Arnovitz chose a powerful subject to dissect: Adam & Eve - the "first" man and woman of our specie. Yes, this subject has been done countless times but what she does in this piece is fascinating. She managed to create stylized, idealized and realistic representational human figures in her piece. Stylized in the absence of color, distinguishing features or much definition; idealized in the very fact that she has depicted Adam and Eve who serve as the mold of men and women and in the way in which she chose to draw their musculature as well as those few features that are present; realistic in that these figures clearly resemble a man and a woman.

Let me start with the obvious focal point - Eve being gagged with an apple. This clearly is representative of the hetero-Euro male centric world we live in that constantly aims to stifle and completely mute the voices of women. In choosing the "first beings"of the gender of the oldest recognition, she is showing how far back this "tradition" of the oppression of women truly is. Looking at Eve's face, her pained expression pronounced and as is the tightness in her neck as she is attempting to either speak and/or remove the apple from her mouth.  Seeing that Eve represents the genesis of women, the use of Adam and Eve is symbolic of the fact that this kind of treatment starts from the genesis of a every woman's existence. John Berger illustrated this point when he said that "to be born a woman has been to be born, within an allotted and confined space, into the keeping of men." Eve/woman is existing as Adam/man allows: "Gagged and bound."

This brings me to my next point. I can't help but notice the sexual connotation and connection in this imagery. If I were to see Eve's figure, as created by Arnovitz, outside of this piece, I'd immediately assume it was a woman wearing a ball gag. Furthermore, Eve's hand are seemingly bounded behind her body, rendering her helpless and controlled. This leaves her as an object of not only Adam's desire for control but also, possibly, sexual desire. He can do with her what he pleases, in any way he chooses. He's puts her in a position where she can't protest or even move. He disregards all empathy in the objectification of Eve. She "appeals to his sexuality. It has nothing to do with her sexuality." Adam even peers directly at Eve but she is looking away. Instead, her eyes seem to be calling for help from the viewer/spectator/audience.

Adam's stance and thrust of his right hand makes him seem threatening. As if he is saying "there is another apple where that came from." The fact that he possess all of the apples shows his control of the situation, he is also exhibiting a readiness to utilize that control and power at will. It's a kind of "holding all the cards." Him possessing all of the apples is also quite significant. Adam is definitely the one "doing to" as opposed to Eve to which things are being done. His overall figure is also larger. Both height wise and due to his outstretched hands. Arnovitz purposely does this to show a "power which he exercises on other." Size displays power. Eve's figure, however, is minimalized by the way she is standing, the bend in her body and by her arms being together and behind her. That bend/tilt in her body and leg shortens her appearance and shows the huge discomfort she is experiencing in making herself smaller. Another interesting choice she made was drawing Adam with pubic hair yet drawing Eve without. A choice that was deliberate. John Beger believed that "hair [was] associated with sexual power, with passion" and that "the woman's sexual passion needs to be minimized so that... [the male] feels that he has the monopoly of such passion." I don't know if Arnovitz deliberately made that choice for that very reason or if it was a subconscious decision. The elimination of Eve's pubic hair also associates her, more so, with young and therefore vulnerability and a certain naiveté, making her more susceptible to being overpowered and manipulated by men and their desires.

Then you go into the significance of the apple. In the story from the bible, the apples they devoured came from the tree of knowledge. Considering that apple symbolize knowledge, it is even more compelling that Arnovitz chose this subject for her piece. The apple Adam has shoved into Eve's mouth not only. "knowledge" is often used in defense of sexist attitudes and actions towards women. As a feminists myself, I've personally had many arguments where the other person or person tried to use "knowledge" from the bible to "shut me up" in a way. They of course never win in that way not only because I don't follow any organized religion but because quoting the opinions and stories from a man written book does magically make what you quote fact. But, religion is consistently used as a defense for many atrocities. I see the apple symbolizing that. this "knowledgeability" people claim to have being used as a weapon and tool for silencing women.

I love that Arnovitz chose such a playful printed background using a pattern of repeated mini apples. I interpret that as the perpetual arsenal men field they have. Not only are the apples in his hands but constantly around them, ready to be plucked and used and abused. The brightness and warmth of the background makes the figures that much more dismal and drained in comparison. That feeling of being drained stands out to me. As if this whole ideal is draining and old in itself. Arnovitz could have also made the decision to color the leaves covering their shame. The use of complementary gives a feeling of robustness which gives me a sense of how passionately she feels for this topic. Or, this color choice was made to make the imagery that much more striking.

Arnovitz, just as John Berger, recognizes that this is what most of society views as the right relation between men and women. This piece puts it on displays and throws it in our face in a striking and beautifully discomforting, disturbing way. In a way that it should be displayed. Through her art, Arnovitz is letting it be known that you can't "Shut her up."