Major
Political Science
Second Major
Spanish
Advisor
Frost, Margaret
Advisor Department
Political Science
Date
5-2024
Keywords
flamenco; Spain; feminist
Creative Commons License
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Abstract
During the 2023-2024 academic year, my academic pursuits led me to Granada, Spain. This city is nestled within the culturally rich region of Andalucia, renowned as the birthplace of flamenco. Immersed in the study of Spanish language and culture, but also cognizant of prevalent issues of sexism deeply rooted within its societal fabric, I decided to explore gender expression and dynamics in flamenco. For this project, I researched Laura Mulvey's notion of the “male gaze,” a feminist theory that argues that the depiction of women in art and media supports a patriarchal society. Women are often portrayed as objects for men to look at, rather than as full, independent people. Through the creation of a photo essay, I set out to determine whether the art form of flamenco confirms or subverts Mulvey’s theory. Each curated photograph serves as a visual narrative, accompanied by bilingual (English and Spanish) reflections. In addition to photos of the captivating performances, this project shows how flamenco can challenge the concept of the “male gaze” by offering alternative modes of representation that disrupt traditional power dynamics and notions of objectification.
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