More than ever before, women around the world are pursuing autonomy, indicated by such social shifts as filing for divorces and engaging in politics. Even so, women’s full and unfettered participation in civil, industrial, and political spheres has yet to be achieved.
This piece uses Hillary Rodham Clinton — her maligned public persona, historic and unsuccessful bid for presidential candidacy, and status as Secretary of State — to explore feminism’s trajectory and speculate more broadly on female enfranchisement.
Getting Closer (originally posted to the wiki on September 16, 2010)
I transformed this image in several ways. First, I colored over the fuzzy backs of heads in the right and left foreground and painted in the negative space with an extension of Hillary’s shoulders and arms. I also matched the colors of the background woman’s blouse and extended those colors downwards, as if we could see her whole body. Then I chose one of the background gray colors and painted over the background in its entirety, making Hillary’s image punch out. I chose to frame her hair, as seen in the original, to give a halo effect.
Then I contemplated the image. The woman in the background, looking into the distance, and Hillary’s pensive gaze into the future, made me think about feminism. I used Fairey’s carnival-esque font and imposed the text “GETTING CLOSER.” The cramping of this text together and around the edges was intentional, an embodiment of “getting closer,” perhaps an expansion outwards from an inhospitable corner. Not only did Hillary’s campaign bring her closer to the female electorate, not only is Hillary closer to the foreground than her female companion, but WOMEN overall are getting closer to enjoying equal rights and fair compensation. Hillary’s success — and “failure” to secure the Democratic nomination — signify this march of progress towards an unattained terminus. Perhaps THAT is what Hillary is considering so soberly…
P.S. If you Google Image search “Hillary Clinton,” you will discover that the lion’s share of pix depict unflattering moments. Lot of Hillary hate out there…