Introduction: Background information
The yellow wallpaper
Author: Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Early work of American feminist literature- illustration of the attitudes of society towards physical and mental health of women in the 19th century (Gilman, 2008, p. 1).
Published in The New England Magazine in 1892
The short story illustrates the effects on the narrator health brought about by confinement, leading to development of psychosis. Her obsession with the color of the wallpaper in the locked room (Gilman, 2008, p. 16-20).
Narrator believes she is one of the women creeping behind the wallpaper patterns thereby becoming accustomed with the yellow wallpaper (Gilman, 2008, p. 21-26).
If These Walls Could Talk
Television movie broadcasted by the home box office
Movie interested in following the plight and experiences of three women on matters pertaining to abortion particularly on different times-1952, 1974 and 1996 (Internet movie database, 2010, para. 3).
First and second segments co written by Nancy Savoca in 1952 and 1974 and 1996
Television series directed b y Anne Heche in 1996
1952-Claire Donnely
1974-Barbara Barrows
1996-Christine Cullen
Spring sale at bendel’s
Painting, drawing and graphic arts in the 20th century in the United States
Artistic paintings carried out by Florine Stetthelmer in 1921.
Humorous presentation of the disorderly world in the fashion arena especially in new York affluent (Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2010, para. 4).
The artwork presents pictorials that are reminiscent of the baroque churches with remnants of the painted German rococo interiors (Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2010, para. 3).
Instrumental in guiding the abstraction of life in the later years of 20th century
Thesis statement
The paper will look into the role of feminism, literary and non-literary works by women, experiences that women passed through and their implications to their health taking into account their contribution to the current medical and nursing practice when compared to those times.
Objective analysis
Yellow wallpaper
Short story told by first person perspective on the subordination of women in their marriages to an extent of making decisions for them.
Summary of the work (Gilman, 2008, p. 1-26):
- narrator descent into the world of insanity
- medical intervention(Rest-cure) advocated by her husband
- Confinement to a vacation room
- Visit by the family members
- obsession by a yellow wallpaper pattern
- hatred radiated from the room
- Narrator presupposition of presence of many creeping women
Spring Sale at Bendel’s
- The painting depicts the humorous look of the disorderly fashion arena among the elite in New York.
- Techniques: fantastic art using oil on canvas background that depicts humor in explaining the fashion industry among the upper class.
Elements of artistic composition
- Picture area: 50×40 inches on canvas helps in determination of objects during the display
- Depth: the artist has created three dimensional effect that ensures viewing of interior components of the fashion outlet thereby bringing the feminine theme
- Line: the art allows the viewer to take a clear view from the bottom left corner to the focal point inside the outlet where the theme is more evident
- Value: a mixture of lightness and darkness brought about by the flowery colors depicts feminism in an appropriate way (Art in Canada inc, 2010, para. 8-12)
If These Walls Could Talk
- The movie examines the abortion issue taking the audience through three stories set in different times-50s, 70s and 90s.
- The setting that strives to provide a historical perspective on abortion by dwelling on different timelines makes it bring the femininity in different perspectives
Elements of composition
- Area: the movie creates a feminine atmosphere through the setting in a home
- Depth: motion enhances the understanding of the theme and the plot of the movie
- Line: the viewer follows the action from the left corner inwards with the main focal point at the centre. The introduction of events follows similar trend
- Value: a mixture of lightness and darkness brought about by the flowery colors depicts feminism in an appropriate way (Art in Canada inc, 2010, para. 8-12).
Subjective analysis
The yellow wallpaper
Story narrated on first person detailing the journey to madness caused by confinement to a rest room as part of treatment, obsession with the yellow paper leading to events culminating in her return to her home. Her act of stripping the wallpaper reflected her willingness to free herself from the segregation
Mood: sad and very emotive taking into account the events surrounding the life of the narrator during the two weeks of rest cure. Although exaggerated, sadness, pity and compassion for the lady are evident in the story.
Themes
- The short story brings out the subordination of women in marriage setup through their disregard of their opinions
- Self expression-important since it help relieve anxieties and fears caused by the compulsory silence and overly idleness brought by the resting cure
- Negative effects of the resting cures in terms of depression occasioned by the cruel course of the treatment utilized. The abuse of authority or the increasing tendency in the homes and hospitals by the husbands and doctors respectively
- Basing the story on its historical context, the narration and the situation in the rest room guided or helped bring out the theme, mood and interpretations of the story.
Spring Sale at Bendel’s
- Florine utilizes humor to depict the disorderliness exhibited by the elite in new York with regard to fashion industry. Femininity is widely evident through the application of bright colors and the occasional jewel-like palette. The presence of two men(manager and entrance) depicts subordination of women in the upper class where the men are required to work.
- The artist uses wit and humor to bring out the negative side of the upper class in New York.
- Obsession with fashion trends especially when the New York elite leap table to snatch sumptuous fabrics and twisting to assess the glamorous effects of the fabrics
Mood: joyful mood depicted by humor caused by disorderly among the elite women
Theme: femininity is evident taking into account the choice of color, flowers, jewel like palette and frenzy occasioned by the women
Subordination brought out with the supervisory and ownership role placed on the sales manager who controls the women
Interpretations on themes and mood was guided by the presentation of the many and bright colors, setting of the paintings (fashion outlet) and the behaviour of the women while undertaking the shopping
If These Walls Could Talk
The television movie depicts the popular views of the society on abortion in the different duration of time as presented by the women experiences that take place in the various vignettes.
Mood: sad taking into consideration the tragedies that befall the women who commit abortion and the pain during the process.
Theme: femininity due to the explanations and the scenes depicting women characters and the day to day life activities.
Dangers and dilemmas encountered by women and young ladies when procuring abortion whether in legally or illegally and the consequences of such measures on their later life
Subordination of women in the sense that they feel compelled to undertake a very risk procedure in order to avoid failure in life occasioned by acrimony in their unions or disagreement in their relationship or involvement in illicit relationships.
Interpretations:
Interpretations received much influence from the candid scenes surrounding the conspiracy to carry out an abortion and the dilemmas faced by the mothers and young ladies when they accidentally fall pregnant.
Similarities:
- All the 3 works delved on feminine matters particularly those regarding problems and day to day activities encountered by women during their life.
- Visual aids and art elements used to enhance development of themes
- Themes such as subordination and femininity are present in the three works especially when faced with dilemmas and shortcomings in life.
- Directing, narration and painting was carried out by the women
- The settings are overly simplistic in nature thereby allowing the passage of message and theme easily
- Conflict between opposite gender occurs
Differences:
- The movie and literary work concentrate on social evils encountered by women in life while the painting presents a kind of luxurious scramble among the New York elite.
- The movie and the literary work elicits sympathy and sadness occasioned by a process that inflicts pain on the women in contrast with the painting where joyous mood prevail.
- Painting exhibits all the elements in the art composition, unlike in the other two works where little or total failure of utilization of them occurs
- Although insubordination forms the major theme in the works, the painting fails to give a clear link between the woman and man in that society
Enhancement of understanding of the themes by the similarities and differences:
- Similarities are imperative in demonstrating the transformation of certain ideas or issues over time while providing reasons for their occurrence.
- Simplicity offered by the art forms is useful in communication of themes while eliciting necessary emotions among the audience or viewers.
- Utilization of humor and satire in the works helps create better way of understanding the evils or dilemmas facing a certain segment of the population while controlling too much emotional attachment
- Directing, narration and painting was carried out by the women helps in bringing the issues at center stage through ensuring that the women give their side of the story
- Conflict or interaction between the genders imperative in the development of the themes. For instance, femininity and insubordination are easily explained when the conflict develops in the plot
- Use of visual aids and elements of art form that bring out contrast help in communicating the themes to the audience
Reflection on objective analysis
Use of contrast particularly of colors is useful in expression deep feelings and emotions that symbolize the life of a person. Simplicity of a setting endears audience and helps in passage of the intended message. Human beings are social beings who will always consult, need company and comfort from others. Simplicity of settings is important to nursing and medical profession since its helps in improving communication between patient and doctor while ensuring effective passage of health information. Knowledge of humanities is crucial in integration of socially acceptable measures to help bolster the utilization of healthcare services
Insubordination and the lack of social expression has helped in understanding the behaviour of people particularly when faced with challenges. Expression of positive and negative feelings and attitudes is mainly achieved through utilization of art forms such as paintings and narrations (Janaro & Altshuler, 2009, p. 32). Social evils in the society can be easily be managed or prevented by the same society through investment on mitigation and control measures. Acrimony in most relationships and unions are overly caused by extreme cases of feminism and subordination propagated by either gender. Knowledge on the themes is vital in explaining the genesis and development on medical conditions.
Femininity and lack of social expression can be useful in explaining health seeking behaviour and the course of treatment of some forms of conditions and diseases. The sad and emotive moods depicted in the artistic forms representing social evils against women should serve as a wake-up call for action against the social evils. Social expression is a useful tool in the diagnosis of medical conditions and hence doctors and nurses must master to understand their patients explanations.
Reflection on relationship among the works
Narration and expression done by the affected individuals brings out the human state more effectively since it allows use of nonverbal communication. Conflict between the genders has become a major cause of medical conditions and diseases such as stress and depression. Incorporation of satire and humor enhances the passage of information without arousing bad feelings in affected individuals while also boosting the applicability of the knowledge gained. Subordination and femininity has played a major role in perpetuating some medical conditions.
Humanities important in enhancing the understanding of the link between social factors and development of diseases in humans (Janaro & Altshuler, 2009, p. 39). Regular incorporation of visual arts and other forms can bolster the war against diseases especially in the medical and nursing profession.
Conclusion
The yellow wallpaper offers similar themes as in the movie “if these walls could talk” and the painting “Spring Sale at Bendel’s. The three forms of art bring into light the social evils affecting the society and in particular women. Women experiences in the hands of men (subordination) has resulted in the development of social evils that have grave consequences to them, for instance abortion. The utilization of the four elements of artistic composition ensures the non-literary forms serve their purpose of presenting the intended information while enhancing the development of themes and moods.
Objective analysis of the three works led to the formation of the following themes; femininity and subordination. Subordination cuts across the three works and is mainly driven by the conflict between the opposite genders Subjective analysis helps the reader and the audience to consolidate the main points thereby bringing out the various forms of social evils encountered by women and discussing their relevance to the nursing and medical profession (Janaro & Altshuler, 2009, p. 32). The similarities and differences in the three works are imperative in the understanding of relationship between the themes and the moods.
Social expression is a useful tool in the diagnosis of medical conditions and hence doctors and nurses must master to understand their patients explanations. Knowledge on the themes is vital in explaining the genesis and development on medical conditions. Knowledge of humanities is crucial in integration of socially acceptable measures to help bolster the utilization of healthcare services (Sporre, 2009, p. 18). Humanities important in enhancing the understanding of the link between social factors and development of diseases in humans. Regular incorporation of visual arts and other forms can bolster the war against diseases especially in the medical and nursing profession (Sporre, 2009, p. 14).
References
- Art in Canada Inc. (2010). Canadian Art. Web.
- Gilman, C.P. (2008). The Yellow Wall paper. Washington, D.C: Forgotten book limited.
- Internet movie database. (2010) If These Walls Could Talk (1996) (TV). Web.
- Janaro, R.P. and Altshuler, T.C. (2009). The art of being human. 9th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
- Philadelphia Museum of Art. (2010). Modern and Contemporary Art: Spring Sale at Bendel’s. Web.
- Sporre, D. J. (2009). Perceiving the arts: An introduction to the humanities. 9th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.