The ability to be assertive or decisive is in fact a defining factor the identity of a woman. As a woman goes through life and its experiences, she draws from her surrounding and conclusions which will affect the choices she makes. Hardly appealing to society back then, this act of being assertive arouses an actual response at the same time that it invites attention on the rights of women as well as the status of women in the social hierarchy. This eventually draws a fine line between the male and female subject. The ability of women to make decisions eventually bridges the gap between them and the patriarchs and this, provides a sense of sights and hearing for both parties to achieve an agreement to what is right.
Back to the idea in which
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“Walls” can be interpreted in countless of ways and can be considered as a reflection of the society we live in today, subsequently representing an allegory of suppression, a yearn for the simplicity of living and also a dreamlike exploration of the human nature. While the Woman was mostly filled with terror and confusion throughout the entire performance, Mislina Mustaffa actually successfully portrayed how women are in fact experiencing the similar state of confusion as well. Women are forced to act like women at the same time are bold and strong to overcome challenges. In a particular scene where the Woman forced herself not to break down after re-reading an old letter her husband left her is simply electrifying and portrays how women today are expected to behave. This actually leaves women in a moment of confusion and distress where a woman may wonder what then defines her identity or who she is as a …show more content…
As much as Yante Ismail’s paintings depict the idea about the misconceptions of feminism in which this thesis does not seek to discuss, the artist’s paintings do reflect the increase of intellectualism and critical thinking of twenty-first century women which in return contributes to the depiction of the identity of women today. In one of her paintings entitled “I’m Beautiful In My Imperfections” (2014) (Figure 3.16), it is seen that the subject has a shade of thick make up on her eyes, however, she does appear to be too happy and the subject is an oversized person. The subject gives an impression about how society has perversed the concept of beauty among women: How would a physically oversized woman feel and live in a community that misrepresents beauty as being skinny and petite? Yante Ismail (2014) commented in her blog regarding the