Monday, February 22, 2021

Keep Quiet And Look Pretty

This has been painted on the side of a building in our city. It is hard for me to believe that the city allowed it, but maybe there are no laws about grafitti and art. To me, it looks like it is telling women to be feminine and keep their mouth shut. What do you think? Anyway, I find it offensive.



I've yet to be on a campus where most women weren't worrying about some aspect of combining marriage, children, and a career. I've yet to find one where many men were worrying about the same thing.

 ~Gloria Steinem


23 comments:

Nancy Chan said...

I don't know what the artist is trying to express through this painting. If it is to tell women to keep their mouth shut, maybe he has a nagging mother or wife.

Reanaclaire said...

Can be very objective on the mural...on the positive note, it can also meant ladies are sweet and bright like flowers...

Ann said...

I can't decide what message I think this is sending. It's a rather odd painting

Martha said...

Hmmm, I don't like it either Ginny.

Rose said...

I do.find it odd...I would love to know the story behind it. I can see your point of view, but I felt there is a story behind it.

MadSnapper said...

is your email repaired? post is up for good news on beau. https://fourpawsetc.blogspot.com/2021/02/am-update-good-news.html
i can't beleinve they let them do it.. it would be offensive even if it were a man with a flower in the mouth, what were they thinking.

Chatty Crone said...

I am not sure about what it says to me - the person was talented though.

The Feminine Energy said...

Yes, I don't see the significance or meaning behind this either, Ginny. It would be interesting to talk to the artist, to find out. My first thought was "Make sure when you open your mouth, 'pretty' words come out." ... WHATEVER that means!! *haha* ~Andrea xoxo

George said...

If there's a message in this painting it's lost on me.

Mari said...

I guess it can mean many things, but I don't really like it.

Beside a babbling brook... said...

Could be satire...

One idea...Yours... "women be quiet and look pretty."<---Satire Because no one believes this, any more.

A 2nd idea....White women, keep your mouth shut. It's not *Your Time,* anymore. Isn't this the Present Time's Message, all over???????

DeniseinVA said...

I would like to know the artist's thoughts on where he was going with this. Not sure what they were trying to convey here and on first look, not my cup of tea. Maybe it's because I enjoy more nature or history of the town/state murals.

Bobbie said...

A really strange painting. I find a lot of art these days being offensive... I'm really surprised what 'they' can get away with and what 'they' feel is okay.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Gee--I don't know!!!!!! Could be that the author is trying to say one thing, and we are interrupting something else.... These days--it's hard to know.... The face can either be male or female.... The flower stands for beauty.. The eyes look sad.... Maybe the face is searching for that beauty...?????

Hugs,
Betsy

DawnTreader said...

I would not know how to interpret it. I suppose it *might* also be meant as a protest against women too often being treated just like that. But if not meant as a protest I agree it's offensive. And leaving the interpretation wide open between extremes like that does not seem like a very good idea for a mural.

Beside a babbling brook... said...

Dear One, here is my email addy...

92(dot)moon(dot)34(at)gmail(dot)com

Please send me an email, and I will send you a couple of pics of me. I just don't put them on my blog, any more.

NO! I am not young!!! I am 83, going soon on 84. Not young in any way.

I will be looking for your email, so I can reply, with mine and pic.

Thank you...

photowannabe said...

I have to say that this makes me feel uncomfortable.
Maybe I'm just too old to appreciate "art".
Sue

Hootin Anni said...

Yucky.

CheerfulMonk said...

Yuck!!!!

jp@A Green Ridge said...

Someone once told me that women favor "rapport" while men favor "report" meaning that women are more emotionally connected to thing where men are focused on data. And throughout my life, it seems to hold true...jp

Jeanette said...

I agree1 It does look kind of offensive! I would be interested to know what the artist was thinking!

Carla from The River said...

I agree Ginny, I do not care for it. Let me know if you find out what the artist was trying to express.

Jenny the Pirate said...

I'm not sure what I think it means but I don't think it means that women are to look pretty and keep their mouths shut. I sort of like it, except I'm sure there's some liberal ideology behind it. Libs think they own the arts. I love art so I let it speak to me and if I don't like it, I move on. This piece does not move me but I don't find it offensive either, just on its face. Pun intended, haaahahaha. xoxo

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