Term of Award

Spring 2025

Degree Name

Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.)

Document Type and Release Option

Thesis (open access)

Copyright Statement / License for Reuse

Digital Commons@Georgia Southern License

Department

Department of Art

Committee Chair

Elsie Hill Howington

Committee Member 1

Jason Hoelscher

Committee Member 2

Jeff Garland

Abstract

This thesis explores the intersection of feminist theory and artistic practice, examining how materiality and abstraction reflect gender norms within the socio-political, religious, and colonial context of Bangladesh. It is grounded in four key theoretical frameworks: judith butler’s gender performativity, bell hooks’ intersectional feminism, julia kristeva’s abjection and systems theory. Together, these frameworks provide a comprehensive lens for analyzing how gender inequality is constructed, maintained, and resisted within the socio-political, religious, and colonial context of Bangladesh. Textile-based media serve as a means to engage with these layered systems, drawing from traditional nakshi kantha embroidery to explore patterns of labor, domesticity, and societal expectations.

By incorporating everyday materials such as hand towels, undergarments, burkhas, and sarees, the research reflects on lived experiences while questioning the ways in which systemic forces shape narratives of femininity and beauty. Through fabric layering and abstraction, the work reveals the interplay between individual agency and structural influences, offering a perspective that situates feminism within broader social and historical contexts. By merging traditional craft with contemporary feminist discourse, this study positions art as a space for understanding, reflection, and dialogue.

OCLC Number

1521207867

Research Data and Supplementary Material

Yes

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