I had a really nice time tonight.
BY SHELBY HAWKINS
book design | 4.75"x7.5"
book design | 4.75"x7.5"
My capstone project responds to the "Me, Too" conversation and my own frustration with how limited the space is for women to talk about their sexual experiences. It's important for our culture to have these conversations about consent, but there are so many kinds of experiences—including consensual ones—that are nonetheless damaging or confusing or disruptive to a woman's sense of agency. I remembered reading the New Yorker short story "Cat Person," which I thought perfectly captured something I've been feeling in light of #MeToo: It doesn't have to be violence for it to be worth talking about. The book includes "Cat Person" and several interviews I conducted with college women across the U.S. I took inspiration from early 20th century ladies' books, including the 1924 publication "Etiquette Problems in Pictures," where I sourced the illustrations. I was also inspired by feminist art of the 1970s that combined traditional, domestic images of femininity with sublimated rage. This led to a postcard series using insane (but real) food photography from vintage Betty Crocker cookbooks. The unappetizing color palette and highly staged appearance were really important for me to incorporate into the book as a whole.
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