The Violence Against Women (VAW) Art Map was conceived in the fall of 2018, in the wake of the #MeToo movement by Lauren Stetz, a Ph.D. candidate in Art Education with a minor in at Penn State University. Inspired by the globality of the hashtag movement, Stetz became fascinated by its unique manifestations in different geographic locations, questioning how the universal language of hashtags interacts with complex histories of oppression. Drawing from transnational and intersectional feminisms, Stetz queries the nuances of violence across borders, boundaries, and identity.
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The VAW Art Map can be used to visualize connections between artists globally, highlighting themes such as vulnerability, shame and victim-blaming, and law and government. The VAW Art
Violence Against Women Art Map
In 2021, twenty-four artists participated in a Penn State research study, analyzing artists’ responses to violence against women worldwide.
This map reveals ten themes that emerged through 51 artist interviews, surveys, and focus groups, in addition to numerous artworks. Charting art activism, this map highlights how entanglements of culture, politics, history, and layers of identity influence how women experience violence.
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