Erin Human

LBST

2 Examples of Artistic Expression

Tightlacing with a corset is something that I practice and believe to be a beautiful form of

artistic expression. Even though the meaning/purpose of corsets changed throughout history – I

believe that they remained and still remain a symbol of the human need for transformation.

Corsets were originally used by men and women to achieve a certain body shape; but over the

years, wearing a corset has proven to be much more than just a garment that gives an aesthetic

silhouette. Corsets improve a person’s carriage and give the wearer a certain poise – the air of

confidence, high self-esteem and assertiveness, whether or not they may feel confident. This

body language – straight posture, chest high, shoulders back – silently demands respect from

others. In western culture today, women are not forced to comply with hard fashion rules; they

are free to choose what to wear and what not to wear, in almost any combination. Many of

history’s influential women (like Susan B Anthony, who played a pivotal role in the 19th century

women’s rights movement, and Harriet Tubman, who also supported women’s suffrage) proudly

wore corsets, sometimes quite tightly, as their fashion bore no constitution to their legal

recognition as persons with equal rights. Moreover, men have worn corsets throughout history

(including King George IV, Andy Warhol, and President John F. Kennedy) and still proudly

wear corsets today as the corset is not solely a symbol of femininity or transformation, but of

protection, poise and power. For me, wearing a corset is not only wonderful or enjoyable because

of the mental, physical, and social benefits it provides, but also because it is an incredibly

specially crafted garment that possesses such rich history.

Helmut Newton was a photographer who produced images during the late 20th century of

women wearing clothes and conveying features that were originally associated with men. One of

his famous photographs ‘Rue Aubriot’ is a perfect example of this. In the photo, a woman is

positioned in the center; her tall slender physique is bold against the background of a long

narrow empty street road. Instantly the eyes are drawn to her stance. She is dressed in a suit that

is all black, with a white shirt. Already one sees a sign of rebellion, equality and feminism. It

portrays a woman in the 20th century breaking the rules of what is acceptable for a woman. She

has been stripped of all feminine attributes in this shot by Newton, not just in the clothes she

wears, but in her pose, where she shows signs of comfort. By holding a cigarette in her hand, is

symbolizing her character, it’s sending a message about her habits, which do not consist of trivial

housewife duties. Her short, slicked back hair is symbolic also of the working man. A woman’s

hair is one of her main physical features establishing her femininity. By removing this visual

from her image, Newton is signifying that this is a woman that doesn’t feel like she needs to

match the description of the lady imagined or desired. Another key feature that Newton has

added is her suit. A suit signifies wealth, and success. It is a symbolism of events. This therefore

proposes the idea that a woman who can live an equivalent lifestyle to a man is a woman

empowered. Throughout history, icons such as Coco Chanel, Marilyn Monroe, Lana Turner, and

Louise Brooks are all recognized for the ways in which they embraced the power of being

female, whether it was through no longer suppressing their intellect, working a lifestyle

equivalent to a man’s, or using their sexuality to make them desired, and wanted but never

owned. They have each posed for photos, just as Newton famously took photos evidently

showing fashion and Vogue consumers and the rest of world what it means to be a feminist, and

that it was glamourous. Helmut Newton’s photos visually inspired women to understand that as

the 20th century was modernizing, so was your everyday woman.