Daphne: Transformed (By Jen)

For my remix project I focused on the concept of ecofeminism. Ecofeminism combines theories of feminism and environmentalism to directly equate the social mentality that leads to the domination and oppression of women to the social mentality that leads to the abuse of the natural environment. Ecofeminst beliefs are deeply rooted in perceived, and even mythical, interpretations of gender roles and stereotypes. They imply that domination over women, minorities and nature is, and always has been, perpetrated by men through capitalist and patriarchal systems. They point to references like: "rape the land", "tame nature," and "reap nature's bounty” as indicative of men’s tendency to plunder and destroy. While ideas behind ecofeminism go far beyond the concept of the “Earth Mother” its advocates often emphasize a deep reverence for all life, and the importance of interrelationships between humans, animals, and the earth. Clearly ecofeminism reveals gender issues that relate to power and identity, and creates a gender-based context for today’s global problems.

I chose to remix an image that is typical of the sexual portrayal of women as the object of the male gaze. This image is part of a digital collection of images called the Vasta Collection: Postcards from the early 20th century featuring models from the “golden age of yesteryear”.

More information about VASTA can be found here: http://vasta-images-books.blogspot.com/

I chose a vintage photograph to show that this type of objectification of women has a long history and is ingrained in our society.

The remixed image is based on the Greek myth of Apollo and Daphne. A summary of the story can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_and_Daphne

The meaning of the original image has been altered by changing the context of her nudity from one of subordination to one of empowerment aligned with ecofeminist thought. It is interesting to equate Daphne’s preference for becoming a tree rather than spending the rest of her life married to Apollo, to ecofeminist ideas about male dominance and the female connection to nature.