Which Issues does she address in her work?

Stutman tries to use her body of work as a vehicle which transports feminine concerns which are either swept under carpet and are not given a nondiscriminatory platform for conversation or consideration. Some of these concerns relating to the female gender that she deals with in her work are about incest, rape and even something as superficial as plastic surgery.

1. Impaired visions series

Being the candid female narrative jewellery advocate that she is, Stutman tries to liberate the female concept from traditional shackles and stereotypical metaphors which have been placed on females even by the media. In order to provide reference, this report will only include one of her works from the five part series.

Stutman, B.1999. Survival of the Footest 1. [ONLINE] ^[1]

In the series “Impaired Visions”, she uses her craft to mock how the female is portrayed by media and shows how they try to create these unattainable fantasies which work on women’s insecurities in order to increase sales. She explains how these false ideologies are both damaging to a woman and limit her to conform (Stutman, 1997).

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[1] Available at: http://www.barbarastutman.com/works/Resources/4-Impaired_3.jpg

Child marriage

Child marriage was and still is another marriage form within the Xhosa culture which brings about much concern. In the past and in many rural places with South Africa and the world, the girls who enter such marriages may be even as young as eight years old or even nine years old (Silva-de-Alwis, 2008). This in terms is an issue as there many disadvantages which are associated with child marriages such as miscarriages.

This marriage type caught my attention as throughout history and the modern day, large numbers of young girls are forced into entering such marriages. Regardless of child laws and children’s rights which are I place, however millions of girls still fall through the cracks and in many cases it is their own parents who push them through the cracks. (Anon., 2018) (South African Abductions: young girls forced into marriage, n.d.)

 To further tie this issue to the report is the fact that in some cases these young girls entered these marriages as a result of abduction.  Hence when the report addresses child marriages, it is referring to any marriage which has occurred involving persons or a person under the age of 18.

Figure 1 Human rights brief. #ChildNotBride protest. [ONLINE]^[1]

Caged Bird

The concept of the 'Caged bird' narrative, is a concept of a cage being like an actual prison, as it is restrictive in nature, restricting the physical, mental, social etc. These are the general feelings associated with a cage or a prison, as seen in the picture below.

Man in prison

 There video below is meant to display birds in flight, the reason why I chose it is that I want show the contrast between the depressing picture of prison and that of a bird flying. Usually birds symbolize flight, freedom, movement, exploring and by nature able to reach new heights.

The broken wings, would then represent the prison, since a bird with a broken wing would be restricted from knowing the freedom it ks accustomed to.


Man in prison URL:https://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-typical-day-in-jail.htm
Birds in flight URL:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1wp1RnC7kk

Virtual gallery part 2

Still continuing with the review of the papers, I have found that narrative in contemporary art and jewellery can be closely described as work which relies on figures or designs/ representation or as work which has referenced a specific topic or reality, relying mostly on symbolism or the representation so as to produce an effect. It was however through the influence of pop art which allowed for more people to realise the ability of jewellery to possess narrative messages; and therefore becoming a tool which expresses and deals with issues.

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