Tabitha Millett

4.33 Blank Pedagogy: Reading Minimalist Artworks through Gender and Sexuality (Paper)

Tabitha Millett – University of Cambridge, UK

Abstract:

This paper explores the possibilities of applying queer theory to minimalist artworks in a bid to highlight new ways of theorising minimalist art, gender and sexuality. The paper asks if it is possible to understand gender and sexuality differently through minimalist artworks and discusses the pedagogical potential that may occur from these readings. Questions asked are: can minimalist artwork act as a ‘shelter for power’ when exploring gender and sexuality? And could minimalist artwork be a way to discuss ideas of gender and sexuality alongside identifying issues such as hyper individualism, separatism and essentialism with students? Artworks discussed will be both the author’s own artworks and other artists’ creative works. The paper suggests minimalist artwork may provide different avenues to discuss gender and sexuality in education beyond often tokenistic, essentialist and victims led portrayals often associate with gender and sexuality curricula and artwork described as queer.