Tabitha Millett

Pedagogical Lessons: Reading Minimalist Artworks through Gender and Sexuality

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 and 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 that are asked: What can minimalist artworks teach us on how to see non-conforming identities? And can this seeing teach us about otherness? 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 associated with gender and sexuality curricula and artwork described as queer.