"Women in the Year 2000" by Carolee Schneemann

            In this excerpt one thing caught my attention Carolee Schneemann said "I thought the bare breasted women  bull jumpers, carved in ivory, painted in frescos about 16000 B.C. in crete could have been made by women depicting women. And i considered that the preponderant neolithic fertility figurings might have been crafted by women for themselves-to accompany them through pregnancy and birth-giving." she proceeded to say that her professor disregarded this statement and that she could not prove anything of the sort.  

               this got me thinking of the Venus of Willendorf. i've always imagined it as "man's ideal woman" of the time, it had all the characteristics of a fertile and strong woman. so, who would be better suited to sculpt the ideal woman that could survive at that time then a women. the idea of a women crafting these works of art for women to me, gives it a much stronger impact.  i guess because it would mean that women creating there own image to form themselves to become stronger. creating there own identity! 

              in the neolithic era (i could be wrong in my assumptions) man played a specific role one that had to do with hunting and protection not that of a birth giver or caregiver so why would man create an image of an ideal woman. anyway i could try to convince the reader how this idea makes more sense, but thats not the point.  and i realize this has made such an effect on me because i have all ways imagined men making these works. and i feel that its this automatic assumption, this unknowing sexism that holds women back in the art world.  i assume art is made by men.