Video
The Western art historical canon consists of depictions of women as objects of the Male Gaze. Women served as muses rather than artists, a result of sexist institutions and constructions as outlined by Linda Nochlin’s essay “Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?”. As video cameras became portable and accessible, a new medium developed. Artists could both perform for the camera and document their actions. Video art allowed women artists to serve as both artist and subject, break the fourth wall, and represent their body and image on their own terms.