Fiske and Jordan

In Shopping For Pleasure, Fiske argues that the mall grants women a space to challenge restrictions that they face in their households, where they mostly engage in reproductive work in a private sphere. When I was reading through this article, I learned a new lens of viewing shopping as an outlet for women yet a part of me questioned the extent to which it holds true. I began to question whether the findings of these women also apply to those who shop in alternative, public spaces. In addition, as argued, I knew that their consumer activity may merely reinforce capitalism in a highly materialistic society. Furthermore, some popular places that women shop in (e.g., Forever 21, high-end retail stores) sell merchandise at the expense of other women in sweatshops. Alternatively, they may buy these options to signal status rather than feel empowered

The Art of Necessity challenges the dichotomy and separation of art and politics, indicating that some activists utilize art forms to resist, empower others, and bring communities together. Similarly, I find that art can be a medium of expression that has the power to inform others and elicit responses from people who are not typically interested in activism. It ultimately is a liberating experience for both the creators and viewers of the artwork.