The Art of Feminist Thought
March 04, 2025
Exploring art and activism through the lens of feminist theory in a course from UMD’s Harriet Tubman Department of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.
By Jessica Weiss ’05
When Beyoncé released “Flawless” in 2013, it became an instant hit—with its infectious beat, confident lyrics and bold declaration of self-worth. But beyond its chart-topping success, the song carries a deeper message, one rooted in feminist thought.
Midway through the song, Beyoncé samples a speech by Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie titled “We Should All Be Feminists,” originally delivered at a TEDx event. In it, Adichie argues for gender equality with striking clarity. By weaving Adichie’s words into the fabric of “Flawless,” Beyoncé transforms a pop anthem into a powerful statement on feminism, exposing millions of listeners to ideas about gender, identity and empowerment—perhaps without them even realizing it.
This fusion of art and feminist thought exemplifies what students explore in WGSS 250: “Women, Art, and Culture,” a foundational course in the Harriet Tubman Department of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. The course examines how artists have shaped feminist movements and, in turn, how feminist thought influences artistic expression.
This summer, the course will be offered as part of Terp Young Scholars, a program at UMD for academically talented high school students to get a jump on college by earning three university credits. It marks the first time a course from the department has been included in the program.
“Women, Art, and Culture” is one of the department’s three introductory courses—alongside LGBT 200: “Introduction to LGBTQ Studies” and WGSS 263: “Introduction to Black Women's Studies”—that examine pressing political and cultural questions around gender and identity.
“This is among the department’s most popular courses,” said Neel Ahuja, professor in the Harriet Tubman Department of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, where he is also the director of undergraduate studies. “It’s an artistic entry point into the field, where students get to engage with poetry, visual arts, performance and more.”
For instance, they may study the “Guerilla Girls’ Code of Ethics for Art Museums,” a provocative and satirical artwork from 1990 that called out the ways major art institutions have historically excluded women and artists of color. Or Faith Ringgold’s 1988 “Tar Beach” quilt, which tells the story of a young Black girl imagining freedom while soaring above the rooftops of Harlem, encouraging viewers to consider oppressed people's experiences in relation to U.S. identity.
Students will also read works by foundational feminist thinkers like Audre Lorde and bell hooks, and apply those frameworks to the artworks studied.
“These works are not only fun to examine, but they offer critical entry points into feminist theory,” Ahuja said.
Ultimately, students will understand the ways that art and feminism can help envision new futures—ones that are more just and equitable.
“Part of what we really are able to emphasize is that through expressive arts, people are able to find others in struggle and also envision how oppressive power structures might shift,” he said.