Beyond Artivism: Favianna Rodriguez’s Slut Series and the Movement for Reproductive Justice

• In Event: New Research in U.S. Latino Art

Abstract

All artists whose work circulates in the public sphere negotiate what George Lipsitz calls the “dangerous crossroads” between artistic expression and marketing. Scholars analyze how artivists also must contend with the cultural politics in which their work challenges conventional thinking, pejorative representations, or blaming discourses about particular subjects. Artist Favianna Rodriguez’s work, coming out of immigrant activism, circulates within the movement for reproductive justice. Specifically, her “Slut Series” boldly confronts the patriarchal, monogamous politics of control over women’s bodies and her “Sex Positivity” discourse encourages the viewer to “liberate your sexuality.” Rodriguez has contributed some of her images to be used by activists without her control, particularly “Yo te Apoyo.” Her artwork garners acclaim and controversy. However, Rodriguez explicitly disavows being identified as a political artist and critiques the terms “artivista” and “feminist.” This paper explores the tensions and limits of artivism and Rodriguez’s negotiation of multiple political minefields in crafting her vision of the role of the arts in political advocacy. Drawing on an interview with Rodriguez, her own writing, features about her and her artwork in the press as well as my interpretation of the artwork itself, I argue that her stance is a reflection of her navigation of those dangerous crossroads in which she wants to be taken seriously as an artist and she problematizes Latina/o artivism.

Author

• Patricia Zavella, University of California, Santa Cruz