Publisher's Synopsis
"As an art historian, I realize I should emphasize that an accurate historical reconstruction is far more fascinating than imaginary characters and events. In art, however, reality and illusion are often blended into an intoxicating fusion, as to create a profound impact on the viewer. I strive to see beyond the pictorial values and embrace a wider range of references reflected in a work of art. An artwork has so many potential readings: psychological, social, political, sexual, religious, symbolical, and fantasy, and I am truly interested in looking at all these layers and taking all the aspects into consideration. Above all else, I place great emphasis on women's issues intertwined with social, political, and psychological forces as reflected in the arts. I choose works of art and topics that are not widely discussed in popular or scholarly literature, in an attempt to see beyond the demands or limitations of mainstream discourses, in which female identity is constructed by social institutions and practices. In a greater sense, I do not expect that all my readers will be enraptured by my "visual and literary masterpieces," for my primary aim is to disturb the audience, as to provoke thoughts on the female condition, and thus to make people view the feminine in a new light." --Diana Guber
