Exhibition: The Un-Heroic Act, Shiva Gallery at John Jay College

“The exhibition title refers to Susan Brownmiller’s phrase ‘heroic rape,’ which characterizes the male narrative of rape as a dramatic struggle culminating with romantic submission. The use of the term ‘rape’ in the title of the exhibition reflects the selection of only those works that directly concern rape rather than the broader problem of sexual harassment. It also confronts society’s reluctance to use the word that in four painful letters directly describes the utmost suffering of millions of women and bias toward euphemisms such as ‘sexual abuse.’ Only recently, thanks to the Me Too movement the use of the term has become more frequent, calling attention to the shaming of victims and lack of public debate.”