Remembering Feminist Remimesis: A Riddle in Three Parts

Abstract

Freud's “riddle” that women are, themselves, “the problem” takes on new significance in thinking back through the “remimetic” strategies and tactics of mid-century feminist performance art. What sorts of “problems” arise with the stellar success of women artists in the 2000s, and the new status of “global art star” for artists such as Marina Abramović and Cindy Sherman? What may have been left out of the picture? Perhaps the recent “living archive” re.act.feminism installation by curators Bettina Knaup and Beatrice Stammer may provide some clues.