Barbarian Queen promotional movie illustration 1985

Editor: So, this is Boris Vallejo's "Barbarian Queen promotional movie illustration" from 1985. The strong female figures and dramatic stormy backdrop immediately give off a powerful, almost intimidating vibe. It is possibly watercolor, but, I wonder, what statement was he trying to make with it? Curator: This piece reflects the cultural anxieties and fantasies prevalent in the 1980s. Consider the rise of the "sword and sorcery" genre, and the concurrent objectification of women in popular media. This imagery often appeared in film, fantasy novels and comics, targeting a specific, primarily male, demographic. How does it make *you* feel seeing this illustration in a contemporary setting? Editor: It’s hard to reconcile the powerful presentation of women warriors with the, um, minimal attire. It seems contradictory, like it's trying to be empowering but falls back on…exploitative tropes? Curator: Precisely. The public role of such imagery is complex. Is it fantasy, pure and simple? Or does it perpetuate problematic ideas about female agency and the male gaze? The art isn't created in a vacuum. Who dictates what kind of strength is considered desirable, and who gets to consume it? Those are questions we should be asking when approaching art like this. Editor: That makes sense. I never thought about how the display and consumption of art can be tied to specific socio-political agendas and even reinforce particular power structures. Curator: And it's crucial to recognize those forces at play, shaping both its creation and how we see it now. It challenges us to think about the art we celebrate, the stories it tells, and *who* it tells them *to*. Editor: This gave me much to consider as a student and as an active participant in our society!