Sarah Andersen and her art

Sarah Andersen is known by her comics, especially by Sarah’s Scribbles. In her art, she is illustrating her own life, thoughts and some funny moments. Is there is something, that could call her work feminist? Well, yes.

The first thing to mention, is her characters look pretty same no matter sex. While most of the people are drawing women with some specific attractive features, such as big eyes, thin body, small waist, with long hair and in clothes that would emphasize the body figure, Sarah doesn’t stress the sex of the character. Of course, mostly it is understandable because of hairstyles, names, or clothes, but she isn’t trying to make all women more beautiful on purpose.

The most obvious thing is not visual, but narrative. Since she is the woman, who is writing about her own life, of course, there are some “girly” themes, she would like to raise.

The largest example coming into the mind, that could be truly called feminist nowadays is a specific character for uterus, for strips about menstruation (pain, awkward situations, mood change). Since her comics are pretty popular in general, women and men could see how uncomfortable and painful could be life with periods. It is great, not only men’s intimate problems could be the plot for jokes in mass media. By these strips as well women’s body becomes less secret and shameful.

Sometimes Sarah is drawing something about stereotypes or some problems caused to women by the industry. Like in the pinned picture, where the clothes creator is thinking what to add in the clothes, what to ladies would like to wear. Sarah’s character repeats women would like to wear comfortable clothes, while the creator is thinking to make it cuter, or sexier, or whatever. This strip raises an important theme about clothes. It is a common problem – unpractical designs, small pockets, girly prints and etc., what would make the owner more attractive but not comfortable. Lots of women prefer to buy clothes in the men’s shops, so probably this problem exists only on one side.

What Sarah doesn’t, is strips about violence against women, sexual and in general. At least none could be remembered. It would be useful in terms of feminism, but the idea is to make art about her life. So it is a good thing there is nothing about violence. All other, also meaningful ideas were illustrated with humour, so they were easily accepted, with a minimum of negative thoughts about annoying feminism. Of course, there are some hate comments, especially from men, saying they came here to have fun, and not to read some disgusting stories about menstruation. But that kind of people could be anywhere.

Overall, for some artists, it is enough to be their selves, to give people feminist ideas. It isn’t necessary to be an activist. Sometimes it is enough to accept those ideas their life, and just to exist and make art, and some of it would illustrate these ideas since they are the part of an artist, and some parts of an artist are always in their art.