Key Concepts
Gender: Gender can be defined as unfixed and performative. Gender is performed through actions and expressions, and these performances contribute to the construction of gender identity. Socially-constructed, the term gender—in our conception—moves beyond the binary idea of only male/female created as a result of heteronormativity and traditional norms. This includes the centering of the marginalized non-heteronormative expressions as well as the incorporation of post-colonial, feminist, and queer theories to be part of the framework of gender. (Butler)
Labor: In the context of art and gender, the concept of labor takes on different meanings. Paid labor in the art world refers to the compensated efforts of individuals involved in creating, curating, and commercializing art. Unpaid labor, often entangled with gender dynamics, involves many other things including caregiving, domestic work, and emotional labor. Historically, women have frequently played essential roles in providing support for artists or engaging in unpaid artistic pursuits, contributing to cultural developments without direct financial compensation. These dynamics of paid and unpaid labor intersect with broader discourses about gender equity, representation, colonialism, and the valuation of various forms of artistic contributions including practices of making by marginalized groups. (Nochlin)
Craft: The term denotes the adept and hands-on crafting (or making) of objects or artifacts, employing traditional methods that are frequently handed down across generations. This process results in the creation of items with functional, decorative, or artistic purposes. Craft spans a diverse array of materials and techniques, encompassing fields such as ceramics, textiles, woodworking, metalworking, and glassblowing (Adamson)
Mediterranean: The most comprehensive understanding of the Mediterranean involves conceptualizing it as a Mediterranean culture, shaped by the thoughts and traditions originating from individuals residing on the islands and in the neighboring nations around the Mediterranean Sea. From the perspective of a historian, the paramount focus should be on the culture and ideas cultivated by the people of the Mediterranean rather than just its geography (Clement, 114)
Migration: Crossing the boundary of a predefined spatial unit by one or more persons involved in a change of residence. In our discussions, this might also apply to objects (Kok 1997).
Modernity: The idea of systematic societal progress marked by industrial and technological advancement, secularization, and enlightenment. This perspective, in contrast to the notions of the “pre-modern” and “tradition,” resulted in the marginalization of societies deviating from the normative European model, excluding them from the classification as modern (Troelenberg, Schankweiler, and Messner).
Orientalism: In the context of art and art history, the term “Orientalism” often functions as a broad category encompassing depictions of the Muslim world or Asia, typically portraying traditional attire, painting, and photography. Simultaneously, it extends to the adoption of Islamic or Asian styles, particularly evident in applied arts and architecture. As such, “Orientalism” serves as a geographical reference to encompass aesthetic and decorative systems across diverse regions, spanning from the Maghreb (North Africa) and the southeastern Mediterranean to the Middle East, the Iranian world, Central and Southeast Asia, and onward to Japan and China (Troelenberg, Schankweiler, and Messner).
Periphery: The term “periphery,” characterized as a border zone or outer boundary, implies a geographical model based on a binary structure where an outer region encircles a central area. (Troelenberg, Schankweiler, and Messner)
East/West binary: The East/West binary, a conceptual framework delineating global regions into East and West (or sometimes referred to the Global South and the Global North), has historically been employed to highlight cultural, geographical, and geopolitical distinctions. Nonetheless, critiques emphasize its oversimplification and propagation of stereotypes, prompting the need for more nuanced scholarly examinations of global dynamics. (Burney 23-36)
Futurity: Refers to the re-imagining and the possibility of an unsettled future. This term is tied to the response and initiatives of activists, artists, and scholars addressing the lasting impacts of unfinished project of settler colonialism, transatlantic slavery, and racial segregation as a reparative action aimed to acknowledge and address the unresolved histories. These endeavors highlighted the continued relevance of these historical narratives in shaping the landscape of the early 21st century. (Huard and Moser 2022, 3-16)
Borders: Borders play a role in arranging, categorizing, and delineating various elements including ideas, identities, people, locations, objects, landscapes, and entities that extend beyond the non-human. They emerge through diverse mechanisms, creating boundaries in physical space and time. These borders operate on many scales, spanning from the minuscule and individual to the global scale. (Royal Geographical Society)
Belonging: The subjective sense of being an essential component within various interconnected systems, encompassing family, friends, educational settings, workplaces, communities, cultural circles, and physical locations. (Hagerty et al. 172)
Identity: Identity, in its most overarching interpretation, refers to an individual’s self-awareness crafted through their unique qualities, affiliations, roles within society, sense of belonging, and socio-cultural dynamics. It is shaped by religion, ethnicity, gender, and sexuality and it is not a fixed attribute but rather one that can change over time. (Yilmaz)
The migrant body: Describes the social construction of the body within the migration framework, elucidating how this process shapes the social and power dynamics to which migrants become intricately connected. It encompasses the individual’s socialization in their society of origin, highlighting how they internalize and embody values, lifestyles, and work practices from both their home country and the destination country. In such a process, the migrant body undergoes scrutiny and regulation by the host country’s government, becoming a subject of surveillance and control. This occurs during migratory processes and involves the subversion of the body by established power systems like nation-states. (Ennes 27-53)
Domestic Sphere: This term denotes the private domain encompassing home and family life, historically linked to women’s labor and responsibilities in overseeing household matters and tending to children. Within the gender context, this sphere has conventionally been regarded as a space primarily occupied by women, contrasting with the “public sphere,” which has been affiliated with men and their participation in political, economic, and social endeavors beyond the confines of the home. The “domestic sphere” is central to the examination of gender dynamics and feminist theories, particularly, when analyzing labor and social expectations attached to women. (Verjus and Heuer 1-23)
Water: In the sphere of the Mediterranean’s geography and migration, water functions as a central factor that impacts the region’s intricacies, encompassing ecological trends, economic endeavors, and migration patterns. The Mediterranean Sea not only molds the geographic landscape but also holds a vital role in diverse processes ranging from political, social, and cultural endeavors which overlap with the dynamics of migration in the region all intersecting by water. Therefore, water becomes a space of critical analysis of systems of power, colonialism, and diasporas. (Venditto)
Textiles: The term refers to products crafted by individuals using fibrous materials, ranging from bonded fibers like felt fabrics to articles made from minimally altered plant materials such as baskets and mats. It also includes textiles created from spun yarns, like knitted or woven cloth, and items fashioned from synthetic linear components like nylon window screens (“An Introduction to Textile Terms”)
Theories
Post-colonial: Postcolonial theory examines the extensive repercussions of European colonial dominance globally from the 18th to the 20th century, encompassing political, aesthetic, economic, historical, and social dimensions. It asserts that our understanding of the world is incomplete without acknowledging the historical impact of imperialism and colonialism, challenging the notion of isolated “European philosophy,” “European literature,” or “European history.” (Elam)
Decolonial: Decolonial theory functions as a theoretical framework with a critical examination of the lasting effects of colonialism on societies, cultures, and knowledge systems. The primary goal is to deconstruct and challenge colonial power dynamics by introducing alternative perspectives that prioritize the experiences and voices of marginalized groups. Decolonial theorists promote the acknowledgment of diverse approaches to knowing, existing, and organizing societies, aiming to move beyond the Eurocentric frameworks imposed during colonial periods. (Mignolo)
Feminist: Feminism critically examines the foundational elements of culture and identity, aiming to elucidate the presence of power dynamics, particularly those that perpetuate gender inequality, within knowledge and societal practices. It reveals the underlying assumptions influencing perceptions and brings attention to overlooked perspectives, fostering the development of more intricate, inclusive, and comprehensive narratives and theories. Through these efforts, feminism contributes to the pursuit of enhanced social justice and equity. (Millner, Moore, Cole, 142)
Globalization: Globalization is an interdisciplinary framework that seeks to comprehend the intricate and interrelated processes by which societies, economies, cultures, and individuals progressively unify on a global level. It investigates how international movements of capital, information, commodities, services, and individuals influence diverse facets of human existence, encompassing economic structures, cultural traditions, and political frameworks. (Osterhammel)
Transnational: The theory of transnationalism serves as an analytical tool within sociology, anthropology, art history, and related fields, aiming to scrutinize social phenomena that surpass national boundaries. It highlights the interrelated and dynamic nature of global social, economic, cultural, and political processes. This theoretical perspective recognizes the existence of intricate connections among individuals, communities, and institutions that extend beyond the limitations of a sole nation-state. (Glick Schiller et al. 1-24)
