Fat Sexy Women

I remember being taught in art history that the Venus of Willendorf, the Paleolithic sculputure of a gloriously zaftig female, was probably carved by a man as a shamanistic fertility figure. Now the New York Times has an article about a stunning discovery of one of the oldest figurative sculptures ever found, another “Venus,” this one dating from 35,000 years ago. She has pendulous breasts, a capacious stomach, and, as the Times puts it (have they ever used this phrase before?) "a greatly enlarged vulva." She was meant to be worn around the neck. Isn't it likely, however, that these sculptures were carved by women as fertility figures for themselves? And that once upon a time women thought the ideal female body required exuberant flesh.

Tags: fat, fertility symbol, women's bodies.

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Emily Yoffe is Slate's Dear Prudence and Human Guinea Pig (emilyyoffe@hotmail.com)

Comments

Fat, sexy women

By: RobinH | Fri, 05/15/2009 - 06:55

I suggest finding and reading a great book that just might put this posting in perspective. "Motel of the Mysteries" by David Macaulay. Basic premise - a disaster hit the North American continent, buring it entirely - then in 3850 it is "rediscovered". It's great - the archeologists find a motel....and their interpretation is great - especially the bathroom!
Reality is - we do not know why these figurines are made - so all the postings and even the "experts" are engaging in "Just so" stories (check out Rudyard Kipling) and imposing their individual prejudices and beliefs onto the figurines. Given what we do know of early societies, it is reasonable to assume they were some form of fertility figurine (look at some of the male figures with rather large body parts) but in all honestly we don't KNOW anything for sure.

Well, and even if it's a

By: Sihaya | Fri, 05/15/2009 - 12:58

Well, and even if it's a fertility figurine, that doesn't mean that the figurine's shape is meant to be a literal physical ideal for women. Some people are blowing raspberries as I write that, but think about the iconography in a number of modern religions, like, say, Hinduism. Nobody thinks they, personally, are supposed to have the head of Ganesh or the multiple arms of Shiva. Some aspects of the gods' images are representations of their own divinity rather than an ideal for humanity. For all we know, the fertility idol is supposed to exaggerate the roundness of a curvy woman into the rotund shape of the entire world - there's a mythic reason for the name "Mother Earth." The figure may be an earth goddess.

Or yeah, for all we know, the ancients were really into miniature portraiture of their outrageously pregnant wives, especially right after said wives had been to the beauty parlor to have their curls set. I mean, it could be true. Eh. It'll take more digging. I'm too lazy to dig. :)

Its a sad comment on human nature

By: irobert | Thu, 05/14/2009 - 22:59

that the "ideal female body" is always considered by us to be the one our societies are least well equipped to produce.

Venus in Blue Jeans

By: Sihaya | Thu, 05/14/2009 - 16:16

Hmm. I think I'm with Jane on this one. We have some cultural information about humans 35,000 years ago, but not much. We know that they had some kind of religion - there are ritual elements to their burials. But we don't have much to go on as far as cultural attitudes are concerned. I'm sure the rounded women are some sort of artistic ideal, but I don't know whose or to what purpose.

I Need to Re-Read the Alphabet Versus the Goddess

By: 00Pisces | Thu, 05/14/2009 - 15:09

I know Leonard Shlain would have something to say about this.

It's a prop! Was ancient man aroused by sight the way modern man is? We're constantly being told that men are visual creatures--we are obligated to forgive them their web-browsing habits because it's not their fault, they are just wired that way and we should reasonable--so my assumption is that this is a tool provided by men, for men. I certainly don't wear the the image of another woman on my body for the viewing pleasure of men. If I do wear the image of another woman, like a cameo or a locket, I wear it for sentimental reasons. Obviously, there's a religious element, but I think there's often a practical application to rites as well.

Reason for 35,000 year old figurine

By: janeslogin | Thu, 05/14/2009 - 14:22

Why would one want to even conjecture on the purpose or source of a 35,000 year old figurine?

Perhaps the mushrooms made them do it.

geeze.