Listening to birth : metallurgy, maternity, and vocality in the reproduction of the patriarchal state
Listening to Birth asserts that structures of power reproduce themselves by instituting particular modes of listening and sound production. Situating my research within feminist sound studies, I argue that meanings conjured around the audible, material bodies of women were carefully crafted by elites in antiquity, in order to construct gendered ideologies of kingship, civilisation, and nature. I examine these power dynamics as expressed in mythic and magical texts and iconographies, dating from the Bronze Age to later Roman antiquity. Throughout the thesis, I examine the development of symbolic systems and narrative tropes that linked mining and metallurgy with reproduction and vocality. My analysis emphasises how the invention of nature was accomplished, in part, through a metallurgical reclassification of the voices and sexualities of women as indiscrete phenomena: womb, mouth, and voice were elided with mining and smelting to form a unified semantic realm. I argue that this invention of âvulvar vocalityâ reclassified female sounds as illicit, providing a plaform for the removal of women from the public sphere. I attempt to connect the gendered discourse found in myths and magical rituals to the political
Dokter, Anija (Rachel)
childbirth ; metallurgy ; voice ; history of religion ; mining ; metals ; sound ; reproduction ; antiquity ; witchcraft ; gnosticism ; ancient near east ; ancient Israel ; history of gender ; state ideology ; social stratification ; Greek religion ; slavery ; myth ; magic ; monotheism ; henotheism ; polytheism ; pregnancy ; midwifery ; obstetrics ; gender ; women
Listening to birth : metallurgy, maternity, and vocality in the reproduction of the patriarchal state. Listening to Birth asserts that structures of power reproduce themselves by instituting particular modes of listening and sound production. Situating my research within feminist sound studies, I argue that meanings conjured around the audible, material bodies of women were carefully crafted by elites in antiquity, in order to construct gendered ideologies of kingship, civilisation, and nature. I examine these power dynamics as expressed in mythic and magical texts and iconographies, dating from the Bronze Age to later Roman antiquity. Throughout the thesis, I examine the development of symbolic systems and narrative tropes that linked mining and metallurgy with reproduction and vocality. My analysis emphasises how the invention of nature was accomplished, in part, through a metallurgical reclassification of the voices and sexualities of women as indiscrete phenomena: womb, mouth, and voice were elided with mining and smelting to form a unified semantic realm. I argue that this invention of âvulvar vocalityâ reclassified female sounds as illicit, providing a plaform for the removal of women from the public sphere. I attempt to connect the gendered discourse found in myths and magical rituals to the political
listening birth metallurgy maternity reproduction patriarchal state listening birth assert structure power reproduce institute particular mode listen sound production situating within feminist sound study argue meaning conjure around material body woman carefully craft elite antiquity order construct gendered ideology kingship civilisation nature examine power dynamic express magical text_iconography date bronze_age later_roman antiquity throughout examine_development symbolic system narrative trope link mining metallurgy reproduction analysis emphasise invention nature accomplish part metallurgical voice sexuality woman phenomenon womb mouth voice elide mining smelt form unify semantic realm argue invention female sound illicit provide removal woman public_sphere attempt connect gendered discourse find myth magical ritual political