Shrugging off the tiger: Examining the state of contemporary feminism in the Trumpian era through Maria Berrio’s El Cielo Tiene Jardines

Abstract

Through the examination of the artwork of Maria Berrio, parallels are drawn between her work, entitled El Cielo Tiene Jardines, and the 2019 political climate under Donald Trump. With the intention of linking the rise of feminism to Trump’s presence in office as president of the United States, specifically through examples of his sexism, narcissism and preference for patriarchy, this is approached through the metaphors of Berrio’s painting. In retaliation to the upswing of sexism, narcissism and patriarchy coming from the White House, each element examined in the artwork is meant to describe the relationship to Donald Trump’s personality cult as well as the corresponding reaction of anti-Trumpian groups, particularly feminists, as well as prescribers to psychoanalytic theory. Examples are cited from Trump’s presence in the media, including tweets, personal statements and historical evidence supporting the arguments made. Topics of neo-colonialism, the American Dream and the generalization of the female desire to remove herself from the submissive role of patriarchal assignment are also discussed. With what was being hailed as Third Wave Feminism, beginning with the Woman’s March of 2017, these aspects of Trumpian character and behaviour are described through the model of Berrio’s stunning mix-media painting and are meant to appeal to readers through both feminist and psychoanalytical analyses.