Women Soldiers (1982 U-matic videowork Colour 6.00)

Women Soldiers addresses several feminist issues. The main theme of the video is the role of women in the military forces but it is also a starting point for Shemilt to widen her prospective to a more general critique of how women are represented by media and society and their role and status.

The viewer is guided in this reflection by several voice-over traces. The first is a script pillaged by Shemilt from a military recruitment campaign and read by her friend the artist June Raby, which with subtle irony and a critical approach describes the ‘requirements’ for an unspecified job (that from the images and the title the viewer can assume is in the army). A second sound track is a fake infomercial about skin rejuvenation, read by a male performer. Shemilt also employs some sound recordings of bombing in Beirut from 1981.

These issues are also addressed through the use of a series of photographs shot by Shemilt at a British army training camp and of the military paraphernalia (including weapons and gas masks), photo-documentation and prints from Shemilt’s performances, and images from beauty products’ commercial adverts.

The use of strong dramatic imaginary and the sound of shooting are a clear appeal of the artist for peace.

Women Soldiers was produced and first screened at South Hill Park Arts Centre, Bracknell, UK in 1982.

©2016 European Women’s Video Art/ Laura Leuzzi

http://www.ewva.ac.uk/shemilt-works.html