The Dinner Party Essay: An Addition to Judy Chicago's Installation

This essay explores Judy Chicago's The Dinner Party, a feminist artwork. The author proposes adding a new place setting to honor the Indian goddess Durga, a symbol of feminine power. The essay details the concept, including the artistic representation of Durga, the offerings, and a place for prayer and communal dining, similar to a dinner setting. The author explains the significance of Durga and her role in Indian culture, emphasizing the goddess's embodiment of Shakti and her role in creation, protection, and destruction. The essay concludes by highlighting how the addition of Durga's place setting would enhance the artwork's representation of feminine power and add to the overall artistic value of the installation.

Running head: THE DINNER PARTY
THE DINNER PARTY
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author note:

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Judy Chicago who is a feminist artist, painter creates the Dinner Party, an installation
and represented 1038 women from history through her this artwork. The huge work is
consisted with a triangular table, which are divided into three wings (Brooklynmuseum.org
2017). The principle section of The Dinner Party is the place setting area and 39 women have
been represented in this area.
The purpose of this essay is to add another place setting area in the installation of the
Dinner party created by Judy Chicago. I would also like to explain about the woman whom I
would like to honor in the additional place setting area. The essay will focus on the process
and reason of accomplishment and the detailed description of the place setting area.
I would like to add the additional place setting after the earlier one or might be beside
the earlier place setting area. I would like to honor the Indian goddess Durga, whose myths
can be found in the old Indian scripture. She is one of the major deities in the Indian culture.
It is believed by the Indian that she has a very important role to play in the life of human. I
would like to honor in a way that would represent the real offerings that are offered to her to
show respect and honor that the Indian celebrate. The Indians believe that this celebration is
for remembering the essence of feminine energy and the motherly role the women play in all
human life and the life of the other creatures. She is the source of the birth and thus source of
all lives.
The goddess should have an artistic idol, which should be represented in a creative
way as to show all sources of power and energy. Below the idol, there should have a place for
giving an offering and beside this offering place there should have a place for sitting and
praying. This could be also the place for sitting and taking the part of the food, which has
been offered to the deity. One could imagine it as the place for dinner as dinner is the day’s
end meal. The concept is like that, as if the participants or visitors of the installation are

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taking dinner or having the portion of the offerings after giving it to the goddess. This could
be the subject of the place setting.
I have selected the goddess Durga as she is the symbol of feminine power. The
Goddesses are the representation of the power or Shakti, which plays the central role for the
creation, protection and the destruction of the universe (Ancienthistorylists.com 2017).
Beside the idol, there should be a description about the goddess and reason to
represent her in the installation. For example, goddess Durga is the manifested form of shakti
who killed the demon Mahisasur and saved the universe from evil power.
(Ancienthistorylists.com 2017).
However, it can be concluded that the additional place setting would also represent
the power of feminine and it adds value to the whole art work.

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References
Ancienthistorylists.com, Saugat. 2017. "Top 10 Hindu Goddesses -
Ancienthistorylists". Ancienthistorylists.
https://www.ancienthistorylists.com/india-history/top-10-hindu-goddesses/.
Brooklynmuseum.org. 2017. "Brooklyn Museum: Components Of The Dinner
Party". Brooklynmuseum.Org. https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/eascfa/dinner_party/home/.

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