Through Artobiography - On personal narrative and emotion as a feminist strategy in the work by contemporary artist Sophie Calle

Abstract: This master thesis investigates how personal narrative and emotion might be understood as a feminist strategy in the work True Stories, an autobiographical project by contemporary French artist Sophie Calle. This is done through the application of Judith Butler's theory on heteronormativity, performativity and subversive acts, as well as Sara Ahmed's thought on emotion. The result shows how personal narrative can function to expose not only how norms and emotion work on us as socially constituted subjects, but also how new possibilities and orientations are formed. The artistic process is emphasized as a place where new orientations and formations are made possible, such as through the healing of emotional wounds, or through acting upon our desire.