This presentation argues that Paul Gauguin's paintings are racial and gender stereotypes. It introduces the topic and thesis, then discusses how Gauguin depicted Polynesian women in a stereotypical manner as instinctive, sex objects obsessed with white men. The presentation cites critics like Abigail Godeau who argue Gauguin perpetuated a colonialist discourse that objectified Polynesian women without benefiting them. Sojourner Truth also criticized Gauguin for exploiting other cultures' sexual practices. In conclusion, the presentation proves Gauguin regarded indigenous people as "noble savages" and stereotyped Tahitian women in his paintings.

1. LL204 Presentation
Topic:

2. Content
Introduction
Racial Stereotype
Gender Stereotype
Critics
Conclusion

3. Introduction
Thesis: This presentation will argue that Paul
Gauguin painting is a racial and
gender stereotype.
Theme: Misrepresentation of Polynesian
Women
Theory: Feminist Theory by Abigail Godeau
and Sojourner Truth

4. Text: Paul Gauguin’s Paintings
The Two Tahitian Women

5. Tahitian At The Beach

6. Racial Stereotype
• Gauguin has been criticized
for racial stereotypes
- ‘Going Native’ – by Abigail Godeau
questions Gauguin's paintings.
- The native women were calm and
willing to offer themselves to
Godeau’s command.

7. Racial Stereotype
• Indigenous are regarded as
Noble savages
- Gauguin viewed the natives as a
representative of primitive humankind
- symbolizing the innate goodness of
humanity when free from the corrupting
influence of civilization (Godeau, 1971)

8. Gender Stereotype
• Gauguin’s female models
- Tahitian natives are generally
depicted as instinctive and
superstitious creatures

9. Gender Stereotype
• Women as sex object
- Obsessed by white men
- color raised questions of
social power

10. Critics on Gauguin's Paintings
Abigail Godeau
- Gauguin representation reveals a
gendered discourse.
- A continuous work of a colonialist where
dynamic use of power/knowledge brings
no benefit to the Polynesian women .
Example:
The Polynesian women were not just his models – they
were his sex slaves( Ain’t I a Women)

12. Cont’
According to Sojourner Truth
- Gauguin , A French male exploiting
other peoples sexual culture
-women have limited rights due to men
and flawed perception of women

13. Conclusion
• This presentation has proven that Paul
Gauguin painting is a racial and
gender stereotype
• In his painting he has always regarded the
indigenous as noble savages and was
criticized by many for his racial and gender
stereotype where Tahitian women in
particular were objected to sex which
replicates in his paintings.

14. Reference
• Solomon-Godeau, Abigail. "Going
Native." In Post-Impressionism to World
War II, by Debbie Lewer, 304319. Victoria:
Blackwell Publishing, 2006.
• Truth, Sojourner. Ain't I a Women. New
York, 1851.
• Gauguin, Paul. Tahitian At the Beach. New
York.
• Gauguin, Paul. Two Tahitian Women. New
York