Kallu, Priya

Hi everyone! My name is Priya Kallu and I am a 3rd year transfer student majoring in Applied Mathematics. I am from a small suburban town in the Bay Area and was very excited to move to Los Angeles, as I continue to be inspired by the different cultures and experiences this city has to offer. I decided to dedicate some time to taking electives in order to fully take advantage of the plethora of courses UCLA has to offer, and explore some of my interests outside of mathematics. Beyond my academic life, art is one of the most important influences in my life. I am specifically passionate about music, fashion/design, and film. I am excited to expand my knowledge on visual art.

Because of my interest in feminism and the ways in which women have been declined the same opportunities as men both historically and in present day, I found the article "Why Have There Been No Women Artists?" by Linda Nochlin to be very engaging. Nochlin makes the argument that the conditions in which men and women experience life are two very different situations and consequently result in different opportunities. More importantly, women were at a disadvantage. Women were never given the set of tools necessary to become "Great Artists". A specific example emphasized in the article is the inability of women artists to acquire nude models in the past. Nochlin establishes that an artists' ability to practice art using nude models was a crucial step in gaining the momentum to becoming a "Great Artist". This was just one instance in which female artists lacked the same opportunities as male artists. Nochlin "suggested that it was indeed institutionally impossible for women to achieve excellence or success on the same footing as men, no matter what their talent, or genius". The fight women face against systemic oppression continues in present day as women are not given the chance to become as successful or idolized to the same degree as men historically have.