ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the historical and geopolitical dimensions of Sarah Bartmann's life, the political, pragmatic, and technical aspects of representation – a central concept of gender studies – will be spotlighted. In the first as well as the second feminist wave, the efforts of feminist politics and sciences are focused upon effectuating an adequate representation of women in the public sphere, art, and culture. In this context, the concept of representation refers to ensuring that women are present in political and other public bodies, as well as in historiography, literary history, art criticism, and some others. The feminist analysis of representations makes use of the tools of semiotics; a theory of signs. The chapter then explores the history and context of the icon Sarah Bartmann. Willie Bester's statue will be interpreted through the principle of semiotics, buttressing a well-argued position with respect to the ethics of this specific representation.
