CLASS DESCRIPTION

In the most distant annals of human history, to bleed was sacred; rock art images depict the ecstatic dance of female figures, charged with energy, some linked together by the blood of their vulvas. These women are shamans, their menstruation brings power to the hunt and the community. So what changed?

From the ritual tent of the Bible to the Blood Bowl Sutras of ancient China or the myths of ancient China that imagined hell as a vast lake of ‘polluted’ period blood, we will mine the point in our collective history when bleeding became associated with impurity.

We will examine the evolution of menstrual taboos – with reference to iconic works such as Chris Knight’s Blood Relations, Blood Magic – The Anthropology of Menstruation and more, as well as examining how our global bias against periods affects us in the present, from our complete whitewashing of imagery of periods, to period poverty to the Data-Gap or the period tax.

ABOUT OUR LECTURER

The Director of The Feminist Lecture Program, Luisa-Maria MacCormack (she/her) studied Textiles Design at London College of Fashion before turning to Fine Art and studying at the Royal Drawing School in 2014. A practicing artist as well as lecturer and Creative Director, Luisa has recently completed her MA at City and Guilds of London Art School. A founding member of the London Drawing Group since its inception in 2016, Luisa teaches drawing, and Feminist Art History classes across London, as well as exhibiting regularly in solo and group shows across the country. Her work specializes in Feminist Art His
tory and with a particular interest in Ecology, Magico-Religious Practices and our Deep Past.

WEBSITE: https://www.luisamariamaccormack.co.uk/
INSTAGRAM: @luisamariamfineart

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This is a recording of a live session hosted by The Feminist Lecture Program in May 2026. The reading list for the class can be found alongside this rental.

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Happy watching!
FLP x