I chuckled 'cause it's true. [Men to Avoid in Art and Life by Nicole Tersigni]

Men to Avoid in Art and Life pairs classical fine art with modern captions that epitomize the spirit of mansplaining.

This hilarious book perfectly captures those relatable moments when a man explains to a woman a subject about which he knows considerably less than she does.

Situations include men sharing keen insight on the female anatomy, an eloquent defense of catcalling, or offering sage advice about horseback riding to the woman who owns the horse.

Taking old pictures and using captions to give them meaning is hilarious, all the time. But in Nicole Tersigni's Men to Avoid in Art and Life is a hilarious recontextualization of the art in the framework of misogyny and chauvinism. How is it that the titles added fit so well? Had I seen the artwork before, alone, I might have simply said, oh, that's some interesting posing. Now I'm convinced that the sassy reframing is the truth of the matter.

But still, the issue is the context of art. The question becomes which art? And why that framing? Why classical art? Why only classical art? To show a persistant mindset, a history of gender inequality? Sure, that works. But I can't look at the artwork without thinking of the history behind each one. And so the commentary takes on more forms and is made weaker and stronger. Regardless, I enjoyed the book. It was a quick read and the captions, save the modern references, are timeless truths known to every woman. 4 stars from me.

Men to Avoid in Art and Life is set for publication August 11th, 2020.