"Butcher Boys"

• What is the title of Jane Alexander's work discussed in the study material?

  Butcher Boys
• What materials are used in Jane Alexander's Butcher Boys?

  Plaster, paint, bone, horns, and a wooden bench
• How are the bodies in Butcher Boys described?

  The bodies are naturalistic but combined with animal qualities
• What technique is used to create the figures in Butcher Boys?

  Plaster casts taken from life with the insertion of found objects
• How many figures are in the Butcher Boys sculpture?

  Three life-size figures
• What is notable about the genitalia of the figures in Butcher Boys?

  Their genitalia are covered, making their gender unknown
• What does the insertion of bone into the figures symbolize in Butcher Boys?

  It symbolizes penetration and damage to the bodies
• What does Butcher Boys represent in the context of South African history?

  It symbolizes the resistance struggle against apartheid and institutionalized violence
• Who is associated with the violence depicted in Butcher Boys?

  The Security Police involved in the death of Steve Biko
• What does the title "Butcher Boys" imply about the figures?

  It suggests they are executioners or violent killers
• What theme does Alexander explore through the figures in Butcher Boys?

  The symbolic relationship between oppressor and victim
• How are the heads of the figures in Butcher Boys described?

  They are only half-human with distorted faces and horns
• What does the inability of the figures to speak symbolize?

  They cannot communicate the unspeakable or reason
• What does the seated position of the figures suggest?

  It suggests passiveness and a sense of waiting
• How does Alexander describe the relationship between aggression and vulnerability in her work?

  She states that the alter ego of aggression is vulnerability
• What does the use of bones and skulls in Butcher Boys signify?

  It creates an association with death and violence
• How does Butcher Boys transcend its specific historical context?

  It touches on universal themes of humanity and violence
• What question does Alexander pose about human nature in relation to violence?

  Would we also become like them if forced to commit acts of violence?
• What socio-political context influenced the creation of Butcher Boys?

  The oppressive measures of the apartheid government in South Africa
• What is the significance of the title "Butcher Boys" in relation to the artwork's message?

  It highlights the figures as executioners or violent killers
• How does Butcher Boys reflect the historical background of apartheid in South Africa?

  It critiques the violence and repression of the apartheid regime
• What role does art play in resistance movements as exemplified by Butcher Boys?

  Art serves as a powerful medium to express dissent and critique oppression
• What impact has Jane Alexander's work had on contemporary art?

  It has influenced discussions on violence, humanity, and socio-political issues