" ‘They don’t make them like they used to do’ "

• Who is the artist of the digital print titled 'They don’t make them like they used to do'?

  Mary Sibande
• What year was the artwork 'They don’t make them like they used to do' created?

  2009
• What style characterizes Mary Sibande's work?

  Naturalistic
• What medium did Mary Sibande use for her artwork?

  Photograph
• What is the significance of the character Sophie in Sibande's work?

  • Developed from Sibande's family history of maids
  • Celebrates her own educational achievements
  • Explores and subverts victimization of domestic workers
• Why did Sibande create the character Sophie?

  To celebrate her family's history and her own educational achievements
• How does Sibande view domestic workers according to her statement?

  As heroes who faced significant challenges
• What themes does Sibande explore through her artwork?

  • Identity in a postcolonial South Africa
  • Critique of stereotypes of black women
  • Liberation from past victimization
• What is the intended emotional response Sibande aims to evoke in viewers of her work?

  To rise above feelings of anger, shame, and humiliation
• What color is the background in Sibande's photograph?

  Neutral pale blue
• What does the neutral pale blue background signify in Sibande's work?

  It denotes a photographic studio setting
• Describe the outfit that Sophie is portrayed wearing in the photograph.

  • Elaborate blue dress resembling a maid's uniform
  • White collar and cuffs
  • Victorian dress with a crinoline skirt
  • Pristine white apron and doek covering her head
• What does Sophie's closed eyes represent in the photograph?

  Her escape into a fantasy dream world
• How does Sophie's dress reflect her protest against a life of servitude?

  It is impractical for domestic work, symbolizing her desire for freedom
• What does the relationship between the 'madam' and 'maid' signify in Sibande's work?

  It highlights the appropriation of leisure opportunities by the maid
• What broader implications does Sibande's work have for South Africa?

  It suggests opportunities for all in a democratic society