That's definitely an interesting contrast. Also interesting is the juxtaposition of nudity and indulgence, which is sort of like an indulgence of the mostly-socially acceptable variety (pornography/sex) with an indulgence of the not-socially-acceptable variety (food/sweets).

But I think women's relationship to food is actually more complex than that - just a blank "we're not supposed to indulge" directive. One facet of the food paradox is that women actually ARE supposed to indulge, and are rewarded for doing so, so long as they remain rail thin. As an example, a lot of news articles about models contain anecdotes about the model's voracious appetite - ie the reporter meets the model/actress for lunch and watches in amazement and respect while the model/actress wolfs down a juicy burger. It's also noteworthy the types of food that women are praised for eating - burgers, fries, and salty things are seen as commendable, "manly" indulgences, while sweets and desserts are bad, "female" indulgences only had during "that time of the month."

From a personal perspective, I've actually gotten a lot of compliments, almost always from men, on my appetite. Male coworkers love to point out how often and how much I eat while chuckling. It's only socially acceptable for them to do this because I am relatively thin.

The settings also remind me a lot of commercials targeted to women, outlining methods of "safe" indulgence. The sumptuousness of white clothing and white sheets reminds me a lot of some lingerie commercials (i.e., it's okay to indulge the outside of your body but not the inside), and some yogurt commercials (yogurt being the "safe" food for women to indulge in-- although I think Sarah Haskins covered that subject matter better than I ever could).

The bathroom setting recalls commercials too, I think: particularly of bath and beauty products which are increasingly food-scented and portrayed as acceptable forms of indulgence-- while it's considered unacceptable for women to indulge in EATING food, rubbing it all over their bodies is portrayed as an acceptable alternative (and, in the case of some commercials, declared to provide the same health benefits).

I wish the woman looked... *happier* though. As is I feel like I'm watching the bingeing before the purging :-/

Surely, though, this overindulgence is expected to be "private" only for a very narrow or particular demographic? I mean, all you need to do is walk into a Cracker Barrel restaurant or KFC's and you will see plenty of public "overindulgence"--not only by women, of course, but men and children too, from a range of socio-economic and racial backgrounds.

In other words, I don't find the "privacy" bit about these images entirely convincing.

Paintings? I didn't acrually believe it myself until I got a closer look at the ones on her site. Just amazing! Though I wouldn't agree that she's necessarily making the indulgence public. Sure, it's meant for the public to see, but so are all other pictures of intimate situations such as crying, sex or self harm. If they were really meant to push that boundary, I don't think that they would be set in bathrooms and bedrooms, the two most private rooms in our culture. On the other hand, you can't aruge that she does bring beauty into the eating, even a sort of serenety.

The wide range of commentaries and questions this poses makes it such a fascinating art project, to me.

What happened to the MPDG post?

The model's dull expressions, plus the flat lighting, mades these images feel very empty and impersonal to me ... which is part of the binging message, granted. Maybe I've been playing too many horror video games, but "Cherry Cheesecake II" made me think "autopsy" as quickly as "indulgence."

The woman is so thin that I read these images as typical food advertisements until I read the description.

Agreeing with some of the commenters above who mentioned EDs. The first 2 images struck me strongly as having that theme, which I saw before I read was the post which explained what they are actually about.

The others didn't really have such a strong impression on me, though I cant quite put my finger on what makes the first 2 so different.

To me the images beg a question. If she needs to seclude herself in the bathroom in order to indulge her penchant for junk food and sugary soft drinks, from whom is she hiding? I think that she should expand her body of artistic work to include those friends and family members from whom she feels the need to conceal her addiction to sugary or high calorie food and drink. Is there a boyfriend with movie star good looks and physique from whom she fears rejection?

She should do a similar series now with an overweight woman as the model. The viseral reaction would be different I think, as would the comments.

No one has a problem with indulging. Just look at all ads encouraging you to do just that. ("Eat as much as you need! Eat as much as you want! Eat more than your body needs! OMG so delicioussss.")

What we have a problem with is obesity. If you're indulging and someone criticizes you for it, it's because you're too fat. If you indulge in moderation and stay healthy, you're fine.

This applies to both men and women, too. Isn't there a word for making something universal look like something sexist in order to delegitimize it? "Derailing" perhaps?

This reminds me that I've always had a problem with the concept of "guilt free" foods, which seems to be becoming more common these days. Maybe because it ties so heavily into fat-shaming and body policing.

I also didn't realize these were actually paintings until I looked really closely.

She looks sad to me because she's all by herself, eating is a social activity. eating alone on the floor in a toilet isn't a happy/sexy thing, Also eating lying down is not comfortable - try it, you'll choke! It is not an enjoyable activity. It looks like these pictures are supposed to portray eating as shameful and disgusting and associate indulgence with eating disorders I don't see how they challenge any stereotypes they just reinforce stereotypes. There is nothing positive in these images.

(I'm not American however I don't really get these weight issues, I think it is just displacement activity.)

This makes me incredibly uncomfortable because it strikes me as very eating-disordered. The location of the food, the type of food and the amounts of it... I've binged and purged in bathrooms before.

So this was actually really triggering for me.

SAD,, too sad,. amazed at her skill demonstrated with managing that many baths. Tried it yet in my home my children would find me. I managed many a tearful respite food in tow briefly in the rest room and bedroom. Vulnerability an exposure fits well in use of nudity. There are perhaps many who miss the warning signs for others to help. Think I will proactively share peace with my two daughters and a few others.

Eating is a necessity, whether it is done "unsociably" or not. What keeps coming to mind is comparing this to drinking booze which is defined after the male id and so being tipsy or drunk is seen as a jolly jape a bit rascally. Doing that alone is seen as sad-afer all it is not been forced indoors for the shame of it.

I find it truly pathetic that wome eating is "transgressive" as well as how close being female is to being  crazy, degenerate, dirty, wrong etc., It is getting beyond boring now.

I like the bath ones. they look relaxed, and like they're having some nice, relaxed, self indulgence. the women are comfortable withe their bodies and their enjoyment of the food.
the others have a more negative and shameful feel about them.

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