Editor's note: This story is being highlighted in ASU Now's year in review. Read more top stories from 2018 here.
Needlework pieces are often seen as simple decorative heirlooms, but many were actually borne from matters of persecution and strife.
In a computer lab at Arizona State University's Department of English last week, ASU Professor Maureen Goggin pulled up a presentation of early 20th-century needlework items made by feminists and suffragettes, exploring the symbolic meaning behind needlework pieces from throughout history.
Goggin said rhetoric is often seen as "empty words," but added, "Rhetoric has everything to do with how we communicate, and needlework was one way for many marginalized individuals to visually do just that."
It's a form of communication that has found renewed popularity among a number of activists today, but it's a practice with its roots stretching back into history. Next time you come across a piece of needlework, take a closer look and you may just find an abundance of subtext hidden within the fabric.
More Law, journalism and politics
How ASU is leading the national conversation on journalism and AI
As artificial intelligence continues to advance at a rapid pace, journalism faces both unprecedented opportunity and profound responsibility.At Arizona State University, those challenges are being…
5 takeaways about artificial intelligence and elections
Next year’s midterm elections are happening at a crucial time in the adoption of AI, with concerns that the new technology could pose threats to the process but also have the benefit of easing the…
ASU dominates Rocky Mountain Emmys, showcasing range of talent
Arizona State University stole the spotlight at the Rocky Mountain Southwest Emmys, walking away with an impressive haul of shiny new awards and plenty of bragging rights.University-affiliated…