Written by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Definition
Preying Mantra is an artwork created by Wangechi Mutu. It consists of a large-scale collage depicting hybrid female figures with animalistic features. The artwork explores themes of colonization, exploitation, and the objectification of women.
Related terms
Hybridity: The combination or blending of different elements or identities. Mutu's Preying Mantra showcases hybrid figures that challenge traditional notions of beauty and identity.
Postcolonialism: A theoretical framework that examines the social, cultural, and political effects of colonialism. Mutu's work often engages with postcolonial themes.
Objectification: Treating someone as an object rather than as a human being with agency and autonomy. Preying Mantra critiques the objectification of women in society.