Lynn Hershman and Marina Abramovic Presentation

This presentation addressed the likeness of these two women in that they both had similar ideas of using themselves as a medium to portray ideas of feminism.
I was a little taken aback by the information they provided about how Hershman's first exhibit was shut down and she was told she had no place in an art museum.
I was also shocked by Abramovic's self-mutilation pieces, particularly the one where she cut a five pointed star on her stomach and the details of the events leading up to and following the cuts. I think that's obviously the intent of her pieces. I was also surprised to learn that Abramovic recently did this at the Guggenheim, being as I was recently there for a visit.
Abramovic's piece that featured herself and a man (naked) standing facing each other at the entrance to an exhibit, forcing visitors to push past them to enter.
This piece seemed more focused on Abramovic than Hershman. Or, perhaps, Abramovic's pieces were more powerful than Hershman's. I think that the pairing of these two artists is at a glance appropriate but after further investigation it seems that Abramovic's performances overall trumped those of Hershman's.