Lecture 2; The Gaze and the Media, 21/10/11
John Berger ‘Ways of Seeing’
‘Women watch themselves being looked at’ this quote is misunderstood, his meaning is that women cannot get away from the view that they are objectified.
Hans Memling ‘Vanity’ 1485.
He suggests that women that in nude paintings it is not the woman who wants us to look at her body but the painter, there is a feeling that women are doing something wrong by exposing themselves however it is not them exposing their body it’s the artist and viewer.
He suggests that women that in nude paintings it is not the woman who wants us to look at her body but the painter, there is a feeling that women are doing something wrong by exposing themselves however it is not them exposing their body it’s the artist and viewer.
There is strong use of mirrors within paintings and images of women.
Alexandre Cabanel ‘Birth of Venus’ 1873
The body position reveals most of her body and only a little bit of her head, she looks as if she has just awoke from sleep.
The body position reveals most of her body and only a little bit of her head, she looks as if she has just awoke from sleep.
Sophie Dahl for Opium
We are invited to look at the body. This image was considered too sexualised so the Advertising Standards Agency decided that the image would be released vertically instead of horizontally to make of a sexualised image.
BBC News Article about the contraversy surrounding this image of Sophie Dahl.
Titian’s ‘Venus of Urbino’ 1538
An inviting look and casual pose presenting lady-likeness and social status.
Manet ‘Olympia’ 1863
The woman who is the subject of the painting is a prostitute, a contrasting status to the woman painted in ‘Venus of Urbino’. They are in similar poses however Olympia does not accept a gift possibly from a man/admirer of jewellery, this presents her body being adorned and objectified.
The woman who is the subject of the painting is a prostitute, a contrasting status to the woman painted in ‘Venus of Urbino’. They are in similar poses however Olympia does not accept a gift possibly from a man/admirer of jewellery, this presents her body being adorned and objectified.
Ingres ‘Le Grand Odale Sque’ 1814
Guerilla Girls used this image in the 80s to compare the number of men displayed in museums/galleries compared to women and also the number of femalenude paintings to male. Focusing on the fact that men are still dominant than women in art.
Guerilla Girls used this image in the 80s to compare the number of men displayed in museums/galleries compared to women and also the number of femalenude paintings to male. Focusing on the fact that men are still dominant than women in art.
Manet ‘Bar at the folies Bergeres’ 1882
The mirror behind the woman shows her reflection. The viewer and her are central to the portrait as if we are the customer. Her reflection is an impossible one as it is on the right hand side. Artist’s reflection is staring into the woman’s gaze.
Jeff Wall ‘Picture for Women’ 1979
The photographer includes himself in the image, the camera is central to the image which is inspired by Manet’s painting.
The photographer includes himself in the image, the camera is central to the image which is inspired by Manet’s painting.
Eva Herzigova ‘Hello Boys’ 1994
Wonderbra advert places female nutiny in a public place, looking down on her body. The text suggests a performance by the woman, she knows we are looking, this awareness creates an act.
Wonderbra advert places female nutiny in a public place, looking down on her body. The text suggests a performance by the woman, she knows we are looking, this awareness creates an act.
Men are objectified in underwear adverts too. They are presented as powerful, strong and masculine; a different presentation to the female body.
Marilyn Monroe wearing the William Travilla dress from the film ‘The Seven year itch’ 1955
Here we are the spectator as she performs and poses in the film. The scene is iconic.
Laura Mulvey argues that women in film have a passive role and that the male role is the dominant character and the woman character is ‘decorative’.
Griselda Pollock, and art historian says women ‘marginalised within the masculine discourses of art history’ 1981
Cindy Sherman ‘Untitled Film Still #6’ 1977-79
Model and Photographer of the photo.
Barbara Kruger, photographer. ‘Your gaze hits the side of my face’
A reference to some sort of violence.
‘I Shop Therefore I am’ 1983
Replacement of words, think replaced with shop, this is a critique on consumerism.
Sarah Lucas ‘Eating a Banana’ 1990
‘Self Portrait with Fried Eggs’ 1996
A reference to the body as a consumer object.
A reference to the body as a consumer object.
Tracey Emin ‘Money Photo’ 2001
Reality TV
Offers the power of all seeing. Allows us a voyeuristic passive consumption of a type of reality. The editing of the shows means there is no reality at all, it is a carefully composed representation, they manipulate our views and what we see. The contestants know we are always watching so are never themselves.
A created world where we observe the main character Truman growing up and watch his every move without him realising. A completely fixed idea of his world and a sculpted personality and person according to what they creator surrounds him with and events that occur in his life. E.g. They make him believe his father died at sea so he develops a phobia of boats, preventing him from discovering this fake world he lives in.
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