Thursday, November 4, 2010

The body as an object




"Objects Of Desire" In Orlan and Berkeley's photo's these images of women and have put them on display, an objectification of the "male gaze."  Their are signifiers in each photo that plays into the object of desire.  In Orlan's photo a woman is photographed in a frame naked, she has turned her into something to look at.  She has long flowing hair and a full face of make up, which are both "props" that are used to entice men.  
In Berkeley's photo a woman stands in a white dress, the white dress could be a signifier of being pure (like a virgin).  She has a fake tan and she is a beauty queen,  she is only looked at as an object of desire because nothing else is required to win the competition.  Who is she displaying herself for? What is she being judged on?  
In chapter 4 Henning talks about how "if women are already objectified by the male gaze, and if objectification is in any case what photography does, then photographic images of women are doubly 'objectifying'.

These photo's are also very different because Orlan's has constructed a setting just for the photo.  Berkeley's photo was taken from a competition and the look on her face is almost disapproving, she has been idealized.  Orlan has taken a different approach by creating this image of desire.



My Images
Local Show, 2010
I like the silhouette images and how they stand out and flatten at the same time, up against the wall and the bar signs.


Flotilla Ghost, 2010
This was a picture I took while working the lights for an Allied Witches Production called "Apparition in Palestine: A Modern Tragedy.  I chose this picture because of the blurry effect, it adds to the ghostly look.  The ghost in the middle has black holes for eyes and the ghost on the right has great movement!


Halloween alter ego, 2010
I took this image of myself on Halloween.  I enjoyed the "Hottie Police" outfit, but this picture also fits in perfectly with chapter 4.









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