midterm

Every day we are always seeing things within our environment; and to “see” is the process of simply observing the world around us and acknowledging while recognizing what it is exactly we see.
“Looking” at an object or person involves a greater sense of what is going on and with a definate motivation. Looking at something can be very easy or difficult. It takes effort and choice on behalf of the person involved in the acitivity. There is also always various conscience and unconscience ways of looking at things.
I am amazed at how we are such a visual culture and that a majority of what we learn within our daily lives we understand through our visual media. We also use these various images to express ourselves and to communicate.
I do agree that we live in a world that is extremely visual, although some of these images can create a feeling of pain, uncomfortableness, disgust, pleasure and power to name a few. We have to remember that a single image means different things to different people. Everyone incorporates their background and history with them throughout life while they experience new adventures and images.
The fundamentals of spectatorship within this chapter also give the reader an introduction to the concept of the gaze. It explores the traditional ideas of the gaze in cinema and art history. In addition, it explains theories of how things have been modernized and updated in relation to the changing concepts of spectatorship within lesbian/gay relationships and their gender analysis.
Gender is a huge part in understanding the concepts of the gaze. In the past, many artists’ paintings were entirely geared toward the male viewer. Griselda Pollock portrayed modernity in her art. The spaces of femininity had much to do with the commerce of art as it did with the social roles and sexual stereotypes of men and women. As stated in this chapter, throughout the history of art there have always been women gazing at themselves in mirrors, while their bodies are turned toward their supposed (male) viewer.
In the painting, Venus and Cupid from the early 1500’s, and Venus with a Mirror, the women are posed as objects of an active or male gaze, and any returning looks were often discouraged, indirect, or implied as passive. The images were of nude women who were presented to their male viewers. The mirror was used to offer another view in the image and to make multiple planes within a painting that could be seen by the stationary spectator. I later learned that the mirror is also a code for femininity.
As I read further, Venus then looks at herself while Cupid attends to her. However, Cupid is actually on display for the acknowledged male viewer, the mirror portrays her gaze as being conceited. These codes of imaging the female nude have a long tradition in art. They are also used liberally in advertisements. Today there is a multitude of image styles in film and advertising that focus men to the gaze and provide new ways of looking for all spectators.
The concept of the gaze in relation to the theories of Michael Foucault on discourse, power/knowledge involves the role of photography. It reveals modern power through institutions, such as hospitals and prisons, while examining its relationship to the power of the gaze. This is later studied when examining various images in advertising.
In the portrait of Arnold Schwarzenegger, the reading describes him as a former bodybuilder, action film star, and widely now known as the “Governator of California.” In my opinion this image is clearly mocking Arnold and the fact that he was elected California’s Governor.
Arnold is a spectator in this image because California is all counting on him and looking at him to make a difference and hoping he will do so. It seems it is almost asking the question, “How can you go from showing your muscles and sexuality for a profit, while role playing in front of the camera, and then years later stand there as a Governor?”
In the portrait Arnold’s face seems sad, unsure, and even though his body is one of a bodybuilder; his posture is slouched and he is does not look confident. It is apparent that he is insecure of what others are thinking about him. He may also feel within himself not only that he looks foolish, but also a greater feeling of self-doubt. This, as we all know can destroy a person’s self-esteem and ability to succeed.
Another term that I thought I was well versed in was the term "modern." I realized that it can refer to many different things. Modernity refers to the Modern Era It was first introduced in 1627, and describes the knowledge, power, and social practices which emerged in Europe around that time.
Modernity was not associated solely with newness, but also with beliefs in rationality and progress. It was seen as a tremendous attribute of the Europeans and the rest of the world felt forced to embrace this way of thinking.
The conditions of modernity were the grounds for the emergence of modernism; a term that refers to a group of styles and movements in art, architecture and culture around the world.
Today, we use the term, “modern” loosely. It is referenced in an everyday sense to mean present or recent times. It can also refer to someone having contemporary views. In relation to art and culture, however, the term modern takes on a different set of meanings.
Some schools of thought feel strongly that modernity ended in the late 20th century, replaced by post-modernity. There are others that would likely extend modernity to cover later developments denoted by post-modernity and into the present.
After my reading, I feel that modernity simply means that we are not just simply progressing through our lives in today’s society with the same experiences as our parents. We are all constantly facing new modern times and challenges and therefore, letting go of some of the traditional ways of thinking. This is how we have evolved and grown as human being throughout time. We have always learned from our past and moved forward to uncover and develop a bright future.