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The social construction of the body
Body objectification essay
Body objectification essay
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From a philosophical perspective, there has been constant interest with the human body as an essential tool much revered as or thought of as a mere machine. French philosopher Rene Descartes extensively argued in his animal-machine theory that the human body did also function like an automaton, much like an animal’s body, with replaceable parts to cater and adapt to malfunctions. Through art and photography, this reflection about the essential role of the human body eventually manifested itself. The idea of focusing on the body as a main object (hence objectification) or focus point in a photograph started in paintings long before the invention of cameras as a probable consequence of the gradual interest in humanism. With time, body image was dissected particularly by feminists regarding the function and implications of some erotic photographs mainly of women nudes.
The fascination with the body as noumenon can be attested to have taken true momentum with new technologies, particularly in the field of genetics and medicine which resulted in the epiphanic hype that humans themselves had the capacity of altering human bodies. Moreover the range of photographic representations of the body expanded through media globalization and divergence. Thus, photographs of human bodies were caught up in social, racial, gender and ethical struggles in the interpretation of their meanings and uses.
Subsequently, this research paper principally attempts to review and convey the objectification of the human body through the practice of photography in various representations of the human body not only as a subject but also as an object. Indeed, the chapter “The subject as object: Photography and the human body” by Michelle Henning mainly cites fo...
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...sm: in a sense, photography enlivens the dead and gives immortality. The latter is a quality which make a photograph work as a fetish, its immobility and silence its ability to preserve a past moment, are the same qualities associated with death as is rendered rather obvious through Susan Sontag “All photographs are memento mori.”
This chapter adequately demonstrates that photography of the body hinges on the relationship between photography and reality but also it is one of the means by which individuals are constructed as social subjects to the extent that it participates in disciplining the body. A photograph constructs different meaning for human bodies through the way it represents them but also as an ideologically generic medium about sex, race and humanity altogether but also through why it uses humans as ends but as means.
Works Cited
Michelle, Henning
Curtis’s work represents the ideological construction of foreign cultures in the 'way of seeing' that is suitable for the audience of the photograph and the photographer. This illustrates the highly political motives of photograph, carrying multiple meanings in order to craft certain imaginations of the subject (Berger, 1972). As a result of the power that the photographer has on its subjects, certain messages and ‘way of seeing’ are depicted through photographs. For instance, expected gender roles are played out in photographs of the Indian subjects, portraying the expectation of Curtis and his audience of the masculine and feminine behaviour by the subjects conforming to such gender standards (Jackson, 1992). Indian men are captured in what Jackson (1992) describes as ‘active poses’, such as fishing or dancing, juxtaposed with the ‘passive poses’ of female subjects, photographed in more decorative postured of waiting and watching. Though it can be argued that the manipulation and selection of images by Curtis as an artist’s ‘creative manipulation’ of their work, Curtis’ photography was used as a scientific measure, and hence should be devoid of such influences (Jackson,
In the great tradition of classical art, nudity and death have been two main themes of the masters. Sally Mann’s photographs twist this tradition when the nudes are her prepubescent children and the corpses are real people. The issue is that her photographs are a lens into unfiltered actuality, and consumers question the morality of the images based on the fact that children and corpses are unable to give legal consent. Her work feels too personal and too private. Mainly, people question whether or not Mann meant to cause an uproar with her work or if the results were completely unintentional. After looking through what Sally Mann herself has said, it can be determined that both options have a grain of truth. She wanted to provoke thought,
Fuss and Barthes, they share an interest in photography, they share an interest in the foundation and principles of photography, moreover they share an interest in photography that is deeply personal. Fuss takes the camera out of photography. Barthes takes photography out of art. Both men want to get to the essence of what a photograph is, one by thinking and writing about it, and one by doing it. In this paper I will show how Adam Fuss’ work matches up with and demonstrates the ideas of Barthes’ in Camera Lucida.
According to the book entitled Ways of Seeing written by John Berger, the power of an image is extraordinary given that it can speak a thousand words. This has also been enhanced by the rapidly evolving technology that elicits more subconscious views about an image by anyone who sees them online or in real life. Some professional writers like Susan Bordo have emphasized that pictures of men often receive a wide range of negative tones or opinions due to the physiological effects that are fashionable to society or any other individual who approves or disapproves the beauty in a portrait of two men or women (Berger 38). This essay offers my opinion concerning the pictures of the Doloce and Gabbana, the gay Italian designers, as well as that of
The reading assigned titled “The Socially Constructed Body” by Judith Lorber and Yancey Martin dives into the sociology of gender with a specific focus on how the male and female body is compromised by social ideals in the Western culture. She introduces the phenomenon of body ideals pressed on men and women by introducing the shift in cosmetic surgery toward body modifications.
The images that infiltrate our lives appear to focus on maintaining the status quo or the norms of society. They are designed to show what is expected in life. Berger states, "Images were made to conjure up the appearance of something that was absent"(107). Berger argues "images" are "conjured up" or imagined to represent what is "absent" or what the individual wants to see as reality. There used to be a tendency to over exemplify the way in which women were thought to be, but "today, that opposition no longer seems to hold quite as rigidly as it once did (women are indeed objectified more than ever, but, in this image-dominated culture, men increasingly are too)" (156). Regardless of so...
2. The body as a subject is evincing humanity beyond cultural construction and linguistic formulation.
The use of edited photos in magazines and social media of many kinds, has many negative effects on those viewing and how they view their own bodies. The beginning age of when people start to feel bad about
The essay How You See Yourself by Nicholas Mirzoeff discusses the evolution of art. The author discusses the use of art to represent changing identities over the years including cultural practices and societal expectations. The selfie, according to Nicholas Mirzoeff’s essay, is the equivalent of a self-portrait in the previous centuries preceding the technological development required for the present day selfie. The essay explores the different periods and the significance of art, particularly self-portraits, the selfies of the time, and their development over time. The author focuses on different themes including heroism, gender definition, and the focus of an image. Mirzoeff effectively provides examples illustrating and reinforcing the themes he highlights in his essay.
I will engage on how females are negatively affected by media psychologically, mentally and physically in addition to how it is a social norm for both cultures to rely on social media regarding body imaging. The article Body Ritual Among the Nacirema (1953) in addition to other scholar’s research will assist me in an open review of how two culture’s live and what they value. In conclusion, the impacts of media body imaging within both cultures. Using the etic perspective regarding Indian cultural effects concerning media body imaging. According to Marvin Harris (1968, p. 575), "Etic statements are verified when independent observers using similar operations agree that a given event has occurred," and etic models are valid insofar as they accurately predict the behavior of the native participants of culture (Crapo, 2013). Body Ritual among the Nacirema, Miner (1956) gives us a glimpse of etic perspective by elaborating on the aspects of the “Nacirema” culture; the anthropologist has become so familiar with the diversity of ways in which different peoples behave in similar situations that he is not apt to be surprised by even the most exotic customs (Miner, 1956). Interpreting the function of an etic perspective is significant in which it enlightens the similarities between Indian culture and African American culture. By utilizing the etic perspective to study the Indian culture, meaning associations and current events in social behaviors would be beneficial in understanding their culture (Kashima,
M.D. “Body Image: A Clouded Reality”. Human Architecture: Journal of the Sociology of Self Knowledge 2.2 (2004): 58-65 pg. Web. 18 Nov 2013.
Maya Angelou once said, “you may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.” Jean Paul Sartre devotes his second chapter in Being and Nothingness on ‘The Body,’ demonstrating his historical knowledge, following an influence embedded in Hegel’s theory. In the film, Cleo From 5 To 7 , director Agnès Varda demonstrates a reflective perspective on freeing oneself from the bias of what others view as the ideal vision of beauty. Sartre shows that the being-for-itself, or the human being starts to become more aware of his or her own moral existence, only when he or she sees themselves being perceived by another being for-itself. Sartre says that we become more aware of ourselves in the hands or comparison
Waskul, D., & Vannini, P. (2006). Introduction: The body in symbolic interaction. In D. Waskul & P. Vannini (Eds.), Body/ Embodiment: Symbolic Interaction and the Sociology of the BodyRetrieved from http://ia600800.us.archive.org/19/items/BodyembodimentSymbolicInteractionAndTheSociologyOfBody/BodyEmbodiment-WaskulVannini.pdf
Simone de Beauvoir brought about the idea that one is not born a woman, but becomes one. Other thinkers of phenomenology such as Merleau-Ponty frame the body as an historical idea rather than a natural species. In viewing the conception of the body body as different from its physiological form, the social construction of gender can be understood. This social construction is what Judith Butler discusses in her essay: “Performative Acts and Gender Constitution”
Women desire to become beautiful and powerful, even if they don’t say it in words. And the Photographer plays with that concept and creates that desire, that you can become that person you see in the photograph. And live that lifestyle. Photographers use techniques from the cinema/cinematic, to create the desire of viewers/Buyer/Consumers. The cinematic techniques made it possible the way people lived and the...