Inspired by Ana Mendieta's Butterfly Image framed at Galerie Lelong in New York City (2016)
Mendieta's butterfly image explores mediums with X-Ray and polarizing graphic effects which creates a translucent feel of the body. In the picture, I am looking at the female "gaze" which captivates a women's body with emotion, feelings, and central awareness of that depicted individual. It gives a more personal understanding of what is underneath the surface. Our souls are beautiful entities in which we are to appreciate it more fondly the deeper we look into it. Historians would worship and praise the female body, which is why nudity is considered an art-style.
Bell Hooks
Excerpt from: Understanding Patriarchy and The Oppositional Gaze
"Listen to the voices of wounded grown children raised in patriarchal homes and you will hear different versions with the same underlying theme, the use of violence to reinforce our indoctrination and acceptance of patriarchy." (Hooks 21)
In patriarchal culture, rules were set to govern those who didn't know their role in society: it was meant to keep people in a more or less degradable way of being themselves. Everything had to follow a specific order and go by the books. People were subjected to abide by what makes girls turn into proper ladies and take care of their husbands while men were controlling and abusive to their wives. Girls were meant to serve and boys were leaders. These were some the of many unrealistic expectations in how gender roles were played, which limits the child to behave and act how they want to be because of the trauma and stress the family burdens them into fitting with society's standards. Patriarchy required male dominance and the trauma that follows many women and children who were taught to willingly accept that men are at the forefront of any relationship. During this specific time period, this behavior was tolerated but it caused children to develop PTSD and suffer from domestic abuse between male and female relationships.
"Even in the worst circumstances of domination, the ability to manipulate one's gaze in the face of structures of domination that would contain it opens up the possibility of agency." (Hooks 116)
It's not polite to stare! This commonly used phrase describes the quote perfectly when we fixate on someone with the gaze of our eyes. Sometimes we are completely unaware of what we are staring at, or maybe there's a thought in the back of our head to process what we're viewing. In the excerpt, colored people were given deceiving looks of judgment and criticism. Many were stereotyped because of the color of their skin due to racial injustice and how there was more representation shown in film and television shows. Sometimes it's best to not let people get the best of you, and no matter what they might be thinking they'll always keep to themselves.
John Berger
Excerpt from: Ways of Seeing
"She has to survey everything she is and everything she does because how she appears to others, and ultimately how she appears to men, is of crucial importance for what is normally thought of as the success of her life." (Berger 46)
This quote relates to women comparing themselves to how they look to other individuals and would see all the flaws/insecurities they're facing. It all relies what's on the inside of the person and not judge or be deceived as appearance. However, in society, this is an everyday occurance. Sometimes women feel like they're competing with each other or need validation from men that they look good or their outfit is pretty.
"If a women throws a glass on the floor, this is an example of how she treats her own emotion of anger and so of how she would wish it to be treated by others." (Berger 47)
The novel refers to the many similarities and differences between man and women, but the most notable would be how their actiona are depicted when relating to emotion or tone. Women are seen as emotional individuals who bottle up their feelings inside and tend to cry when something goes wrong. Tampering with a women's emotions could alter their way of thinking and she wishes others would treat her by understanding her pain. However, for a man it is unethical for them to show any emotions at all: and rather to "man up" and deal with their problems head on by conquering them.
No comments:
Post a Comment