For my project, I am representing what it's like to be a woman trying her best to live up to the unrealistic ideals of the male gaze. The photos were inspired by the visions of Cindy Sherman, and proposals from Mikalene Thomas and Ana Mendieta. The themes of these artists were consistent with the ideas of challenging the male gaze, and how exhausting it can get to be a woman enduring unfair male expectations. My series shows me first without makeup on, and in comfortable clothes while looking in the mirror. Through the pictures, I begin to put makeup on and transform myself into the expectations of what a woman is “supposed” to look like, according to the male gaze. In the last picture, I look completely different. I have on different clothes, my hair is put into a neat bow, and I have on a full face of makeup. I wasn't trying to challenge the male gaze with these photos, the purpose was to give insight on what it's like as a woman caught in the societal expectations of the male gaze.
Visually, I wanted to represent Cindy Sherman's artwork through my vintage and “dress-up” themed pictures. The theme of the pictures were inspired by Mikalene Thomas, Ana Mendieta, and Cindy Sherman who challenged and gave insight into the overbearing male gaze. Ana Mendieta reminded people with her work that women's bodies were not pretty objects that are meant to be stared at, changed or taken advantage of. My photos go along with her idea that women shouldn't have to look the way men want them to in order to be seen as valuable. The multiple mirrors in my pictures are representing the eyes women have on them at all times, forcing them to feel the need to conform for the male gaze. The bow in my hair represents femininity and the “ideal” version of a woman that men have continuously set into place. In the second picture, I chose to specifically show myself contouring my nose, to express the idea that women don't only feel the need to be more, but to change themselves as well. The makeup cluttered on my vanity represents how messy it gets trying to live up to the expectations of the male gaze. These artists have inspired me to create pictures that represent the feeling of not being enough for the male gaze. Although Cindy Sherman has proved it can be empowering to dress up, it should only ever be for yourself.
Quote 1:
“As their daughter I was taught that it was my role to
serve, to be weak, to be free from the burden of thinking, to
caretake and nurture others. My brother was taught that it
was his role to be served; to provide; to be strong; to think,
strategize, and plan; and to refuse to caretake or nurture
others. I was taught that it was not proper for a female to
be violent, that it was
"Unnatural." -Bell Hooks Understanding Patriarchy
-This quote demonstrates how women are taught to act a certain way, be submissive, and nurture others all for the male gaze. It is unrealistic to believe that women shouldn't be strong powerful and live for themselves, but this is how most girls are raised due to societal beliefs
Quote 2: Thomas’s jazzy photomontages of women’s limbs and facial features can be construed as commentary on how female bodies are brutally picked apart in contemporary visual culture. - The Photographed, Collaged, and Painted Muses of Mickalene Thomas (Carey Dune)
-This quote reminds us that women's bodies are constantly being picked apart due to the make gaze. It is unfair to women to only be looked at for their appearance. Countless women feel ashamed of their natural bodies everyday because of unrealistic expectations.
Quote 3:
"I was taught as a girl in a
patriarchal household that rage was not an appropriate
feminine feeling, that it should be not only not be expressed
but be eradicated. When my brother responded with rage
at being denied a toy, he was taught as a boy in a patriar-
chal household that his ability to express rage was good
but that he had to learn the best setting to unleash his hos
tility. - Bell Hooks understanding Patriarchy
-Women are taught to live for the male gaze at a young age. It results in unexpressed feelings, and built up anger. Women want to be able to express themselves without sexist ideas of what is right and wrong.
Quote 4:
“One might simplify this by saying: men act and
women appear. Men look at women. Women watch themselves
being looked at. This determines not only most relations
between men and women but also the relation of women to
themselves.” - Ways of seeing John Berger
-This quote justifies the idea that women are seen more than they are heard. If a woman does not meet the standards of what her body is supposed to look like to a man, she is often not valued. Women aren't meant to only be seen, women have many things to say and should be heard no matter how they appear.
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