I was inspired by the term "Dance like nobody is watching" for the concept of my photos this week. I wanted to represent what it's like to ignore the judgment, the sexualization/objectification, and the fear of the male gaze. To just exist without worrying about the expectations and criticism of others. Additionally, to not even care to acknowledge the male gaze.
John Berger Ways of Seeing Chapter 2&3
1. " A man's presence is dependent upon the promise of power which he embodies... a woman's presence expresses her own attitude to herself, and defines what can and cannot be done to her. Her presence is manifest in her gestures, voice, opinions, expressions, clothes, chosen surroundings..."
The contrast between men and women is evident in this statement. Men are accepted for their dominance and masculinity, which is what "defines" a man. For women, the amount of acceptance goes into detail, physically and their personality internally. Women are easily judged for their appearance how they dress if they are physically beautiful by society standards, it’s unfair double standards for women.
2. "In the average European oil painting of the nude the principal protagonists is never painted. He is the spectator in front of the picture and he is presumed to be a man. Everything is addressed to him. Everything must appear to be the result of his being there it is for him that the figure have assumed their nudity. but he, by definition, is a stranger with his clothes on."
This statement justifies the discriminatory double standards of males and females. Men get to be the fully clothed "spectators" viewing a woman's nude for their own pleasure. It is somewhat known that men objectify women, their bodies, and their appearances in general. It's like they believe women were meant for them to look at and sexualize.
Bell Hooks The Oppositional Gaze
1. "When I return to films as a young woman after a long period of silence, I had developed an oppositional gaze. Not only would I not be hurt by the absence of black female presence, or the insertion of violating representation, I interrogated the work culviated a way to look past race and gender for aspects of content, form, language."
The representation of people of color, Black men and women, in the media world should be of high value. To this day it's rare for the starring role of a movie or tv show to be a person of color. It's important to share and emphasize the stories of everyone from different cultures and ethnicities. It teaches others to appreciate different cultures, and also it’s amazing to relate to the representation being shown.
Understanding Patriarchy
2. "It is no accident that feminsts began to use the word "patriarchy" to replace the more commonly used "male chauvanism" and sexism."
The term "patriarchy" directly addresses the issues of made-up gender norms, it is like men hold all power and make all the decisions while women are purposely excluded from this.
Mickalene Thomas: Photographed, Collaged and Painted Muses
“By selecting women of color, I am quite literally raising their visibility and inserting their presence into the conversation,”
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