session one: Dress to kill
These are my lecture notes from session one, in this session we discussed the symbolism of clothing as cultural artefacts and their cultural connotations. Learning that a piece of clothing can help reflect the societal time, evidenced by that weeks reading material "American Denim" by Beverly Gordon. In this lecture we were introduced to the idea that the way you dress and the pieces of clothing you wear can refect your personality, your upbringing and your experiences as a human being.
Blog task one: Personal clothing analysis
For this first blog task we were asked to critique and analyse a piece of clothing from our own wardrobes, the task was explain this item as a cultural text and explore the concept that texts reflect the environment they are surrounded by. To also critique manufacturing details, design, materials, form vs function colour and cultural connotations.
In this blog task I will be critiquing an item of clothing from my own wardrobe, analyzing its identity as a cultural text. I've chosen to critique one of my favourite pieces of clothing and my favorite design choice, the miniskirt. The miniskirt has been a symbol of female power, defiance, and rebellion since its creation in the 1960s by British fashion designer Mary Quant. The miniskirt is culturally seen as a playful garment, having been a symbol of the rising youth culture of the 1960s, which is when the youngest members of society no longer share ideologies, prejudices or thoughts shared by the oldest members of society. However, due to this shift in societal expectations it is also seen vulgar, obscene, or promiscuous. The miniskirt I own represents this symbolism to me. The design is a modern iteration of the Quant miniskirt, which typically follows a pencil skirt shape stopping mid-thigh, my own however is high waisted and follows more of a skater skirt shape to allow for free movement.
Speaking of movement, my miniskirt is also very breathable. It is 90% Polyester, a synthetic material often used in a mix of other fabrics in items such as shirts, dresses, trousers, and socks. Polyester is also a lot cheaper to use instead of the more popular Cotton. Often companies will use a mix of the two to keep production costs lower. Due to its high waist shape this skirt offers support around the midriff and gives a built-in cinch around the waist, with a nicer relaxed shape around the legs making walking easier, meaning it can be styled with more bulky tops. The skirt is a chocolate brown and cream tartan pattern, contrasted with the detachable heart chain, which is silver. The flexibility of this piece is what I like about it, this piece can be styled with a neutral jumper or top and styled to be more neatly or styled as a cuter grunge piece like I do.
Speaking of movement, my miniskirt is also very breathable. It is 90% Polyester, a synthetic material often used in a mix of other fabrics in items such as shirts, dresses, trousers, and socks. Polyester is also a lot cheaper to use instead of the more popular Cotton. Often companies will use a mix of the two to keep production costs lower. Due to its high waist shape this skirt offers support around the midriff and gives a built-in cinch around the waist, with a nicer relaxed shape around the legs making walking easier, meaning it can be styled with more bulky tops. The skirt is a chocolate brown and cream tartan pattern, contrasted with the detachable heart chain, which is silver. The flexibility of this piece is what I like about it, this piece can be styled with a neutral jumper or top and styled to be more neatly or styled as a cuter grunge piece like I do.
Blog task two: review the world of wrestling
In this second class we learnt about how critical practioners will utilise frameworks to understand semiotics. we also learnt that there is a different though process amongst practioners which is called structuralism. The difference between these thoughts is:
Structuralism: To relate an individual piece of art to a wider network, the word comes from a language called 'structural linguistics'. in essence structuralism is against individualism. This is the Saussure scheme of thinking.
Semiotics: Is the systematic study of signs and of making meaning. Semioticians believe that anything can be a sign or symbol, that we as humans are blank slates representing symbols from our different backgrounds. This is the Bignell scheme of thinking.
Structuralism: To relate an individual piece of art to a wider network, the word comes from a language called 'structural linguistics'. in essence structuralism is against individualism. This is the Saussure scheme of thinking.
Semiotics: Is the systematic study of signs and of making meaning. Semioticians believe that anything can be a sign or symbol, that we as humans are blank slates representing symbols from our different backgrounds. This is the Bignell scheme of thinking.
Analysis of the world of wrestling
I chose to print out the reading to annotate it, I found it easier to read and understand then by reading it online. I surprisingly found it an interesting read even as someone who doesn't enjoy sports. The key points I noted was how heavily influenced wrestling is by semiotics and signs. Whether or not this is conscious thing on the organisations behalf or not its interesting to think about. From this text we learn that the more feminine wrestlers (physically or how they're dressed) the more they're disliked, the bigger masculine wrestlers divide into good or evil characters. The text discusses morality or lack of morality withing the world of wrestling, does the audience enjoy the fight for the talent they're shown or does the audience enjoy watching the fight of morality? good vs evil being played out Infront of them, these are among the things i annotated from the text.
Blog task 3: reading words and images
In the third session we learnt about how certain words and images can convey certain meanings or emotions, this was an interesting subject to learn about because its obvious that certain things can vary between audiences. we also learnt about how images and words can be used together or seperately. This can be known as convergent messaging or parallel messaging.
session four: Decoding advertisements
In session three we started to learn how to decode adverts, it was interesting to really deep dive into how adverts have evolved, differ and the psychology behind them. We learnt that adverts rely on certain connotations, either on the product being advertised or who is in the advert. We learnt about denotations- literal meanings and connotations- associated meaning. These play off of cultural myths:
Morality- Cultural norms and behaviours
Consumerism and status- Making the audience buy into the consumer society
Aspirational- reflection of certain targets, "seed for need", linking to status
Concealment- Do not show production or economic structure
Linguistic- non coded (literal) coded (connotations of linguistic signs)
Image- non coded (denotative reading) coded (conative meaning)
A close analysis of the coded message will reveal any myths within the image.
Morality- Cultural norms and behaviours
Consumerism and status- Making the audience buy into the consumer society
Aspirational- reflection of certain targets, "seed for need", linking to status
Concealment- Do not show production or economic structure
Linguistic- non coded (literal) coded (connotations of linguistic signs)
Image- non coded (denotative reading) coded (conative meaning)
A close analysis of the coded message will reveal any myths within the image.
This is a French advert from the 1960s, advertising a French companies "authentic Italian food. In this we had to look at the denotative and connotative languages being used.
I picked up on the fact it is a French brand of Italian ingredients, Portraying what they view as 'Italian'- being a myth. They used a lot of red, white and green- the Italian flags colours. The positioning isnt natural as everything has fallen out in a perfect way to show off each ingredient perfectly. The brand deem themselves as "luxury" this is enticing to customers because they will be more likely to want a luxury item then a home brand which is cheaper. |
This is a modern advert for Dior advertising their latest perfume "Joy". The advert depicts Jenifer Lawrence a contemporary celebrity. In this we learnt that using celebrities in adverts is a conscious decision. They will bring their own connotations to the brand, meaning brands are quite smart in their choices. Jenifer Lawrence has a brand of being relatable to the general public, being funny and calm. Working for Dior means a relatively upper class brand could be accessible to a poorer audience.
I picked up on how feminine the advert is, yes because she's been photoshopped, is wearing jewellery and has her hair pushed back could be targeted towards men. However she isnt posed sexually, her face isnt suggestive and she isnt seen as being entrancing, shes ethereal, vapid, caught off guard. |
Blog task 4:
For this task we were asked to analyse an advert of our choice, for this I chose to analyse Jennifer's body, a movie that follows two major celebrities of the time, Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried. In this analysis I noted how overly sexualised it is, everything the colours used (red- Danger, Aggression, Dominance and Passion), the position (leaning back without support isnt comfortable, her legs crossed so her skirt hitches up her thigh to show more skin and her arms crossed so her breasts are more pronounced), the choice of actress.
The movie follows Jennifer (Megan Fox), a cheerleader and her best friend, Needy (Amanda Seyfried). In the movie the friends attend a concert for a band from the city. At which it is shown that the band have an attraction to Jennifer, Needy however doesn't trust them and tries to divert them by lying and saying shes a virgin. Before the concert we see this hasn't stopped the band and Jennifer alongside the band drink. During this scene we also see other male characters show and attraction to Jennifer. The band plays while an accidental fire breaks out. This is where we see the band really try to get Jennifer to "safety". In her entranced state she follows them to their van. A while later they show her in the van, surrounded by the men, the van has uncommon objects in it which makes Jennifer worry for her safety. When they find a secluded area in the woods she tries to escape but is captured. Here we learn the band doesn't wish to have sex with her, instead they want to sacrifice her in an attempt to garner success. This sacrifice fails and Jennifer is possessed by a succubus demon. Throughout this movie we see that Jennifer targets specific boys to kill, a jock, a goth, a nerd and a foreign student. This is done to allow the men watching picture themselves in their places. She lures them in with the promise of sex. Driven by the male gaze its an interesting movie and advert as you learn right at the end that its targeted to women, a message to be safe around men, and to watch friends. Though its a weird depiction
The movie follows Jennifer (Megan Fox), a cheerleader and her best friend, Needy (Amanda Seyfried). In the movie the friends attend a concert for a band from the city. At which it is shown that the band have an attraction to Jennifer, Needy however doesn't trust them and tries to divert them by lying and saying shes a virgin. Before the concert we see this hasn't stopped the band and Jennifer alongside the band drink. During this scene we also see other male characters show and attraction to Jennifer. The band plays while an accidental fire breaks out. This is where we see the band really try to get Jennifer to "safety". In her entranced state she follows them to their van. A while later they show her in the van, surrounded by the men, the van has uncommon objects in it which makes Jennifer worry for her safety. When they find a secluded area in the woods she tries to escape but is captured. Here we learn the band doesn't wish to have sex with her, instead they want to sacrifice her in an attempt to garner success. This sacrifice fails and Jennifer is possessed by a succubus demon. Throughout this movie we see that Jennifer targets specific boys to kill, a jock, a goth, a nerd and a foreign student. This is done to allow the men watching picture themselves in their places. She lures them in with the promise of sex. Driven by the male gaze its an interesting movie and advert as you learn right at the end that its targeted to women, a message to be safe around men, and to watch friends. Though its a weird depiction
Session 5: Graphic code and comic books
In this session we learnt about how comic books are coded and how we as critical practioners can decode them. We learnt that the transition between each panel is extremely important in how the story is moving and a comic book artist will think about this when making their comic. We also learnt about Scott McClouds transition types.
1. Moment to moment (small lapses of time, little closure needed)
2. Action to action (Different actions/same space, little closure needed)
3. Subject to subject (different subjects/same scenes/ idea- needs reader involvement to work)
4. Scene to scene (significant geographic locations, movement of time or space- deduction reasoning needed)
5. Aspect to aspect (secure setting, no apparent time, shows different aspect of same scenes)
6. Non Sequitr (no logical relationship between two panels/ closure?)
1. Moment to moment (small lapses of time, little closure needed)
2. Action to action (Different actions/same space, little closure needed)
3. Subject to subject (different subjects/same scenes/ idea- needs reader involvement to work)
4. Scene to scene (significant geographic locations, movement of time or space- deduction reasoning needed)
5. Aspect to aspect (secure setting, no apparent time, shows different aspect of same scenes)
6. Non Sequitr (no logical relationship between two panels/ closure?)
Caramel Frappuccino
Using McClouds transition types we were asked to produce a comic strip of 6-9 panels about our morning. For mine I chose to make mine around the first part of the morning, mainly because its what I remember the most. I depicted the conversations we had before the lecture started, the lecture beginning, the call for break and then getting to Starbucks and getting a much needed caramel Frappuccino.
1-2: subject to subject
2-3 action to action/subject to subject
3-4 moment to moment
4-5 non-Sequitr
5-6 scene to scene
6-7 subject to subject
7-8 action to action
1-2: subject to subject
2-3 action to action/subject to subject
3-4 moment to moment
4-5 non-Sequitr
5-6 scene to scene
6-7 subject to subject
7-8 action to action
Session six: subculture and style
Blog task 6: what is a subculture
What is a subculture
Mary Gormandy White defines youth subcultures as a group of people within a larger society who share defining ideologies from its parental culture. Subcultures form from an adoption of shared values, principles, and norms. Usually on the topics of politics, culture, sex, relationships, interests, styles, behaviours, music, and language. White talks about how subcultures can't be defined because they change and adapt with every generation.
White mentions that we can observe those differences in personal appearance and how they have changed for each generation. She talks about how the current youth culture; gen z differs in their need to be clones of their peers. In which she describes their dress sense as casual, environmentally conscious purchasing (I.e., second hand), less makeup and the barriers of certain styles are blurs. White then discusses the youth culture of the 1980s. Which is described as preppy, revolves around status brand centric (Ralph Laurent, Izod), high maintenance, taking hours “perfecting” your hair. White also contrasts this and talks about the alternative subculture of the 1980s. Where she talks about nonconformity in hairstyles; shaved head, brightly coloured hair, mohawks, liberty spikes or spiked hair. In this text White then proves her subcultures in motion theory. White talks about the first recorded youth subculture in the 1960s. At a time of social deconstruction, the traditional values in societies were being challenged. Womans fight for rights, Civil Rights movements, Stonewall. These social implications were reflected in the fashions of the time. Hippies and freedom fighters proudly adorned fringed jackets, short hemlines, brighter colours giving these powerful connotations. Psychologist Erik Erikson has a theory named the “who am I” theory. This theory states that members of the youth will seek out others to grow and learn from. Theorist Frank Fasick believes that adolescents are stuck in a labyrinth of confusion. Their identity development will occur once veer away from the ideologies they’ve veered away from their parents and they rely and learn from their peers.
Mary Gormandy White defines youth subcultures as a group of people within a larger society who share defining ideologies from its parental culture. Subcultures form from an adoption of shared values, principles, and norms. Usually on the topics of politics, culture, sex, relationships, interests, styles, behaviours, music, and language. White talks about how subcultures can't be defined because they change and adapt with every generation.
White mentions that we can observe those differences in personal appearance and how they have changed for each generation. She talks about how the current youth culture; gen z differs in their need to be clones of their peers. In which she describes their dress sense as casual, environmentally conscious purchasing (I.e., second hand), less makeup and the barriers of certain styles are blurs. White then discusses the youth culture of the 1980s. Which is described as preppy, revolves around status brand centric (Ralph Laurent, Izod), high maintenance, taking hours “perfecting” your hair. White also contrasts this and talks about the alternative subculture of the 1980s. Where she talks about nonconformity in hairstyles; shaved head, brightly coloured hair, mohawks, liberty spikes or spiked hair. In this text White then proves her subcultures in motion theory. White talks about the first recorded youth subculture in the 1960s. At a time of social deconstruction, the traditional values in societies were being challenged. Womans fight for rights, Civil Rights movements, Stonewall. These social implications were reflected in the fashions of the time. Hippies and freedom fighters proudly adorned fringed jackets, short hemlines, brighter colours giving these powerful connotations. Psychologist Erik Erikson has a theory named the “who am I” theory. This theory states that members of the youth will seek out others to grow and learn from. Theorist Frank Fasick believes that adolescents are stuck in a labyrinth of confusion. Their identity development will occur once veer away from the ideologies they’ve veered away from their parents and they rely and learn from their peers.
Subculture: Club Kid
session seven: Gender, Identity, Representation
In this session we explored how gender, sexuality and identity is represented in media, but particularly in magazines. It was an interesting session to look at because you begin to think about how these publications try and enforce made up perceptions of masculinity and femininity onto their audiences.
We began to question how and why certain traits are deemed as being masculine or as feminine and how these trickle down into society as a whole. Are gender roles taught to us as children? It was an interesting topic to discuss and think about. Why are we subjected to these ideologies, who made them up and why, do they help or set us back. I think an accurate description is are they progressive, regressive or neither?
We began to question how and why certain traits are deemed as being masculine or as feminine and how these trickle down into society as a whole. Are gender roles taught to us as children? It was an interesting topic to discuss and think about. Why are we subjected to these ideologies, who made them up and why, do they help or set us back. I think an accurate description is are they progressive, regressive or neither?
Visual pleasure and narrative cinema- key points
-Phallocentricism: The ideology that the phallus is at the centre of the social world- everything else is organised around it, a symbol of male dominance.
-Female castration- removal of the ovaries/ internal testes-becoming submissive to the male. The females job is to be subservient to the male and nurture the next generation of phallocentrics.
-Women are the bearer of meaning, not the making, she cant be bigger then that.
-Scopophilia: the pleasure drawn from looking at a person or object (pornography, the nude body or fetishes)- a substitute for the patriarchy to experience actual relationships.
-Voyeurism: The act of drawing pleasure from watching others nude or during sex- usually deriving sexual pleasure from it. '
-Does Mulvey mean that the audience watching the film derive certain pleasures from what they're viewing without ever participating in it themselves.
-Love/hate relationship between the film and the audience.
-The audience see themselves in what is happening on film, deluding itself.
-Active male/passive female
-The male gaze will project itself onto the female, meaning she is no longer a human being she was made to help the male derive his own pleasure.
-The female however is styled accordingly- designed to fit the male audiences desire.
-Displayed female, an object to the characters and an object to the audience
-Ruling ideologies dictates that a man cannot bear the burden of being sexually objectified.
-Does the lack of a penis equate to no pleasure
-Is there a sadistic connotation with being a woman? Does belittling woman give/ allow pleasure and arousal to the audience?
-Female castration- removal of the ovaries/ internal testes-becoming submissive to the male. The females job is to be subservient to the male and nurture the next generation of phallocentrics.
-Women are the bearer of meaning, not the making, she cant be bigger then that.
-Scopophilia: the pleasure drawn from looking at a person or object (pornography, the nude body or fetishes)- a substitute for the patriarchy to experience actual relationships.
-Voyeurism: The act of drawing pleasure from watching others nude or during sex- usually deriving sexual pleasure from it. '
-Does Mulvey mean that the audience watching the film derive certain pleasures from what they're viewing without ever participating in it themselves.
-Love/hate relationship between the film and the audience.
-The audience see themselves in what is happening on film, deluding itself.
-Active male/passive female
-The male gaze will project itself onto the female, meaning she is no longer a human being she was made to help the male derive his own pleasure.
-The female however is styled accordingly- designed to fit the male audiences desire.
-Displayed female, an object to the characters and an object to the audience
-Ruling ideologies dictates that a man cannot bear the burden of being sexually objectified.
-Does the lack of a penis equate to no pleasure
-Is there a sadistic connotation with being a woman? Does belittling woman give/ allow pleasure and arousal to the audience?