Synthesis

Reflection - A man's world

The final pages of my visual journal were a kind of resolution to the development I have been doing during this module. This image in particular embodies the idea taking from Mulvey's quote of describing the notion of an icon (in this example - Audrey Hepburn) as a 'cut-out', which fuelled the methodology of collage within my practical work throughout the concertina book.

A constant theme within my work and research was the portrayal of women in relation to the perspective of a man (the male gaze), therefore the phrase 'a man's world' becomes relevant here, which is something I explored in this image, along with the idea of icon. 

The final page of my book is a general depiction of what I have been researching in regards to the separated gender roles in transformation films, which shaped the basis of what I looked at for my essay.

Feedback Session

Today's feedback session was probably the most interesting one so far - mainly because there were many different projects to look at, whereas before Easter a lot of people hadn't really done much in their visual journal. I have nearly finished my journal now, and the feedback I got was really encouraging - I am glad that people seem to clearly understand what I am trying to say in my work. Not long left until the deadline now!

Study Task 9

The words I chose to highlight the overall synthesis and development of my project were Patriarchy, Male Gaze, Aesthetics, Modification, Reinvention, Transformation, Fashion, Film, Stars and Icons. Overall, one thing lead to another during the research stages which is evident in my visual journal, the progression of start to finish is something I tried to show especially in my practical work.

Film Quotes & Images - Aesthetics

At this stage of my visual investigation I started linking relevant quotes from selected films to images taken from them. I am really enjoying the process of this and am finding that I can communicate my ideas in response to these themes a lot easier through the medium of collage and line.

I found that at this stage my ideas are flowing a lot more effectively compared to the beginning of the project. Making work straight away after looking into particular theories helped me to do this, I feel as though to start with I was a bit stuck on where to start and the more I did the more the momentum of the project grew. 

Tutorial with Pete

My tutorial with Pete today helped me to define the films I may want to focus on for my case studies within the essay. Getting started and writing a plan is always the hardest part of the essay for me. Once I get into it I actually quite enjoy the process. I am feeling as though I can get a pretty good start on this soon, although I am stepping away from my draft a lot, I prefer the research and concept behind my new thesis.

Peer Review Session

I found the session today really useful, I feel like it has been such a long time since I spoke to anyone else properly about the practical work for this project and it was nice to be able to clarify where my work is going and get some suggestions on where I can improve and develop my ideas.

Expectations

Still looking into the portrayal of the fragility of a woman as a damsel-in-distress, reflecting the essence of the roles/jobs usually given to a male character. The example used here is of an FBI agent, linking to the general depiction of women and the limitation of dialogue given to them in comparison to a man.

Continuing this idea I looked into stars from typical movies which arguably highlight female empowerment. In the image below I started to think about the audience's perception of female characters and this could impact a society on the whole.

Stars

Icons, Role Models & Modification

I am starting to think about stars in relation to the way an audience view them. They tend to be put on a pedestal, as only the glamorous aspects of their lives are shared with the world. A false representation of the whole being is created, linking to the ideas of fantasy explored by Laura Mulvey and Richard Dyer. Although women are viewed often as a sexual object, the idea is overseen by the fact that a 'star' is playing a role. Because they are seen as a role model to women, the way they appear and act is to be looked up to.

Damsels in Distress

'The damsel-in-distress or persecuted maiden is a classic theme in world literature, art, film and video games. This trope usually involves a beautiful young woman placed in a dire predicament by a villain or monster and who requires a male hero to achieve her rescue.'

The portrayal of a damsel-in-distress links to the ideas I am looking at in my practical work around fragility. There are a great many films whose plot centre around this, and became a trend in western cinema in particular. Just to name a few...

King Kong, The Dark Knight, Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl, Spectre, Raiders Of The Lost Ark, Casino Royale, Spider Man 2, Knight And Day, Fast & Furious, Star Wars, Dead Pool, The Accountant, Iron Man, San Andreas, Man of Steel, Die Hard

Fragility

The idea of the fragility of female roles in and out of the cinema is something I have been thinking about during my research. Exploring the idea of this through line and found image was the best way for me to develop my visual journal. Using the images of female film icons I started making them into objects (John Berger - Objectification) that demonstrate the notion of crumbling away at the hands of a man, i.e. the male gaze (Laura Mulvey).

Focus - Modification & Audience

My practical work so far has led me to thinking about audiences in relation to film and ultimately the impact on society of what people see on-screen. Stories can be made relatable to a person and told more thoroughly using film. In this way the 'norms' of what is acceptable can be explained and established to an audience member, almost subconsciously, which can then influence their everyday life and the way they see the world - I am thinking about this especially in relation to people making decisions to change their appearance and the way they outwardly present themselves to the world.

Film Fashion - Icons & Audience

After researching into people like Marlene Dietrich who changed the way women dress and consider their appearance I decided to look into a breadth of fashion 'icons', for example wearing trousers instead of skirts and being able to choose either. I also wanted to explore this in relation to an audience, so whilst drawing out the different faces of actresses and characters I set them out in the way an audience may sit when viewing a film/television show. Exploring collections of people and the variations within each category is very interesting for me and highlights the areas of diversity in the industry at the moment. When looking at female characters it became evident that there is a certain type casting - either a damsel in distress, psychopath or the romantic interest, especially in the less recent roles. I want to explore these different roles further.

Study Task 8

Rationale

• What is your theme?

My theme is based around the impacts of fashion within the film industry and how this links to the way women view their own appearance in a patriarchal society.

• How are you exploring it visually (methodology)?

I have been exploring this theme beginning with line and collage in relation to the topics of aesthetic within society (more generally) and then narrowing it down to looking at fashion icons within film and primarily their audiences.

• Why are you doing it this way?

To start with I wasn't too sure which part of my research I wanted to focus on, so I began with a breadth of different responses to the theme, now I am focusing more on a particular area (audience and film).

• Materials?

Using collage I can manipulate images that already exist and make them into something new, describing the issues (such as the alteration of appearance) I acknowledge within my research. Also, I want to use line to reflect the regimented views within the film/fashion industry as to what is/isn't acceptable, as well as the male gaze and journey of the industry through the decades.

• Any key theorists who have influenced this?

The views of the male gaze have been influenced primarily by John Berger in 'Ways of Seeing' and Laura Mulvey in 'Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema'. The key theorists I am looking at link somehow to audience and they way they are affected by what they see in film. I want to explore this further and re-focus my practical work on this.

Fashion Influence/Product

I am trying to focus my practical responses a bit more as I am nearly on the second side of the concertina. I briefly thought about product and the influences of celebrity on consumers, however as I progress and research more for my essay I realise that I am most interested in the styles and trends that people follow within the fashion industry. For now, I want to research more around this - linking to male gaze, and see what I can find out and move forward with.

Study Task 7

Study Task 6 - Development

Women in Suits - Clothes for boys, clothes for girls

Women increasingly wore trousers as leisurewear in the 1920s and 30s. In the early 20th century female pilots and other working women often wore trousers. Actresses Marlene Dietrich and Katharine Hepburn were often photographed in trousers from the 1930s.

I did a quick illustration inspired by Marlene Dietrich. She was one of the first women to wear trousers on screen, which helped to set a trend along with women's rights to work in everyday life. Similarly, today there are many women, for example Angelina Jolie, who work in the film/television industry that honour this idea, instead of following the traditional standards of wearing a traditional dress to a red carpet event, will join the men in wearing a suit. This is a demonstration of empowerment as the very notion of a suit conjures up associations of being 'the boss' or someone very important.

Role Model Case Study - Beyonce

https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/460282024389687965/

A prime example of a contemporary feminist working within the media is Beyonce. She is an active feminist with many references to her own stand point evident within her songs. As well as this, she exudes a general presence of power and fierceness, which in my opinion isn't apparent enough for females within the entertainment industry.

Songs that focus on female issues/empowerment

(there are too many to name, but here some examples)

Pretty Hurts - Aesthetic expectations

If I were a boy - Male/Female gender roles

Run the world - Female empowerment

Single Ladies - Solidarity

Flawless - Includes quote from Ted Talk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hg3umXU_qWc

We should all be feminists | Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie | TEDxEuston 

We teach girls to shrink themselves to make themselves smaller. We say to girls, ‘You can have ambition but not too much. You should aim to be successful but not too successful otherwise you will threaten the man.’ Because I am female I am expected to aspire to marriage. I am expected to make my life choices always keeping in mind that marriage is the most important. A marriage can be a source of joy and love and mutual support, but why do we teach girls to aspire to marriage and we don’t teach boys the same? We raise girls to see each other as competitors, not for jobs or for accomplishments, which I think can be a good thing, but for the attention of men. We teach girls that they can not be sexual beings in the way that boys are. Feminist: A person who believes in the social, political and economic equality of the sexes

Literally every song on the Lemonade Album - Female empowerment

Powerful Women - Collage

This is the starting point in my visual journal to explore ways in which women have made it to the top, often working in male dominated industries (from researching into role models). Finally I have found something that really interests me and that I want to make work from.

I want to start to develop this idea further, to work more for advertising/campaigning for equality (based around collage and fashion), piecing things together using images of powerful women.