Module Overview:
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1. Dressed To Kill:Lecture Notes
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Set writing for session 1:
Hanging up in my closet is a T-shirt that I wear frequently to any and all occasions, It is a black box shaped shirt with square short sleeves. To completely over analyse this article of clothing, the use of black gives me comfort as the colour is seen to fit in with my surrounds in the sense that the shade is, itself the absence of colour meaning it attracts little to no interest upon me when I'm out in public. The square shaped sleeves give the impression of a masculine build as they're made of hard straight lines instead of curves, which in society are frequently used to represent woman.
The most interesting thing about this shirt however is the design that features on both the front and the back, it is an illustration taken from a show i highly enjoy called 'Attack on Titan'. To explain my fondness of the piece, personally I find that wearing this shirt not only makes me happy to look in the mirror and see the design, showing how much the show means to me. I also wear it in public so that I can outwardly express my feelings towards this type of tv show. As when I see other people wear clothing that shows off something i like (tv show, movie, band, ect) I feel it is much easier to understand how comfortable I would be talking to that person, and depending on my fondness for the piece of media it gives me a chance to happily talk to said person.
Hanging up in my closet is a T-shirt that I wear frequently to any and all occasions, It is a black box shaped shirt with square short sleeves. To completely over analyse this article of clothing, the use of black gives me comfort as the colour is seen to fit in with my surrounds in the sense that the shade is, itself the absence of colour meaning it attracts little to no interest upon me when I'm out in public. The square shaped sleeves give the impression of a masculine build as they're made of hard straight lines instead of curves, which in society are frequently used to represent woman.
The most interesting thing about this shirt however is the design that features on both the front and the back, it is an illustration taken from a show i highly enjoy called 'Attack on Titan'. To explain my fondness of the piece, personally I find that wearing this shirt not only makes me happy to look in the mirror and see the design, showing how much the show means to me. I also wear it in public so that I can outwardly express my feelings towards this type of tv show. As when I see other people wear clothing that shows off something i like (tv show, movie, band, ect) I feel it is much easier to understand how comfortable I would be talking to that person, and depending on my fondness for the piece of media it gives me a chance to happily talk to said person.
2. The Image of Passion |
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Set Writing for session 2:
After reading Barthes's World of Wrestling I was pleasantly surprised to see an in depth understanding and analysis of what one might describe as 'debunking' wrestling. However this wasn't the case, throughout the reading Barthes was never once disrespectful or accusatory towards the 'Sport' in any way shape or form and I personally like to believe from the tone of voice in this writing that hes experienced with wrestling and also enjoys it himself. In these passages it is clear to see that the author is simply relaying a truth about wrestling which, however much unconsciously known, is appreciated to be layed out and explained in a way that doesn't demolish or embarrass the sport. Barthes simply explains that wrestling isn't a sport but instead a spectacle, where the players have roles which a played out during the performance (explained further as a good vs evil, hero vs villain). It cannot be said to be a sport, as barthes puts it 'not what it thinks, but what it sees' meaning instead of a contest of skill where the scores, rules and results are taken into the audience's, referee's or judge's minds they instead are here to watch an event unfold. In the reading the event is explained as a Suffering, a Defeat and a Justice these are played out from our wrestlers in their roles and the audience is able to experience a spectacle and story unfold while being portrayed by men as a 'real' and naturalistic performance.
After reading Barthes's World of Wrestling I was pleasantly surprised to see an in depth understanding and analysis of what one might describe as 'debunking' wrestling. However this wasn't the case, throughout the reading Barthes was never once disrespectful or accusatory towards the 'Sport' in any way shape or form and I personally like to believe from the tone of voice in this writing that hes experienced with wrestling and also enjoys it himself. In these passages it is clear to see that the author is simply relaying a truth about wrestling which, however much unconsciously known, is appreciated to be layed out and explained in a way that doesn't demolish or embarrass the sport. Barthes simply explains that wrestling isn't a sport but instead a spectacle, where the players have roles which a played out during the performance (explained further as a good vs evil, hero vs villain). It cannot be said to be a sport, as barthes puts it 'not what it thinks, but what it sees' meaning instead of a contest of skill where the scores, rules and results are taken into the audience's, referee's or judge's minds they instead are here to watch an event unfold. In the reading the event is explained as a Suffering, a Defeat and a Justice these are played out from our wrestlers in their roles and the audience is able to experience a spectacle and story unfold while being portrayed by men as a 'real' and naturalistic performance.
3. Reading words and images |
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4. Decoding Advertising |
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5. The Graphic Code of Comic Books |
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6. Subculture and Style |
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What a sub culture is in a sentence:
A subculture is an attached group of people in society which have an independent sense of culture that itself creates their grouping. Their version of culture and society as a whole is usually not the 'norm' in society, giving them their sub-divided group as they split off to pursue and engage with those ideas and interests that the majority of people in a society don't view in the same way. Sub cultures are a unity between like minded individuals which often feature activities, interests, fashion ect that the group almost all participate in.
Keio University (n.d.). What is subculture? [online] FutureLearn. Available at: https://www.futurelearn.com/info/courses/intro-to-japanese-subculture/0/steps/23560.
A subculture is an attached group of people in society which have an independent sense of culture that itself creates their grouping. Their version of culture and society as a whole is usually not the 'norm' in society, giving them their sub-divided group as they split off to pursue and engage with those ideas and interests that the majority of people in a society don't view in the same way. Sub cultures are a unity between like minded individuals which often feature activities, interests, fashion ect that the group almost all participate in.
Keio University (n.d.). What is subculture? [online] FutureLearn. Available at: https://www.futurelearn.com/info/courses/intro-to-japanese-subculture/0/steps/23560.
Goth Subculture
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7. Gender, Identity and Representation
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Laura Mulvey's Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema- Review + Key points:
This essay aimed to explain and explore pleasure in film, in particular with the use of a female character, then use this explanation to stop and destroy this way of film making.
In the writing its explained there are many different ways in which woman are used and consequencely seen by the audience, with the way that the audience actually takes in the film being a key point in Laura Mulveys explanation. There are two ways the author explains that a male viewer will watch a film, the first being a voyeurism approach, this way the viewer is an active watcher, not to the actual film but instead to the world and characters the film creates. The voyeur as explained, takes pleasure in seeing/ watching something of a private nature, with narrative fiction this kind of viewer is able to get their pleasure from watching the way a stalker would, looking into something which isn't theirs to see. The second approach is that of a egotistical approach, in which the viewer is connecting with the active male protagonist as the film will unravel in his hands. To further this, the film is revealing itself to the protagonist the same way it is to the viewer, with an active human role the projection is there for the viewer to watch and experience the way the man is. The author then explains how the woman in the story in presented in contrast to this and in both instances is then only used and/or being watched by the man. The female in a story is used to represent something, the mans dreams, his desires, his inspiration, to be his concern, this means when stripped back the woman character means nothing, and holds no important as an individual person or character. In both instances with a male viewer is woman is being looked at, in the voyeurism approach the lack of a character of substance means that what is seen on screen is what's left of the woman, this being her body which is most likely being filmed and presented in an erotic way. Again in the ego approach the male viewer sees the female in the same way that the character does, as fulfilling a use for the man.
Alot more was mentioned and explained in this essay which was interesting and brought me to the same summary as the author did. Which is the existence of this type of film making is creating and furthering the type of sexism which is the 'looked at' woman, only used to be an object of desire for a male audience.
This essay aimed to explain and explore pleasure in film, in particular with the use of a female character, then use this explanation to stop and destroy this way of film making.
In the writing its explained there are many different ways in which woman are used and consequencely seen by the audience, with the way that the audience actually takes in the film being a key point in Laura Mulveys explanation. There are two ways the author explains that a male viewer will watch a film, the first being a voyeurism approach, this way the viewer is an active watcher, not to the actual film but instead to the world and characters the film creates. The voyeur as explained, takes pleasure in seeing/ watching something of a private nature, with narrative fiction this kind of viewer is able to get their pleasure from watching the way a stalker would, looking into something which isn't theirs to see. The second approach is that of a egotistical approach, in which the viewer is connecting with the active male protagonist as the film will unravel in his hands. To further this, the film is revealing itself to the protagonist the same way it is to the viewer, with an active human role the projection is there for the viewer to watch and experience the way the man is. The author then explains how the woman in the story in presented in contrast to this and in both instances is then only used and/or being watched by the man. The female in a story is used to represent something, the mans dreams, his desires, his inspiration, to be his concern, this means when stripped back the woman character means nothing, and holds no important as an individual person or character. In both instances with a male viewer is woman is being looked at, in the voyeurism approach the lack of a character of substance means that what is seen on screen is what's left of the woman, this being her body which is most likely being filmed and presented in an erotic way. Again in the ego approach the male viewer sees the female in the same way that the character does, as fulfilling a use for the man.
Alot more was mentioned and explained in this essay which was interesting and brought me to the same summary as the author did. Which is the existence of this type of film making is creating and furthering the type of sexism which is the 'looked at' woman, only used to be an object of desire for a male audience.
8. Global Culture and Ethical DesignExamples of artist/ designer's who take a strong ethical or political stance in their work.
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