My photograph is meant to convey the negative effect of overly sexualized women's bodies penetrating children's media; the idea that these figures are exploited so extremely that even a child will recognize culturally deemed superiority through the form of a toy. We live in a society that stands by the idea that sex sells. Sick enough, this method is used even when selling children's toys. Girls are given Barbie dolls when they are only a few years old at the latest, and what implicit message is sent? Girls unconsciously learn how to objectify themselves, and that this is an OK thing. I used symmetrical balance and Barbie as the main focal point when capturing this image to convey the sense that Barbie is literally in your face. You cannot escape Barbie. Encountering Barbie is inevitable. The symmetrical balance is also meant to visually imply structure, a symbol of conformity. I used a red lamp for studio lighting to provide a more dangerous, sexual tone. A possibly not-so-ironic tone to give a child's toy such as Barbie. The color red is meant to imply the irony of the whole thing. Barbie is a child's toy, however, the overly sexualized form that she has been given is essentially damaging to innocence. Young girls look up to images such as Barbie and Disney Princesses whom are meant to embody innocence, and yet, sadly, such images are on a deep level destructive towards young minds. Such images establish beauty and gender standards in young girls' minds, and set them up for insecurity in addition to the idea that they must look sexually appealing. I used side light to cast a shadow over the right side of Barbie's face and body. On the left side, we can clearly identify the figure as barbie. The right side, however, is meant to convey the idea that Barbie and similar images to her are essentially shadows. We as women will never really know Barbie, no matter how recognizable her form.
4 comments:
When I first saw this picture not only did I think how women don't like to be looked at as a sexual object. Also how our young girls are seeing what people think the ideal female is.. It truly is sicking that we can't allow kids to be kids, and not have to put these ideas in there minds so ealier. Some of these young girls grow up thinking that this is how thing are and will do anything to get there. They need to make dolls of all shapes and sizes.
What struck me most about this picture was the fact that we see almost nothing past the waist of the Barbie, only the faintest outline of hips. This reminds me of the stick Barbies used in making doll cakes. (http://www.bakedeco.com/bimages/W1019.jpg) Although these are used to make cakes where the large skirt of the dress is cake (http://www.coolest-birthday-cakes.com/barbie-doll-cake.html#c63) when seen alone they give a very sexualized and objectified image of a woman. They reduce women to parts (breasts, hips/pelvis) and even as a child I found those to be quite unsettling. The shadows in this image that obscure her facial features were also very effective.
Something else that stood out to me was the white splattering across the image. You mention how the red was to imply sexual tones, but the splattered white seems just as suggestive, if not more so given its placement over the naked Barbie. While that may not have been the intent of the photographer, I would be surprised if some people looking at this image didn't take that to represent seminal fluid.
I loved that you used the color red for the background wash color. To me, this is indicative of the power punch such toys and influences we may not initially see as damaging can have on impressionable minds. To barely recognize Barbie, as you stated, is in itself a very bold statement. Who is Barbie? To young girls everywhere she is a symbol of what a woman should be. She is representative of success and “getting the guy (Ken).” But who is she within? Does she strive for greatness or love herself within? Would she still be idolized if she were less thin? These ideals of beauty and superficial worth are not what a young lady should be focusing her youth trying to achieve. The fact that you used the “type tape” in white to show extreme contrast and make the statement that “the female form be forever exploited” while covering up the doll’s private areas made a very clear, well thought out point. I absolutely loved the fact that she almost looks a little scary because of the lighting you chose. The thought of children identifying and working to achieve this ideal of beauty in itself is a scary thought. The power she holds with her position within the frame of the photograph could not be better placed. She is before a void red background and splattered with a sort of white over exposed look to the photo. And I doubt few would disagree with the overexposure of the young girls of our society to these types of stigmas and their influence over the entirety of their lives.
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