Week 3: Examples of sexual imagery being used as social critique or challenge

Sexual imagery can oftentimes be used as pleasure for an individual. In other cases, the creators of sexual imagery may either attempt at making the viewers uncomfortable or ask them to experience something out of the norm. Whether something be an artifact or an individual, equally they share the possibility of defying social norms. This means that an artifact or an individual may be seen as weird, unjust, offensive or threatening. When dealing with social norms one is faced with social critiques and social challenges. A social critique is when two different variables are perhaps consuming the same idea presented them, however depending on the individual perspectives, they may view the same idea completely differently. For example, when a product such as a bandaid is offered to a white - American she may think nothing of it as she puts it on her skin. While an African - American may notice that the color of the generic bandaid does not match their skin color, therefore have a justified feeling towards this product. Similar to social critique, social challenge is when either an artifact or an individual, chooses to step away from what is normal in society and instead challenge its values and morality. An example of a social challenge may be an older man dating or sleeping with an under-age girl. This is not only illegal but also many people within society would not find this socially acceptable.

Author L. Kipnis describes in an article discussing pornography that almost all people agree that rejection evokes stronger emotions than pleasure. When applying this idea to social critique and social challenges, when society rejects an idea then it is not meant to be consumed as pleasure. I believe society constructs such rejections based on the majority of the people believing it is unsatisfying or defies their morals and values. Below I have posted specific artifacts that display sexual imagery in a way that I strongly reject as a member of this Western American society.

Kipnis, L. (1992). (Male) desire and (female) disgust: reading Hustler. In L. Grossberg

First, beginning with a photograph which displays an almost naked woman. This woman is suggesting risque and provocative behavior by adjusting her body in a specific way as well as playing with her underwear (or lack thereof). Her head tilted slightly downwards and mouth open further suggests a sexual suggestion. This image challenges my societal perspective even more by being built like a man. I believe that women should be feminine, soft and nonthreatening. This woman's body instead addresses aggressive behavior and a sense of maleness. I do not believe that women as body builders are socially accepted and instead challenge the ideas of how a woman should be framed.

Image courtesy of Lion Head Studios

These next two images are meant to be looked at as a comparison. In this first advertisement, you can see it is only men and supposed to be used as a marketing strategy to sell Dolce & Gabbana's clothing, accessories, etc. Instead, I am focused on the implied content. From look left to right, you will notice a man beginning to undress himself - then, an unclothed man lying helplessly on the floor, looking lifeless - while to the far right, two men appearing to gaze at his genitals and inspect his nude body. Nothing about this ad allows me to recognize exactly what they're trying to sell. In this case, it's as if they're selling the male body. This challenges societal norms because society places this idea that men are not sexual property, but instead women are.

The second ad displays almost exactly the opposite, a woman being showed as sexual property. Again, I cannot identify which product they are trying to advertise. The woman appears to be held against her will which in fact complies with societal norms. Meaning that, women in my society are not dominate or in charge. The first advertisement challenges society more heavily because it is seen as abnormal for men to displayed in such a way, however for women I may not think twice if I saw this advertisement while flipping through a magazine.

Image courtesy of Adrants.com

Image courtesy of Guys Underwear

This next artifact is one that I found to be extremely disturbing. Not only does the girl look way too young to be engaging in sexual activity, she also seems to be held against her will. This advertisement is also hard to clarify exactly the message because is it that the man pinning her down is on meth paying $15 for sex... or that she is on meth and sleeping with men for money? Regardless this displays to me that 1. paying for sex challenges society. 2. meth and other drugs are not socially accepted. 3. again, women are not in control of their sexual actions.

Image courtesy of Math Fail

This next artifact, Christina Aguilera's music video for "Dirrty" is rather a better example of social critique than it is social challenge. For example, for a male to watch this video it may enhance pleasure or a likeness to not only the provocative lyrics but also the lack of clothing and cleanliness. Her clothing is extremely inappropriate and would definitely be looked at as abnormal if she were to walk down the street in such apparel. Furthermore, her likeness for being dirty, sweaty and gross is repulsive. Her continuous thrusts and sexual attitude disturbs me. Therefore, my perspective or critique of this music video is most likely far different than from the perspective of a male (or another variable).

Image courtesy of Sorority Life

Watch the video here: Christina Aguilera "Dirrty"

Finally, my last artifact is also meant to display an example of social critique. This can be looked at from multiple perspectives. One perspective may be from a child. A child's favorite show could be Sesame Street and they adore the characters Bert and Ernie. They may see them as fun, best friends and very affectionate with each other (such as giving hugs). While a parent may recognize their behavior as being a little more friendly than what they deem as appropriate. Therefore, the two perspectives of a child and a parent can easily be critiqued as entirely different. There has been much speculation as to whether Sesame Street was implying that Bert and Ernie were romantic partners or homosexual muppets. This would also be challenging society because the majority of our society recognize homosexual relationships as being wrong or strange and that children should not be exposed to such concepts.

Image courtesy of Muppet Wikia

Bibliography

In order to maintain my academic honesty, I wanted to post the bibliography to the text we are using in class for this blog and other assignments. I was recently given access to this source after my last blog post.

Thanks! My second Sexual Imagery blog post is coming up soon!

Dworkin, A. (1992). Against the male flood: censorship, pornography, and inequality. In C. Itzin (Ed.), Pornography: Women, Violence, and Civil Liberties (515-535). London and New York: Oxford University Press.

Week 2: Examples of “Objectified” and “Empowered” Sexuality

This week, the topic for my sexual imagery posting is “examples of ‘objectified’ and ‘empowered’ sexuality.”

After reading - Dworkin, A. “Against the male flood: Censorship, pornography and equality, Dines & Jensen “Pornography in a pornographic culture,” McElory, W. “Individualist feminism: A true defense of pornography,” Hartley, N. “In the flesh: A porn star’s journey” and Monet, V. “What is feminist porn?”

– I have come to realize that despite my own ideas of what it means to objectify or empower one’s sexuality, ultimately my thoughts are influenced by other social perspectives. The perspectives from the authors previously mentioned have greatly influenced the ways in which I hope to construct this blog post. Throughout this blog post and in future blog posts I will be referencing to numerous articles written by authors presented to me by my course instructor, Jil Freeman.

Since starting this class, I have made sure to pay extra attention to detail within the media. Particularly, the way women are either objectified or empowered by mass media. Without the help from Google I doubt I would have noticed a single glimpse of a woman’s empowerment. I was able to consume many artifacts of which were objectifying women. These women were objectified by their figures being turned into nothing more than an object, many of which were heavily sexual. It pains me to self identify with these images because of my gender identity as female. I do not agree with the persuasive and perverted argument that the media displays as women as sexualized objects. I do not enjoy the humiliation that these specific artifacts display relevant to women. Take a look at these next four examples of objectified sexuality:

Keep Her Where She Belongs

I found this image on Ms. Magazine’s blog. First by looking at the woman, you can see she is lying down, in a position of mercy. Her facial expressions show disappointment, sadness and her eyes lack enthusiasm. The shoe is placed near to her face as if she’s meant to identify herself with the shoe. If that’s the case, the slogan is hinting that she is in fact a singular object, a shoe. “Keep Her Where She Belongs” says to me that this woman in the advertisement is meant to be on the floor, worthless as only one shoe and not a pair as well as in a state of shame.

Photo courtesy: Ms. Magazine Blog

Women as Objects Inside a Vending Machine

I found this image on The Frisky. This image is an advertisement for REDTAPE a men’s shoe collection. I visited their website where I found many images that objectified women. In this particular image, the women are being shown as an object set up for display and to purchase inside of a vending machine. My interpretation is that men deserve the option to choose whatever he is craving, meaning that he can return to the machine and purchase another if he is unsatisfied, also he can purchase multiple at a time.

Photo courtesy: The Frisky

Furniture Shaped Like Female Bodies

I found this image on The Society Pages. This image is one of many types of furniture which are designed to resemble a woman and in fact objectify women. Here, an Ipod music player is shaped like the bust form of a woman. The speakers as the breasts and the jack or input at the vagina. This is highly sexualized and objective because the woman’s body is shown as an instrument meant to play with, get noise out of and insert things into.

Photo courtesy: The Society Pages

Nine Inch Nails "Meet Your Master"

These lyrics were found on AZlyrics.com. I first heard this song by Nine Inch Nails inside of my brother-in-law’s car. I didn't think much of it at first and then I began to listen carefully to the words. These song verses translate to me as a man having complete control over a woman, by saying things such as “You do what we tell you, You do as you're told.” The singer consistently refers to himself as the master over this woman, claiming that she is meaningless and without power.

Bow down in position

Against the polished steel

This is something different

You'll like the way this feels

No time for asking questions

No time for wondering

We've had enough of you now

You've heard everything

You want to play a new game

You put on this blindfold

You do what we tell you

You do as you're told

Used to be the leader

Now comes the time to serve

Maybe we'll show some mercy

Maybe you'll get what you deserve

[Chorus:]

Count down to the end

Gotta make it come faster, faster

Right around the bend

Is a coming disaster

Count down to the end

And we're headed their faster

Come on down my friend

It's time to meet your master

You've left quite a mess here under your stewardship

You thought you figured it out but you'll learn your place in this

Might take some convincing for you to see the truth

There are so many things we've got in store for you

[Chorus]

Come on down

Previously I mentioned the authors whose articles were assigned this week. I found Dworkin’s article, “Against the male flood: Censorship, pornography and equality” to have the most accurate definition of objectification. He described women as being presented as sexual objects in numerous ways, sexual objects who enjoy humiliation, who like to be physical hurt, who willingly submit themselves to sexual acts and exhibit their body parts. All in all he describes women as being reduced to nothing more than a simplistic object. The artifacts above showed how women can be reduced as such in many ways, through advertisements, furniture design, music lyrics, etc. These women are shown as not being fully human and without integrity, this is the opposite of how I hope to viewed in society.

In society, I would like to be viewed as empowered. In class, we talked about how women with power are rarely considered within the mass media. In recent years I’ve noticed specifically, female music artists taking a stand and using their voices as a message of assertion. Most recently, Beyonce released her musical hit known as “Single Ladies.” A few years back, India Arie used her voice to share with the world that she is not your average woman, which translated to me as she would not back down and be objectified. Below is a link to the music video in which she shares her passion for individuality and self respect, two concepts that every woman deserves.

The India Arie "Video"

Week One

Welcome to my Sexual Imagery Blog! Each week I will collect 5 media artifacts that relate and respond to a topic presented each week. These artifacts will be collected from various mediums and contexts. Upon posting the artifacts I will write a statement describing why I thought they were appropriate for each week's theme. My blog will be based from instructions provided by Jil Freeman, instructor at Portland State University.

Enjoy and look for my first sexual imagery posting by next Wednesday, January 12!