Month: November 2017

Within the text #girlgaze photography, fourth wave feminism and social media advocacy by Ruxandra Looft. The text discusses the different type of waves which feminism has come across throughout the years, discussing the importance of feminism and how Amanda Cadenet founded Girlgaze in 2016. Reading into the text I have an understanding of what Girlgaze is with this being a social media project seeking to help fund, promote and have exhibit female photographers. The hash tag was used within social media such as Instagram and twitter all over the world to reach a wide range of audience members to achieve this progress. Thousands of people all around the world got involved which is rather impressive to address these issues and show the world this importance. Looking within the project, it was clear that the photographer Amanda De Cadnet had a massive impact on the outgoings off the project. Showing us that how she battled with the photography industry which was very male orientated and dominated. The following project was posted on TeenVogue website which is a high end- fashion magazine which is very appealing for teenagers and young women and feminists.

“Undisputed agreement that the lack of female voices and perspectives in the media and photography needs to be addressed’ in which GirlGaze has ‘taken on with commendable enthusiasm.”  The quote establishes that the industry was scouting for other female members which would improve the whole concept of the project. Gaining a wide spread of different female photographers which could be used in the project GirlGaze staring the work in the exhibitions.

The images are posted onto Instagram with the hashtag ‘GirlGaze’ and promote the beauty and power of a woman, as well as body positivity. The initial aim with this project is to give women in the media a voice and a platform to speak on and do things that they want to do, without being overshadowed by men in the industry. Women all over the world have been seen as “Sex objects” and not be treated as fairly as men in matters such in jobs, work wise and being paid the same amount, however this has improved over the years but there are many steps to be followed.

Looking briefly into a similar article “Rosealind Gill” Postfeminist media culture: elements of a sensibility” There is a lot of pressure within the industry for female professionals with this certainly effecting models and certain celebrities the most. By having to uphold their beauty with this having an impact on how the world can see them by holding up their public appearance with this being around the subject of role models for some fans. The notion of postfeminist has become one of the most important in the lexicon of feminist cultural analysis.

Looking into both of the articles I have a clearer understanding of females not being treated the same in the different kinds of industries such as photography. With key photographers having to create projects such as GirlGaze and gain a wide range of audiences and artists to support this matter. This had to be done over a long period of time and wasn’t achieved as quickly overnight. This made them become a more powerful and highly valued difference to the industry by having their opinion on the matter and being able to show of certain types of work within the industry and to say their opinion on the matter.

This week’s text “Pandora’s Camera” explored the topic of photo manipulation whilst addressing the morality of it. The text used interesting and engaging examples such as Keira Knightley in ‘King Arthur’ and a Chanel perfume advertisement. Fontcuberta said that ‘Keira had to go for a more sensual, ‘feminine’ shape’. This is because we associate Keira with a more ‘athletic figure and elastic body’.

Fontcuberta also brings up the point, that it’s scandalous for photographers to edit their own photos, simply to make the composition more interesting, whilst in no way changing the focus or concept of the image. But it’s perfectly fine for publishers to manipulate photos so that they can sell more magazines, “justified on grounds of editorial policy”.

Fontcuberta says, Keira went on to do many campaigns, again for Chanel, but this time in just her birthday suit, Kiera posed with a jacket but no shirt with her right breast exposed. However, the photos that got published in this magazine were ‘missing a nipple’. The same photos had been published in many different magazines around the world that had the nipple in the photo.

“Corrective digital retouching or ‘adjustment’ has become standard practice, a kind of default post-production process that is taken for granted and passes without comment”. We’ve become so used to seeing doctored images, that it’s become normal to us.

From engaging within in this text I have an understanding of using Photoshop within retouching in photography which can be beneficial although sometimes it can go a bit too far. I feel this can create a lot of problems within the younger generation by having to live up to such standards. This also gives a false image of certain celebrities, changing their appearance to make them seem like ‘perfection’ which is done in a false way but also done for a professional use.