Jaiheer Rogers
Art and Woman History
2/7/17
Art and Woman History
2/7/17
Post 1: Male Gaze and Patriarchy
The male gaze is a way a particular audience view an "object" or "subject" based on their actions which illustrate their understanding of the material. According to John Berger "men act and woman appear. Men look at woman. Woman watch themselves being looked at. This determine the relation of women to themselves. Thus she turn herself into an object and most particularly an object of vision: a sight.(Berger 47). With knowing that men and women both act and think differently which greatly affect their perceptions on art work. Woman are always on display and we see it everywhere in society. Billboards,TV, to promote or sell product. With our male gaze focal lenses we all judge the image or "object" before we make our decisions on buying based on visual presentation. This is a present day example of what Berger explanation on the male gaze that we are to quick to judge before we take the time to actual understand the true intent or purpose about various art and media. Berger believe that we are still human with real emotions and feelings, whether it is moral, physical, sexual, or emotional (Berger 46).
Berger use the example of nudes in European paintings in the ancient times. He states " we can discover some of the criteria and conversions by which woman have been seen and judged as sights. Woman are constantly getting whispered in the community as an example. Spectators enjoyed the sight that appeared in their eyes and think of it as a norm for visual satisfaction. It seemed to stimulate the minds and we start to enter the traditions cultural term. The woman is treated as a thing and the artist or thinker is blinded that the woman is even a person. Finally Berger stated " to be naked is to be oneself and to be nudes is to be seen naked by others and not ones self (Berger 57). The male gaze always give the wrong perception of the true meaning. This is why it is pervasive in art because you do not get the true message the artist is trying to display. In order to get a conveyed message you must understand the art as a true being. We can be persuade and amazed without using woman as object all the time.
Berger use the example of nudes in European paintings in the ancient times. He states " we can discover some of the criteria and conversions by which woman have been seen and judged as sights. Woman are constantly getting whispered in the community as an example. Spectators enjoyed the sight that appeared in their eyes and think of it as a norm for visual satisfaction. It seemed to stimulate the minds and we start to enter the traditions cultural term. The woman is treated as a thing and the artist or thinker is blinded that the woman is even a person. Finally Berger stated " to be naked is to be oneself and to be nudes is to be seen naked by others and not ones self (Berger 57). The male gaze always give the wrong perception of the true meaning. This is why it is pervasive in art because you do not get the true message the artist is trying to display. In order to get a conveyed message you must understand the art as a true being. We can be persuade and amazed without using woman as object all the time.
Patriarchy on the other hand is a social disease where we believe males have to be the dominated figure at all times. According to Bell Hooks, "patriarchy is a political system that insists that males are inherently dominating, superior to everything and everyone deemed weak and to maintain that dominance through various forms of psychological terrorism or violence ( Hooks 18)." For example, when boys are young they are taught that dolls are for girls. They have been told to speak up, stop crying and grow some chest. They have been told that pink ovens are for girls. They are told that many "things" are not manly so when they grow up with the notion that they must win every competition and must not learn to have emotions.
We have to over see that the man is still a human and should not be expected to act a certain way. "We force them to deny their feelings and pain" ( Hooks 24). The problem is that no one is standing up to resolve the issue. We must over see ting instead of assigning gender roles. We must teach each other as woman and men to survive and be equal with one another as human beings. Bell Hooker states "men remained emotional cripples." It is important that we respect men in that light or array. Bell Hooks show that one must open our mind and think before we jump to conclusions. It is important to rethink and remember that we are all humans who have feelings and freedom to expression ourselves. Each author bring valid points to our attention to reassess our thought process and break the norm of having sexist perceptions on men or women. We cant deny men feelings which patriarchy proves and with the male gaze we cant continue to view woman as objects and respect one another. Once we admits our faults we can resolve this problem between the sexes.
We have to over see that the man is still a human and should not be expected to act a certain way. "We force them to deny their feelings and pain" ( Hooks 24). The problem is that no one is standing up to resolve the issue. We must over see ting instead of assigning gender roles. We must teach each other as woman and men to survive and be equal with one another as human beings. Bell Hooker states "men remained emotional cripples." It is important that we respect men in that light or array. Bell Hooks show that one must open our mind and think before we jump to conclusions. It is important to rethink and remember that we are all humans who have feelings and freedom to expression ourselves. Each author bring valid points to our attention to reassess our thought process and break the norm of having sexist perceptions on men or women. We cant deny men feelings which patriarchy proves and with the male gaze we cant continue to view woman as objects and respect one another. Once we admits our faults we can resolve this problem between the sexes.
Present Day male gaze: Do we see the benefit of the product or the nuded woman
<img alt="Image result for male gaze" src="http://www.ltcconline.net/lukas/gender/gaze/pics/malegaze16.jpg">
Past Male Gaze: Another example of the male gaze in the past.
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