Sex and Gender

Identity - Sex & Gender

What is a man?

and an adult male?

- Age of sexual consent ( 16 )    UK

- Age of Voting ( 18 )     UK

- Joining the army ( 16 )  UK

- Age of criminally responsibility ( 10 )  UK

- Age of final growth ( 21 - 25 ) 

- Sexual maturity ( 13 )

( Changing of the voice )

- Emotional or physiological maturity ( Different based on individuality )

Biological Definitions:

- Cromozones ( x-y )

- Primary sex characteristics ( Sex organs )

Culturally Definitions:               

- Masai ( Boys - Circumcision )

- Jewish boys ( Bah mitzvah - 13 )

Natural Attitude:

Woman & Man = 2 sexes/genders 

Unquestionable - Seen on the assumption of reproductive organs.

- Essential understanding

- Assumption of natural difference 

- Masculine + Feminine - Not a choice (?)

- Any deviation from this is not the norm (?)

The Model Of Masculinity:

- Purposeful

- Active 

- Independent

- Heterosexual

- Violent/Fearless

- Powerful

- Strong

What is Masculinity?

- Not feminine

- Not purposeless

- Not an object

- Not passive

- Not dependent

- Not fearful

- Not powerless

- Not weak

In the media we are displayed male role models to fit the categories of the above, it shows an ideal man under the eye of the audience. Most male models,actors and musicians, have a large quantity of these traits.

Heterosexuality - Heterosexuality is viewed as the norm, in doing so it renders all other sexual identities  inappropriate or abnormal. 

Same sex marriage in illegal in the UK although they are aloud a civil partnership since 2006, before this time being homosexual was deemed as "unnatural" as they can not reproduce and are seen as sinful from the bible. During today you come across homosexuality and it is deemed acceptable by most people.

     

Where do you find works of design

• Museums 
• Exhibitions
• The streets
• Catwalks
• Internet
• Magazines
• Sketchbooks
• Galleries
• Posters
• Architecture

These are several examples of where you find aspects of design in the world, Some may not seem obvious such as the streets or architecture, but are an example of design, such as graffiti for example which is at a high percentage in Bristol and London which we are viewing on a daily basis. Architecture, some designing went into creating this end product and a lot of altering went into those designs to make buildings interesting or sturdy/supporting.

Magazines and internet are not the real design but show image of the product they are secondary research and are used to display.

Museums and galleries are the prime example of where you would find works of design, you are viewing it primary and you are seeing the reality of a painting garment or such, the best way to view a design of art.

Andre Malraux's Museum without Walls, 1947

Structuralism

Claude Levi influenced in 1960/70's based on visionary opposites:
male/female, inside/out, day/night

He released a book know as Tristes Tropiques which told the journey of him of a  French expatriate throughout the 1930s,  the work is infused with philosophical reflections and ideas linking to many academic disciplines, such as sociology, geology, music, history and literature which are among the 36 chapters.

Deconstruction:
There is no fixed meaning, established modes of thought and binaries are questioned. Taking things apart, to possibly make something new and to get a better understanding.

Intertextuality:
Text to text connections alluding other images either historic or contemporary.

Physical Context:
In your subject area, how does the physical context affect the reception of the art/design fashion: Cat walks as performances,mass distribution through magazines.

Second session Visual Culture

Semiotics

Signs consisting of signifier  ( the sound of the word cat/the printed word cat) and signified ( the cat as a certain species of animal example: Siamese )

Photo of the chair ( the form ) - signifier.

Definition of the chair ( concept ) - signified 

Reference for the sign - the actual chair.

Joseph Kaswth:

 One of his most famous works is One and Three Chairs, a visual expression of Plato's concept of The Forms. The piece features a physical chair, a photograph of that chair, and the text of a dictionary definition of the word "chair". The photograph is a representation of the actual chair situated on the floor, in the foreground of the work.

Interesting artist to look at:

John A Walker - London Underground

Barthes - Photography and Fashion

Judith Williams - Advertising 

Content Flower

The flower is an organic living being.
Scented.
Made up of shapes.
Fact.
Beneficial.
Pastels.
Small.
Soft.
Green.
Chosen.
Form of emotion.
Event related.
Difference.
Grows.
Dies.
Pretty.
Natural.
Planted.
Emotionless.
Painless.

Examples of Post Modernism in the Fashion Industry

Post Modernism within the Fashion Industry.

Post Modernism within the Fashion Industry.

Post Modernism has developed within the fashion industry over a large period of time. And within this time have been created an array of fashion designers such as Alexander Mqueen, Vivienne Westwood and Comme des Garçons. The main concept of Post Modernism was mixing different media to create an improved outcome. There are many forms of post modernism fashion displayed worldwide that we view on a daily bases. This can range in large artist pieces to viewing a clear dress highlighted by the lingerie, this would be viewed differently 40 years ago and associated with sexual references.

Fashion changed greatly during post modernism, they could dip into all aspects art related, and create something mixed media, such as more artistic or productive pieces. I think this has benefited fashion as it widens your range of audience, product and knowledge, it allows you too adapt and broaden the fashion industry. Post modernism is needed in order to keep the audience interested in todays life clothing that appears obscure, bizarre and highly pigmented are considered norm. Todays life has effected the industry as we become more influenced by the media we keep expecting developing ideas within the industry, as everything else evolves we expect all aspects of life to evolve as well. We are born into consuming so we’re always expecting something new and improved to be released, as the world and humanity grows there will always be a need for improved items, we are driven by evolution of product. Fashion houses are always finding new inspirations and techniques to develop their collection to enable people to want it, mixed media is a selling tool, you have the choice of basic or flamboyant the more techniques they find the more surreal the garments appear. A piece considered interesting in 19^th century was associated with money or wealth in todays society there is a wide range of garments suitable for all budgets, it is more widely available.

The most relevant part of post modernism was the reference towards other artists such as graphic designers or photographers incorporated within a dress, I think this effected the boundaries we can push within our industry’s and gives us a another world to incorporate within our speciality. I think the use of other medias benefits our work and allows us to learn different techniques and better our pieces.

Visual Culture 26th September 2012

This lesson introduced us to what we going to explore this term, the power point gave us a list of all the subjects we would undergo these include;
labels,art,visual language,photography,symbols, propaganda,graffiti,branding,paintings,film and advertising.
Each lesson will be based around these topics giving examples and explanations. These will lead us to a end outcome of an essay backed up by various research, this will give us a insight on historical and contempry culture. 

The lesson dabbled on different aspects such as;
 targeting a specific audience and making choices based on their needs. Such as changing a brands designing or logos to appeal to that specified audience, if the design is sleek and modern it will appeal to a young up to date character, if the design is more colorful with artistic illustrations it will appeal to a young creative audience. The nature of the design it to increase profits and distribute product. 

How and image can influence us to buy a product such as using celebrities in advertisements or showing a celebrity wearing a certain brand.

Iconography - writing about images, descriptive and classifications.
Iconology - Interpretative, considers the work of art/design as a product of the personality.

Genre 'species,mind,sort or type' what are the genres or types within your industry;
Fashion.

Menswear
Womenswear
Childswear
Haute Couture 
Ready to wear
High street
Photography
Packaging
Illustration
Pattern maker
Designer
Promotional 
Journalism 
Seamstress 
milliner.

Form Analysis - Materials,colours,lines,lighting,tonal volume,form,shapes,space,structure, form follows function.

We spoke of lack of something can have content, we used the description as if you were in a white room, you would not see anything among the white walls, but if a black line was drew threw the center you could inter prate as many things, such as heaven and earth, day and night or in and out. It shows a lack of something can still hold content, if it based around our imagination and how we view it.