Due to the fact that I come from a scientific background and that I intend to pursue a scientific career in the field of adolescent psychiatry, my semester project initially would've been presented in the format of a research paper. Having published research papers in the past, I feel comfortable compiling information from many sources and discussing any similarities or differences that may arise after comparing and analyzing each source. After the most recent class, though, I've had a change of heart and decided that I would take my dry research paper and reformat it to resemble that of an informative magazine article.
The intent of the project is to discuss “a social issue and reframe the issue to specifically address how this affects the lives of women and/or how women can be instrumental in solving or raising awareness about this issue.” A social issue that affects women today, and has particularly affected women since ancient times, is an issue that we have already discussed in class- the power of looking and the gaze. In my research paper/magazine article, I hope to explore the power that a gaze holds over how one addresses themselves in a psycho-social sense; be it how an individual thinks society views him/her or how an individual would view his/ herself after being subjected to a gaze. The project, of course, is meant to focus on women but I would like to broaden the scope to include men too because men can either help stop the propagation of the issue or turn a blind eye and continue what men have been doing for centuries.
I will include veritable research studies and/or published books that touch upon the role of gender in society and the psychology behind one’s gaze and how it influences those who subject others/ are subjected to the gaze. In addition to this, I would also like to do some personal interviews, for a more practical application, in which I include images of the "ideal" representation of each gender that can be found in art, fashion, and society. Using these examples, I will observe how participants of each gender view and interpret both images, noting their facial response and overall reaction. In addition to the two images portraying both genders, I would like to administer a facial/emotional recognition test to see if the participant is aware of the various gazes that we give and receive and the power that a gaze holds. An example of this test can be found on: http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/ei_quiz (examples from this test may or may not be used).
Resources:
The Consequences of the “Male Gaze” and Sexual Objectification by Gina Miller
Ways of Seeing by John Berger
The Oppositional Gaze by Bell Hooks
Facial expression and gaze-direction in human superior temporal sulcus by Andrew Engell
I hope you have found much more research at this time and are developing your article and focusing your message. Look at Jean Kilbourne and Naomi Wolf who both write about advertising media messages and their effect on women and especially young women. This may help look at popular media especially. Anthony Cortese also writes about deconstructing women's bodies in media images. It would also be interesting to look to artists like Cindy Sherman and Barbara Kruger as examples of how artist address the male gaze.
ReplyDeleteHave you also thought about where you might try to publish this article?