Difference

When I was thinking about differences, I chose to focus on gender roles and differences that have and still exist today. I chose this because I feel as though I have a perspective as a woman and a take that others may or may not have experienced. I selected the films, “What a Girl Wants”, “Killing Us Softly 4: Adverstising’s Image of Women”, and “Tough Guise 2: Violence, Manhood, and American Culture” (Media Education Foundation, 2001, 2010, 2013). These films all spoke to how women and men are perceived by society, including the opposite gender.

In “What a Girl Wants” (2001), perspective and symbolism of gender are discussed, specifically how women are perceived by men. For instance, when discussing a music video made by a female artist, men perceived the artists point very differently than women. Men thought that what the artist was singing about was literal, that she was talking about a physical action in her lyrics. That physical action being him touching her in a sexual way. Meanwhile, in general, women seemed to think that what the artist was singing about was symbolic. They equated the same line that men took literally, to a more figurative meaning that translated to symbolism of respect - which one could argue is the exact opposite of how men viewed the entire interaction. I came to wonder if this first, initial meaning of the literal is what media is trying to reel audiences in with and then if the audience, or some of the audience is then capable of deriving deeper meaning they move onto making meaning through the figurative sense and symbolism.

“Killing Us Softly 4: Advertising’s Image of Women” (2010), is the fourth installment of the series involving oppression of women. The following are quotes from advertisements who’s connotations are discussed throughout the film:

“Feminine odor is everyone’s problem”

“Made for a woman’s extra feelings”

“If your hair isn’t beautiful, the rest hardly matters”

“Your guy, another reason for Midol”

Another advertisement went on to imply that losing weight makes a man happy and satisfied. Obviously, most people, at least that I associate myself with, would look at these advertisement quotes and laugh at how ridiculous they are. However, in their time, these were common thoughts of society - subliminal messages one might infer, that are still leftover in the minds of people today, even if ever so faintly. The speaker comments near the end of the film that “being hot becomes the most important measure of success”. I feel like this is still true today to some extent. Regardless of how much truth resides in this statement in 2020, advertisements are still pushing this message under the guise of various trends.

The third film I viewed was still gender focused but more so on men. “Tough Guise 2: Violence, Manhood & American Culture” (2013) drew me in with the play on ‘guys’ as ‘guise’ because it really drove across the point of what a charade men a taught to put on when it comes to their masculinity. It went on to discuss the ideals of manhood and how it has made boys violent and dangerous. School shootings were given as an example. Boys are taught that being tough, rough, carrying guns, and being generally violent and or defensive is optimal and attractive. This is exemplified when the narrator comments, “When we talk about violence in America, we are almost always talking about violent masculinity”. It is taught to boys (and reinforced to men) that this kind of violent behavior earns them glamour and respect.

These collaged photos represent the ideas in these films through the use of overlay, repositioning, empty space, and spotlighting. In addition to these tools used to convey an idea, color and size were also utilized to show meaning.

The first collaged photo is overlaid to show how even though she is activating submissive to the man in the work, she is indeed the center of the piece. The point of view represented in this work is one of a woman’s submission to a man in the bedroom. He is perceived as tough with tattoos, muscles, and darkness. She is serving her purpose and lacking much depth as represented in her monotone statuesk appearance. They are in a 1950s style bedroom, the 1950s being a time where women were of less value and served a specific purpose in the home. The second, much simpler collage, spotlights the woman in a yoga studio. She is in the same pose, but this time is acting for herself instead of a man. She is the main focus and takes up the most space, as opposed to the man in the last photo that figuratively and literally took up the most space. She takes up the most space and adds to/owns the room without the need of the man to fill any space or purpose.