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Semiotics, Part III-The gaze, the nude and women's bodies

This week we will focus on the aesthetics of the gaze, the nude and women's bodies.

This photo shows a gold sculpture called Siren. It displays model Kate Moss' body entangled in a complex posture where arms and legs are interwined. Her face has a calm expression and looks at the front.

Task 4

Reading

Berger, John (1972). Chapter 3. In Ways of Seeing. London: BBC Books and Penguin Books, pp. 45-64.

First of all, read Berger's chapter and do the following exercises.

1

Social roles

In this chapter, Berger comments on the social presence of men and women and states that: "The surveyor of woman in herself is male: the surveyed female. Thus she turns herself into an object - and most particularly an object of vision: a sight." (p. 47) Later on he adds that in the European tradition painters and spectators have been usually men and women have been their objects of contemplation, and that "This so unequal relationship is so deeply embedded in our culture that it still structures the consciousness of many women" (p. 63).

To what extent do you agree or disagree with these statements? Is his description accurate with respect to our current society? Is this only the case for women nowadays?

These are open questions. In your response you might state something to the effect that now, every body has potential to be objectified (think of David Beckham pants adverts), but historically and even currently, women still are problematically objectified. You could also comment on whether Berger's statement on objectification by the opposite sex is necessarily so or whether men and women are in fact surveyed by any person regardless of gender issues.Check your answer

2

The nude

Berger also examines the nude in western art as a favourite subject focusing on women, and how this tradition was continued by photography.

Make a note on the differences he draws between nakedness and nudity and their connections with art.

Nakedness: to be naked is to be oneself.

Nudity: to be nude is to have your nakedness perceived.

Check your answer

Wall

But not only women have appeared naked in the history of art. Now find on the web one example of a nude male body as represented in any art form and post it on this wall. Make a note on your post about the work, its author and what you think it stands for.

Viewing

Now watch episode 2: "Women in Art" (30:54 min) (opens in a new window) of the Ways of Seeing documentary and complete the exercises below.

3

Women on representation of women

In the last part of this episode (from 16:23), Berger gathers five women to discuss the content of the programme. What are these women reactions to how women are represented in art?

These women criticise the paintings for:

  • not showing real women,
  • idealising their bodies,
  • exaggerating their sexual attributes,
  • lacking in dynamism,
  • humiliating women presenting them without clothes
  • being nude is not equivalent to being free.

This is presented by them as opposed to photographs which they see as real and possible.

Check your answer

4

Narcissism

How is narcissism defined in the discussion? Do you agree with the differences highlighted between narcissist attitudes in men and women?

Narcissism is defined as self-delight. The second question is open. You might think that men and women have different narcissist attitudes or that their attitudes are very similar. Justify your opinion.Check your answer

5

Real bodies versus bodies in art

What is identified at the end of the discussion as the painful part of being aware of your own female body compared to the bodies represented in art? Is this still the case nowadays? In what other contexts would this apply?

The painful part is the feeling of inadequacy, trying to measure up to these constructions of erotic women. Dance and Film establish idealized bodies and body types which set up these false expectations in society. Celebrity culture, celebrity gossip magazines, fashion magazines, adverts all circulate false images of women's bodies. Perfection sells.Check your answer

6

More real representations in art

This female character in an Italian fresco from 1338 is identified in the discussion as more representative of women as people rather than simply passive bodies.

This image shows a detail of the fresco 'Allegory of the Good Government' by Ambrogio Lorenzetti. It shows a woman with a long white tunic resting on big cushions on the side of a wooden high bench. The bench is covered with a red patterned blanket. The background is blue with the word 'Pax' on top of her head. She is barefoot and is supporting her head with her right hand. She is wearing a crown of leafs and holding a branch with her left hand.

Do you agree with the explanation provided in the programme about what this woman represents? Do you know of any other artistic representations of women in dance or film that present them in a similar way?

These are open questions.Check your answer

Recommended Reading

This is another online reading related to this topic.

Kimmelman, M. (2009). "At Louvre, Many Stop to Snap but Few Stay to Focus." New York Times. 2 August. Available at: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/03/arts/design/03abroad.html (opens in a new window)