Week 2:Male, Female, and Oppositional Gaze

 

Collected Gaze by Djennifer Georges
Inspired by Bell Hooks, John Berger, & Titian C (1487-1578) 

              Bell Hooks 

"Politics of race and gender were

inscribed into mainstream cinematic narrative from Birth of A Nation" 

If we look at statistics, we live in a predominately segregated country. Most schools in many states do not have a school population that even closely matches the demographics in the US census. In a segregated country that is only a few decades removed from operations like cointelpro, we have to question the narratives we digest and understand about other groups in America. Television is a lot of people’s source of education around history and understanding of people; black people in particular.

“Looking at film with an oppositional gaze, black women were able to critically assess the cinema’s construction of white womanhood as object of phallocentric gaze…”

There are stark and wide differences between the depiction of black women and white women in television media and entertainment throughout the years and as time has gone on and movements about women’s rights and equality and oppression have developed and addressed these many differences and why they exist, much hasn’t changed throughout years. Most black women played roles that were often stereotypical but strong in presence, soul baring and confident. This disenfranchisement from the privileges attached to womanhood, although hurtful allowed for an authentic confidence in black women and their character. Although at times offensive these juxtapositions between representation do a great deal of positivity for the black community and black women representation.

            John Berger 

“Nude is always conventionalized and the authority for its conventions derived from a certain tradition of art.”

As a black woman with a bit of knowledge of ancient African culture and a reader I found it fascinating yet somewhat offensive in nature  the suggestion that in European culture what was once considered uncivil (the naked body in other continents) can become considered art and conventional at only the standard of a particular group or class of people. This is representative of a constant and often undiscussed discussed cultural issue throughout the western world, and that is the disenfranchisement and trivialization of black and brown cultures and the redefining of what’s culturally appropriate for women, and other marginalized groups.

“…morally condemning the woman who’s nakedness you had depicted for your own pleasure.”

This quote can be taken out of context and used to give a nod to the very complex and contradictory nature of the society we live in. While media influence as well as television and societal norms may give us a specific idea of what is appropriate and correct for each gender, these ideas and normative behaviors are often times not accurate to most if even half peoples lives experiences. Women are told to cover up while being fetishized for their bodies, made sexual deviants for having desires in some extremes and men are often told their only value lies in money while in many cases statistically financial stability is not the most sought after quality in a man. We live in a world where our idea of manhood and womanhood is given to us and we often judge and disparage the very things we as a society hold to a standard of normal. As time progresses, these societal ideals continue to be deconstructed but wreak havoc for many marginalized groups.