WEEK THREE 9/27

Men On The Outside - The Male Gaze

Men On the Inside - The Male Gaze

 

Ways of Seeing: John Berger

Quote 1: “To be naked is to be oneself. To be nude is to be seen naked by others and yet not recognized for oneself.” Pg. 54

Response: This quote stuck out to me because I could fully understand what the author is trying to say. Being naked has a positive connotation that implies you are being your true self and authentic. Being nude has a negative connotation because it suggests that you are being exposed for everyone to see and judge without any knowledge about you.

Quote 2: “A man's presence is dependent upon the promise of power which he embodies. If the promise is large and credible his presence is striking. If it is small or incredible, he is found to have little presence.” Pg.45

Response: This quote suggests that a person's impact or presence is linked to the potential for power they carry. When they convey a strong and believable promise of power, their presence is commanding. However, if their promise of power is weak or unbelievable, their presence diminishes significantly, which is something that is true in the present day with how men are seen.


Bell Hooks Understanding Patriarchy

Quote 1: “He was taught that a boy should not express feelings. I was taught that girls could and should express feelings, or at least some of them.” Pg.19

Response: I strongly relate to this quote. Being a man, I have been taught by my father and other men in today's society that expressing emotions is only for women. However, I completely disagree with this notion and always encourage men around me to express their feelings. It is something that every human should do, regardless of gender. It greatly benefits the mind and is something that I admire and promote daily.

Quote 2: “Citizens in this nation fear challenging patriarchy even as they lack overt awareness that they are fearful, so deeply embedded in our collective unconscious are the rules of patriarchy.” Pg. 29

Response: This quote suggests that a lot of individuals in society have a fear of confronting or questioning patriarchy, even when they are not consciously aware of it. The statement implies that the rules and expectations of patriarchy are deeply rooted in our collective subconscious, affecting our actions and hindering any attempts to challenge this structure.


Bell Hooks Oppositional Gaze

Quote 1: “Before racial integration, black viewers of movies and television experienced visual pleasure in a context where looking was also about contestation and confrontation.” Pg. 117

Response: This quote refers to the time of racial segregation when Black people watched movies and TV shows. It explains that for Black viewers, watching these forms of entertainment was not just a way to relax, but also a way to resist the racial inequalities and biases of their society. They had to deal with a divided society where even watching the media was a way to challenge the existing racial biases and inequalities. This shows the difficult situation Black audiences faced in trying to enjoy their media and create social change.

Quote 2: “It is difficult to talk when you feel no one is listening when you feel as though a special jargon or narrative has been created that only the chosen can understand.” Pg. 125

Response: This quote emphasizes how difficult communication can be when one feels that their ideas are not being accepted or included. It highlights the frustration of feeling ignored and left out when certain words or stories are used that only a few people understand. This creates a barrier when trying to understand the specific narratives and words.


NY Times: Art That Looks at What Women See

Quote 1: “A portrait does not have to be the image of an individuality, conceived as an island no one could access but the portraitist. A portrait can be the way to plunge into the sea of life.”

Response: This quote stuck out to me because it sheds light on how a portrait is not just a simple representation of one's individuality. It can serve as a gateway to explore the complexities and richness of their life and encounters, revealing a deeper comprehension of their being and the environment they reside in.

NY Times: Ana Mendieta, a Cuban Artist Who Pushed Boundaries

Quote 1: “As an immigrant, Mendieta felt a disconnect in the United States. The trauma of being uprooted from her Cuban homeland as a girl would leave her with questions about her identity and make her more conscious of being a woman of color.”

Response: I can relate to this quote mainly because I am the kid of Mexican immigrants who left their country so that I could grow up in a better one. Growing up as a first-generation immigrant there were a lot of different teachings that were being pushed on to me. My Mexican parents tried to push their culture and teachings onto me, while the U.S. school system was teaching me others. It made me question who I was and what my identity was but eventually, I was able to live with cultures and learned how to cherish both.


What is the Male Gaze? - The Male Gaze refers to how men see women sexually. It refers to them seeing the female body as an object and as something they can own.

What is the Female Gaze? - The Female Gaze refers to how women see everything that the male doesn’t. It refers to them seeing their character, emotions, and true nature.

What is the Oppositional Gaze? - The Oppositional Gaze refers to the critical and resistant way in which Black people, mainly Black women, have historically looked at and engaged with visual media, such as films and television. Instead of passively accepting or internalizing stereotypes and representations imposed on them.