1. Better Lives: Reflection of Lecture 8
Empathy
The ideology of human empathy comes from identifying with and understanding. Consider the emotional response you had the last time you saw watched an advert about the neglection of animals or the other day when you encountered a homeless begging in the street. Empathy is something every human can relate to, yourself included.
The lecture delivered by Lorriane Gamman unpacked an abundance of topics in relation to the theme of empathy. Designing with empathy, empathic fashion, inclusiveness, empathy and representation were some of the areas that I engaged with most.
Sexualisation of Females in Fashion
From billboard campaigns to editorials, it is blatant that the objectification of females is still at large. Whilst the fashion industry remains tying to incorporate diversity, inclusivity and the female gaze, it is evident that we still have a long journey ahead of us when trying to imagine fashion without female sexualisation.
Gamman discussed misogynistic fashion and certain advertisements including the 2010 Calvin Klein campaign shot by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott. One image centres a near-naked model, Lara Stone, amongst a number of men who are depicted intensely groping and grabbing her. The advertisement was pulled from the public eye after The Advertising Standards Bureau received numerous complaints that the image suggests the rape and violence.
Glorifying Violence and Rape
One thing that caught my attention was who was on the other side of the camera to Lara Stone, a male photographer duo – Mert and Marcus. The fact that two males captured this moment glorifying the rape of woman, enhances the exploitation of females in fashion. It isn’t hard to see the obvious sexism, sexualisation and objectification in this image.
Upon reflection of Calvin Klein’s blatant disregard for the empathy of domestic violence and rape victims, I began to wonder if it was possible to display these painful subjects in a way that wasn’t offensive or insensitive.
Whilst I conclude that females have been objectified by being displayed in visual content for erotic impact largely driven by male consumerism, I wonder if you take the image away from a fashion and advertising context would some stigma be removed? If the image had been photographed by a female photographer would more be removed? If the image had been used to promote victim awareness as oppose to being part of a money-making system, how would it be received?
Awareness and Empowerment
Take Nan Goldin’s 1984 self-portrait titled ‘Nan one month after being battered’. This image is highly regarded because it promotes a message of strength and resilience from a survivor of domestic abuse and signifies the end of a relationship between a victim and abuser. I wonder if I could use my photographic practice to support a similar message of empowerment of domestic abuse survivor’s whist promoting awareness, in opposition to using violence against females as an advertising technique.