Reading Response #5 (Berger)

Before You Read :

1. If I were to draw a woman, she would be facing front, probably the only focus of the picture. I wouldn't put her in a scene; I would want her to be the main point of the picture. I doubt she would be nude, though. I like my paintings clothed.

3. <a href="http://photobucket.com/images/mila%20kunis" target="_blank"><img src="http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx85/96bearcat/mila_kunis.jpg" border="0" alt="Mila Kunis Pictures, Images and Photos"/></a>

<a href="http://photobucket.com/images/james%20phelps" target="_blank"><img src="http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f259/malinwen/James%20Phelps/f26.png" border="0" alt="james phelps Pictures, Images and Photos"/></a>

I chose Mila Kunis and James Phelps. In these photos, both are depicted as very happy. However, I believe that Mila Kunis looks almost sarcastic in her picture, while James Phelps just looks generally content.


Summary:
In his article "Ways of Seeing," Berger attempts to explain the differences between the ways that women and men are depicted in art. He argues that women are always made to look beautiful, and almost objectified in art to make men think that they are the main object of the painting, and theirs to look at.

QDJ
2. Images of posed women are everywhere in advertising. Just from where I'm sitting I can see a clothing ad in a magazine on my bed with posed women. Although these women are not nude, most are posed in such a way that either men would want them, or other women would want to be them. I think that there has been a little bit of change in how we see women, but there are definitely people who still see us as objects and things to be desired rather than other people.

3. I believe that although these assumptions may have changed a bit, they are still relatively the same. A man's presence is most definitely defined by his power. When a wealthy, powerful man walks into a room, you can immediately tell. However, times have changed to the point that this can sometimes be the case with a woman, as well.


AEI
3. There is definitely a determining factor in how women are positioned today, especially when it comes to advertising. If an ad is geared toward women, a woman is not going to be posed in a provocative way. She'll be doing something that any other woman would want to be doing. However, if an ad is more for men, it can almost be guaranteed that the woman will be doing something that men will admire, or something that makes men want her.

4. I don't think humor compensates for other things. Humor is simply part of a person. I also don't believe that it falls on gender lines, although others may say differently. Men and women are both humorous, although definitely in different ways.


Meta Moment:
This was important to read because it explains how certain pictures are geared toward audiences. The fact that the article explains what appeals to people is meant to show us how we need to consider our audience and write in such a way that we captivate our audience, much as paintings are painted with a certain audience in mind.