Unit 10 Activity 3

Unit 10 Activity 3: Stereotypes

Age/Generation:

As part of a generation defined by technology, I try my best to be in the moment with the people around me instead of spending all my time on my cell phone or the computer.

Gender:

Women are stereotyped in the role of house wife and other roles that are not true in today's society. I choose to be independent and live the way I feel fit in order to step away from the stereotypical woman. 

Intelligence:

Intelligence can mean a wide range of things, but I choose to hang out with people who share the same level of intelligence and also want to do well in school.

Athletic:

Some people think girls can't be good at sports, but being active is a huge part of my lifestyle so I don't let peoples outdated perspectives stop me from doing something that I love. By participating in school sports, as well as surrounding myself with people who like to do what I do, I find it much easier to this and just ignore all those people who tell me otherwise.

Personality:

Many people associate extroverts with partying (like in the movie Project X), but I find it is best to not care what other people think and dance to your own beat. Plus, many extroverts are happy just being around a few really good friends, which is what I tend to do. 

Unit 10 Activity 2

Unit 10 Activity 2: "Beauty" in the Media

Physical Characteristics

Male and Female Face:
Pretty eyes
Straight and white teeth
Plucked eyebrows
Symmetrical features
Distinct jaw line
Full lips
Smooth skin
NO facial hair
Beautiful hair

"Attractive"

 

In this photo the center of focus is supposed to be the perfume, however the strong lighting and use of cosmetics to enhance her face is what really draws the eye. Her cheeks are well defined and her eyes are outlined in dark brown make-up to make them stand out. Flawless skin and perfectly plucked eyebrows also add to the list of beautiful characteristics in her face.

"Unattractive" 

In this photo, the woman's frizzy hair is considered "unattractive"and is shown in the after shot in a more attractive manner. A sign of beauty in today's society can be dependent on simple things, like how  good someones hair looks.

1. Do you believe that media images or public opinion are responsible for the characteristics of beauty becoming universal stereotypes?

2. Do you believe people admiring media images of glamorous models can do any harm?

I believe that media images and public opinion are responsible for the characteristics of beauty becoming universal stereotypes. If enough people say one thing, then even those people who might not have been fully convinced before come to believe the same things. Plus, the constant exposure to the media is what really drives it home and makes a lasting impression. 

I also believe that people admiring media images of glamorous models can do harm because the it creates unrealistic expectations for body types or how people should look in general. People look at those images and don't realize that they aren't even a realistic representation of the model because there is so much behind-the-scenes-editing that goes into the pictures.

Unit 10 Activity 1

Unit 10 Activity 1: Self Image

Age/Generation: My generation is stereotyped as the generation that doesn't think for themselves. With new technological advances everywhere, my generation is looked at as being lazy and not accomplishing anything for ourselves. I think this also divides us from the generation before us, because they look at my upcoming generation as immature an unimaginative.

Gender: Even in the 21st century, women are still not held to the same standards as men. Women are definitely a power to be reckoned with in the work force, but men still hold "better" positions and tend to be unfairly favored over women. Plus, there is still an expectation that women stay home with children and do the housework. In school, some people look at girls and think that they are not as good as others, which is a perspective that needs to be changed, but nonetheless divides us as a whole.

Intelligence: Intelligence is highly regarded among many, but those who think they don't match up to your "smartness" tend to shy away from even getting to know you. Once you are classified as "smart" there becomes the expectation that you will do everything perfect and need mess up.

Athletic: Athleticism is one of the few categories that is more of a definer rather than a way of division. There is a healthy level of respect for those who have the ability to play sports and work out.

Personality: Being an extrovert is, in general, a positive trait because more people are willing to get to know you, which is definitely a plus to a person's self-image.

Unit 5 Activity 5

Unit 5 Activity 5: Landscape Depth

     In this photo, the rocks create a sense of depth for the river. The viewer will be able to look at this image and see that the river goes far beyond what they can see in the picture. The trees also help create leading lines along the river, attracting the viewers attention to the great depth of field. This image will be viewed for its natural beauty which will resonate with viewers everywhere. 

Unit 5 Activity 4

Unit 5 Activity 4: Open or Closed Landscape

Closed Landscape

Open Landscape

     Above are two pictures, one of a closed landscape and one of an open landscape. The sense of depth in the picture is much more difficult to establish, it is also a technique that a photographer may use if the sky or horizon line is not the most interesting part of the image. 

     In the open landscape, the sky is included and viewers can see the entire scene. This is a more traditional type of landscape photography. 

    Both of theses styles make the photos more open to interpretation. With the closed landscape it completely changes the scene and what viewers will see, focusing people's attention to the less obvious. In the open landscape, viewer's will interpret the landscape image as they see it in front of them.  

Unit 5 Activity 3

Unit 5 Activity 3: Landscape Photography vs. Landscape Painting

     Both of these images are examples of seascape, one of which is a photograph and the other which is a painting. The expressive possibilities in the painting are endless. A painter can look at a landscape and pick and choose what will enhance their work or eliminate what could take away from the main subject. In this case, the painter could choose to add another rock to balance the painting, or add a break  in the waves if they really wanted to. In any type of photography, the photographer has to express themselves by carefully choosing a point of view that will capture only what they want to see in the image. Photographers cannot eliminate specific objects out of the frame unless they choose a different vantage point, unlike how painters can literally create anything thing they want. 

Resources:

See where these pictures came from here and here

Unit 5 Activity 2

Unit 5 Activity 2:

Alejandro Gómez de Tuddo, Tiber River, Rome, Italy from L'objet de l'oublie Series, 2003, Lambda Print

     Both of these images are examples of photographers exploring the issues in today's society. The common theme between these two images are the fact that each deals with pollution. Both of these messages are clear and are easy to understand because the photographers make the trash or the tire in the water the main focus of each photograph. With just a quick glance, most people can easily grasp the concept that these photographers were trying to convey. 

Resources:

Check out where I got the photos here and here!