Dimond cameo is the idea of multiple headshots of people but the difference between them would be the angles that the photographs are being taken at. They give a variety of outlooks on the photo and person been photographed. One photographer who used this technique is Townsend Duryea.
Photo montage –
The Photo montage technique is where the original photo may be overlapped or edited together by another photo , which causes contrast from each photo in the montage.
Double/multi exposures –
This technique is an illusion created by layering multiple different photos and using a blurring or contrast tool to almost morph them to each other and give the illusion of contrast.
These are the two definitions that appear when you google femininity def, and then masculinity def. To put them simply they both can be broken down into how society thinks you should be based on social expectations on your gender.
Femininity – qualities or attributes regarded as characteristic of women or girls.
Femininity – Much like masculinity, not just a woman can be feminine and in fact appearance, dress sense and attitude. Through different eras woman we considered to be weaker and strength would be an exercise of masculinity, where as in a more modern day people are more open to exploring and being comfortable enough within themselves to experiment with ideas like femininity and masculinity.
Masculinity – social expectations of being a man
Masculinity has many different definitions some consider it to be biological men who work blue collar jobs where as others would consider it to be the actions of others or a dress sense. The definition is ever changing likewise with femininity, it is something that can be influenced with many different things like there, for example what we as a modern day society consider to be masculine would differ from what was considered to be masculine. Things as material objects can be considered masculine, however people can also be considered masculine, from a man being typically masculine to a woman being masculine with ether their actions or appearance.
Identity Politics
Identity politics is politics based on a particular identity, such as race, nationality, religion, gender, sexual orientation, social background, caste, and social class.
Identity politics emerged out of the 1960s Black Civil Rights Movement, second wave feminism and gay and lesbian liberation. It was confrontational and asked questions about the kind of art that should be made and for whom in a post-colonial world where the history of art was being re-written to encompass a broader, less western-dominated perspective.
Identity politics are important when it comes to the idea of masculinity and femininity, being feminine or masculine or a mix can be a definition of a person and is something very personal to their individual personalities and lives. We are defined by our appearance as much as the idea ‘don’t judge a book by it’s cover’ but in reality we always do to an extent. However our appearance while being something so personal to ourselves, it doesn’t always become our identity sometimes it is just practicality and life gets in the way of expressing identity. The idea behind identity politics is to allow for people to express themselves and be allowed to be whoever they are or not, but no to be stopped by anyone else’s ideas or expectations.
Local Identity Politics
Jerriais is the local language which is quickly dying out however there is a local organisation that is working constantly to improve the awareness and learning of this large piece of Jersey’s history. The government is also working hard to increase the knowledge about the language. This is essential part of Jersey’s history as it actually began dying out because it was considered the farmers language and it was enforced only English was spoken as a language in schools to attempt to squash Jerriais and increase the use of English as the rest of the world was increasing the use of it as a main language. To help enforce this the government has implemented schemes like adding Jerriais into daily life and it can bee seen all around us, on buses and market signs and many other things. It has even become the name of a local clothing brand which will only increase the knowledge of the language.
Even in English, people in Jersey use some Jèrriais words like côtil, brancage, bachîn and vraic.
Lots of Jersey’s history has only been written down in Jèrriais – not in French or English.
On the bus the parishes are written in Jerriais on the side.
Influences on identity
Identity can be influenced by many things, the main ones being place, age, social status and generation. Within a place there are many different things that can change peoples perception on identity of themselves and others, for a large amount of people in Religious countries, their religion is incredibly important to them and therefore also makes up a large part of their identity. Things like personality are not always considered to be identity as its not somethings that makes you and it’s not always a constant. Culture and race are huge factors when it comes to identity as that is no something that can be changed and is a part of daily life, this is particularly present in simpatía communities, in which everyone has a different identity but it doesn’t mean they don’t have some similarities in their identity. Age is another large aspect of identity as it again relates to social expectations and standings, as while a child is expected to have a simple all loving view on the world without any worries, an adult has to fit their identify to the social expectations of having a good job, good social life etc etc, this is where identity can be forced and ‘edited’ slightly to fit to the rest of the worlds expectations on who you are and what you should be. As people we categorically and chemically want to be liked, as such this can be such a pressure on peoples shoulders they alter their identity to fit within the people around them, leading to shame about who they really are. As a community world wide we need to improve just how we seem to want people to change their identity to fit within out niche community rather than celebrate other people and things within them that actually we could appreciate not make them feel like they don’t fit in. Generational change is something that happens over the years and massively effects peoples identity, for example the 50’s had very different expectations of women than we do now, which is great as the world has become a more equal place with different people and we are more accepting of differences and instead we look to be a world in which peoples identity is individual to themselves and free from others views and inputs that could cause people to act as one they are not.
Culture Wars
‘In political science, a culture war is a type of cultural conflict between different social groups who struggle to politically impose their own ideology (beliefs, virtues, practices) upon their society.‘
In more recent society movements like Black Lives Matter has become prominent and important to achieve equality in the world we live in. It can be described as a culture war as it is essentially a battle between races to just simply accept one another as equal human beings.
Binary Opposites
A pair of related terms or concepts that are opposite in meaning, two theoretical opposites are strictly defined and set off against one another.
It can be a great way to experiment with masculinity and femininity as within themselves can be binary opposites or merge the lines between the two.
Here I got a few photos off the internet, which could help me do a photoshoot on good vs evil and I thought that having two models together could make the photo look more detailed, however I do have a few single model photos to take for example the man who have his hand in the middle of his face to separate the different sides, as you can see one side is hided in the dark which could represent to good side meaning there isn’t one some people don’t have a good side and only show the evil side, as the side sowing looks quite mad and annoyed. although these ideas don’t necessarily represent my artist research, I could easily link them together, the idea of being good or evil can be represented through using stereotypes of certain genders, for example boys could be seen as stronger and more powerful, this therefore makes women seen as softer and ‘better’ as they don’t necessarily have much power to make them bad. I could use a boy to stand as the evil model and ill have the girl stand on the side as a ‘good’ model. This doesn’t necessarily portray women as weaker and less powerful but through the decades its shown that women were just on the side and never player the main role, like Cindy Sherman. However, I chose a different artist as it shows how different people see genders and everyday life also the artist defines each gender as combined to show that they don’t have to separated, they feel as though gender shouldn’t be seen as a difference. For example, men shouldn’t be seen as leaders and should be neutralised, or men and women are both leaders to show equality.
Girl Vs Boy:
This idea looks more realistic to my research and makes more sense to consider. The way girls and boys are portrayed.
We could also see how girls and boys dress themselves and how opposite they are/ how similar they can be.
Using some of the ideas from above, recreating their posture and poses. I like the idea of having two different genders standing next to each other as they are very different, however they can be very similar depending on how each person believes and thinks. Each gender has a very different style and so does each race as everyone has their own beliefs and views which can show a contrast between different views although it does make the photograph look quite unusual as there are different types of themes in the photo, it could make the photo look messy and untidied, in a cool type of way instead of having everything looks professional and neat, This could be a way of representing different opinions out loud without offending anyone but simply by being yourself can help open people’s views and thoughts more wider. I like the idea of doing boy vs girl or man vs women, however if I could have had the chance, I would have liked to do women vs girl/ man vs boy, this would help us understand how people grow up and change and how people mature through the years. It could be how a little girl was interested in sports and the opposite of girly things girls ‘should do’. As girls are stereotypically seen as doing their makeup in their spare time. This little could grow up to hating sports which destroys their childhood and their possible dreams they had.
I would quite like to recreate the photo with the two children walking away from the camera, I really like it as the two children are wearing completely different clothes and have different hair styles, this shows how each gender is portrayed as, as you wouldn’t see a little boy wearing a dress, it would be seen as unnormal and weird which isn’t the right word to describe it as.
Masculinity – It is a set of attributes, behaviours and roles that are generally associated with men and boys.
Femininity – It is a set of attributes, behaviours, and roles that are generally associated with women and girls.
Binary Opposites – Two things that relate to each other that have an opposite meaning, e.g. strong vs weak or young vs old.
Stereotypes – A widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing. There are many stereotypes about men, women and others, some of these stereotypes are that men can’t wear dresses and must be very masculine. Another example is that women must stay at home and do house work.
The different influences on identity
Many things can affect people’s identities, here are a few examples:
Different cultures may play a role in people’s identities, for example you may have a different way from doing something compared to someone from another place because that’s how you have been brought up or taught, or you have a different way of thinking because of social standards in certain countries, for example a women’s role in a marriage.
Another way that impacts identities is social class. For example, according to stereotypes, someone with a poor background may turn out to be more rebellious, however if they were born in a much more richer environment and social class they be more authoritative. Social class affects people’s identities by giving them different ways of seeing the world, this can play an affect on who they want to be.
Gender roles or stereotypes also have a huge impact on people’s identities. Society has created gender roles which affect how people expect for example women to act or look. In some cases gender roles only state that there are only two genders and both have to look and act a certain way. In some places these expectations are very reinforced among several cultures.
New ideas about sexuality and gender helps and encourages some people to explore and discover their true identity. For some these new ideas can explain how they feel about themselves and their own preferences. It can help determine what they actually identify as instead of identifying as something they feel like they aren’t.
New technology allows people to change their identity by, for example, fully converting into the opposite sex and start taking e.g. testosterone which makes them more masculine.
Definitions and other words that associate with identity politics and culture wars
Identity Politics: A wide range of political activities and theoretical analyses rooted in experiences of injustice shared by different, often excluded social groups. This term was coined by the Combahee River Collective in 1977, it later took on a widespread of usage in the early 1980s, then it had gained currency with the emergence of social activism.
The identity politics’ aim is to support and center the concerns, agendas, and projects of particular groups, in accord with specific social and political changes.
Some examples of volatile issues that are usually addressed in identity politics is abortion, homosexuality, transgender rights, pornography, multiculturalism, and racism.
Social Activism: Working with other people to bring about a change in society. It aims to defend human rights wherever they are threatened or violated, and at whatever level.
It has played a huge role in ending slavery, challenging dictatorships, protecting workers from exploitation, protecting the environment, promoting equality for women, opposing racism, and many other important issues.
Some examples of this being seen is in a protest, strikes, petitioning and so on.
Social Injustice – The unequal treatment of a group of people within a society, which results in one group being at a disadvantage.
Some examples of social injustice are discrimination, income gaps, racism, food insecurity and many more.
Culture Wars: A conflict between groups, especially liberal and conservative groups, that have different cultural ideals, beliefs, or philosophies.
An example of a culture war is the controversy over gay rights and homosexual marriage.
Marginalization – It is the treatment of a person, group, or concept as insignificant or peripheral.
Examples of marginalized populations include groups that are excluded due to race, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical ability, or language.
Own view on identity politics and culture wars
I believe there are many positives and negatives with identity politics and culture wars, some of which have a huge impact of society.
One of the positives are that identity politics are an effective strategy to combat discrimination and marginalization. It helps people who are more exposed to hate and discrimination get equal rights or at least have their voices heard. These political debates challenge established views on equality and bring about an alternative demand for identity-based equity as a better approach.
These debates demand that the world becomes more equal. It threatens people in power and forces them to make a change because it destabilizes their control over people.
On the other hand, identity politics identifies and addresses the differences between people which could prevent people with, for example, different backgrounds, ethnicities, identities or experiences find commonality between the rest of society. It also primarily focuses on experience.
A negative that comes identity politics is culture wars. These wars tend to result in violence and conflict because of miscommunication or tension build up from opposing social groups who often have different ideas and beliefs.
I think identity politics helps people who suffer from discrimination and marginalization get their voices out and be able to fight for equal rights, but it can lead to consequences such as violence and criminal activity and because of different beliefs and views about certain subjects like abortion.
qualities or attributes regarded as characteristic of women or girls.
“she alternated between embracing her femininity and concealing it”
This can be understood as being a social construct, a characteristic interpreted differently in each culture around the world. Generally speaking, this is associated with women or girls and is used in photography as a form of self-expression of someone’s identity. However, the use of this in magazines for example can create societal expectations such as beauty standards, as these images can present an unrealistic idea of a woman which can be damaging. Traits traditionally cited as feminine include gracefulness, gentleness, empathy and sensitivity, typically very stereotypical expectations of how a woman should behave or act. The term ‘femininity’ has been adapted over decades, for example during more traditional times women were seen to be fragile and loving, to stay home and be maternal. However, this idea is stereotypical and moving forward, women are breaking this boundary that was created.
A good example of femininity photography is Cindy Sherman:
Cindy Sherman is a female photographer who portrays female stereotypes of the 1950’s and 1960’s. When creating her images, she is not only the photographer but the subject too, masquerading as different women in society. Each image creates a high level of suspense, mystery, disguise, melancholy and vulnerability. These stills encapsulate femininity during this era playing on the feminist idea that gender arises exclusively within culture and deconstructs dominant gender ideologies. This is extremely powerful because it represents the underside of the ‘definition of a woman’, breaking a barrier from the idea that a woman or girl should act a certain way in society.
The definition of Masculinity:
qualities or attributes regarded as characteristic of men or boys.
“handsome, muscled, and driven, he’s a prime example of masculinity”
Masculinity is also considered as a social construct, with an altering meaning in different cultures and societies. Traits traditionally viewed as masculine in Western cultures include strength, courage, leadership, power and assertiveness. When women’s labour participation increased instead of having to consistently be maternal, there were men who felt less comfortable in their masculinity because it was increasingly difficult for them to reconfirm their status as the breadwinner, due to the fact that they were no longer the only provider for the family. The concept of masculinity alters through history. For example, in religion or even Greek myths, stories are told of men being powerful gods and heroes, battling to protect their wives, setting the stereotype and expectations for men to be strong and fierce. This led to the idea that men or boys must act a certain way too, for example they were expected to be unemotional or to not cry otherwise this made them weak. However, through time, this idea is slowly being broken down similar to femininity, as while society grows people find more ways to express themselves and try to not fit into set categories of behaviour.
CLAUDE CAHUN:
“one of the most curious spirits of our time.”
Claude Cahun is a perfect example of someone who wanted to push the boundaries of gender roles in a stereotypical society.
Claude Cahun, born Lucy Schwob was a French photographer, sculptor and writer. her most well known work is her surrealist self-portraits in which she represented a multitude of different personas. Moving to Jersey in 1937 with her stepsister and lover, Marcel Moore, she resisted the occupation taking place on our island. During their lives together in Jersey, the women decided to mount an underground resistance campaign following the Nazi’s occupation of the Island in June 1940. The two campaigned against them, provoking them in a risky manner for four years until 1944 when the Gestapo investigated them. Narrowly avoiding a death sentence, the two were freed from prison on the 9th of May 1945 following Jersey’s Liberation. Remaining on the island until 1953, Cahun suffered from ill health which unfortunately resulted her passing in hospital on the 8th of December. After this, Moore continued to live on in Jersey for many more years until sadly ending her own life.
Her life was a representation of resistance, defying the conventional ideas of beauty and femininity with her shaved head and male attire, challenging them. This was almost revolutionary in the 1930’s, being in a same-sex relationship and exploring her identity in a difficult time period of traditional values. Whilst Claude Cahun was alive, she produced many pieces of work which The Jersey Heritage Trust collection represents. Her work challenged the politics of gender and identity, alongside the work of many male Surrealists who depicted women as objects of male desire. She used domestic settings such as a cupboard at home and introduced something interesting and new to this environment, exploring gender fluidity.
For example, in this double exposure image, Cahun is seen with a shaved head in men’s clothing in a monotone way. Her explanation was “Under this mask, another mask; I will never finish removing all these faces.”1 (Claude Cahun, Disavowals, London 2007, p.183)
Claude Cahun’s work is important in society today because it breaks down the idea that females must be feminine or males should be masculine, being a vision of gender fluidity and breaking down the gender roles that were traditionally assigned. This pioneered gender photography.
CLAUDE CAHUNS WORK:
I especially like this image because holding the mask in her hand represents taking the mask off and being yourself, acting the way you feel most comfortable in. This screams out her views on life and represents what she believes in which I find really powerful.
The themes of ‘Femininity’ and ‘Masculinity’ are a binary opposite – a pair of related terms or concepts that are opposite in meaning. Using binary opposites can be helpful when gathering ideas for a photographic project as it provides a set of boundaries to work in when creating photographs.
The term ‘binary opposition’ originated in Saussurean structuralist theory in Linguistics (scientific study of language).
Examples of other Binary Opposites:
Good and Evil, On and Off, Up and Down, Strong and Weak, Black and White, Hot and Cold
Themes surrounding Identity:
gender identity, cultural identity, social identity, geographical identity, political identity, lack of/loss of identity, stereotypes, prejudices, etc.
Definitions
Femininity: a set of qualities, attributes, behaviours and roles generally associated with women and girls.
Masculinity: a set of qualities, attributes, behaviours and roles generally associated with men and boys.
Cindy ShermanClaude Cahun
Cindy ShermanClaude Cahun
Masculinity and femininity can be understood as a social construct, and there is also some evidence that behaviours considered as either feminine or masculine are influenced by societal expectations and cultural factors, rather than being biologically driven. This means that a person’s upbringing and environment can influence their identity and way of expressing themselves.
Some photographers, such as Claude Cahun and Cindy Sherman, challenge and play with the stereotypes and expectations of femininity and masculinity and examine the construction of identity.
Claude Cahun
Claude Cahun was a French surrealist photographer, sculptor, and writer who was born on 25th October 1894 in Nantes, France and died on 8th December 1954 in Saint Helier, Jersey. Cahun referred to herself as ‘elle’ (she) in her writing, but also said that her actual gender was fluid. She began taking self-portraits as early as 1912 (aged 18), around 1914 she changed her name to Claude Cahun, and continued taking photos of herself throughout the 1930s. In Cahun’s work, she incorporated the visual aesthetics of Surrealism, which in photography, represents unconscious ideas, dreams, and emotions.
