Representations

Representation #1 - The man
Previously this week in class we were asked to construct a representation of each picture we were given of an unknown person. Firstly, this man was shown to us. Immediately I noticed the man's patches on his trousers checkered shirt and old tattered scarf and cardigan, therefore I jumped to the conclusion that he was homeless and/or a very poor and unemployed man. The messy hair and the fact that he is smoking also adds to this assumption. As well as this, I noticed that he looks very out of place in his surroundings as the majority of people in the background are smartly dressed and look like they are from a middle class background.
However, if you look closer at the man in the picture, the patches on his jeans are in fact sewn perfectly and neatly and the fact that his jeans are turned up and sewn with a perfectly straight line seemed peculiar. Furthermore, the man's cardigan fits him perfectly and his plaid shirt is fairly fashionable for a 'homeless' person.
At the end of this task we found out that the man was actually Doug Bihlmaier who works for the fashion designer Ralph Lauren and in this picture is in fact stood outside one of the Ralph Lauren shops he was helping to design.

Representation #2 - The man
Secondly, we were shown this picture of another unknown man. Just from this picture I got the impression that he was a wealthy man and of a higher class background. I also thought that he was intelligent and had a well paid job that required intellect, for example a university lecturer, due to the documents he is holding in his hands. He also appeared posh and very clean cut.
However, at the end of this task we found out that the man was intact a serial killer who's name was Ted Bundy, and killed approximately 30-36 women. In this photo Ted Budny is in fact holding the documents to prove his innocence in court against the allegations towards him, the same documents that I thought made him appear an intelligent man.

Representation #3 - The woman
Finally, we were shown this picture of an unknown woman. From looking at the picture I thought this woman was a very eccentric and dramatic, wealthy woman of an older age. It is apparent from the picture that the woman has a very unique sense of style and could possibly take an interest in vintage clothing. The best phrase I could think of to describe this lady was "Over the top".
After I constructed my representation of this woman we were told that she was Anna Piagi, an extremely well known writer for Italian Vogue and was big friends with Vivienne Westwood and Karl Lagerfeld.

The Gaze

Representations from hammonda

The Gaze Music Video Analysis

Soundtrack 2 My Life - Kid Cudi (Music video)

This video for Soundtrack 2 My Life by Kid Cudi is a collection of tapes from his various gigs and tours edited and stitched together to produce a music video, with a few extra bits filmed especially and added in for the song's video.
Kid Cudi opens the video with a 'Comic' gaze into the camera lens as he is purposely pulling a face which is exaggerated and acting the fool in the snippet of film, this is a look recognised by Trevor Millum in the 1990's. Snippets of his tour are stitched together through editing for the following minute of the video, showing behind the scenes footage and gigs. However, Cudi then throws a Marjorie Ferguson 'Super-Smiler' look towards the camera, with his full head in the camera shot and a wide open, toothy smile as his head thrusts forward. He then shows another one of these gazes a matter of seconds after the first 'Super-Smiler' as he is side-on to the camera. Throughout the whole music video, Kid Cudi continues to use 'Carefree' looks towards the camera and towards other people in the scene with him, which shows his personality well throughout the video. Cudi also displays the 'Practical' gaze when he is focusing on the iPod/iPhone type object in his hands in the car. This look is a combination of concentration and being engaged in the business in hand, with his mouth closed and his eyes object directed, with a very slight frown.
I think Kid Cudi's video to Soundtrack 2 My Life is a good example of all the various 'looks' and gazes from Marjorie Ferguson and Trevor Millum as it has examples of more than one of the looks, so you get a clear idea of each one.

The Gaze, Advert Analysis

J'adore Dior (Charlize Theron) Advert

In this J'adore Dior fragrance advert, Charlize Theron is dressed in a revealing, expensive dress with a slit all the way up to her hip to reveal her right leg as she walks, which immediately catches the eye of the male, and sometimes female, audience. Throughout the advert, Charlize is strutting down a long hallway; This is a powerful walk that oozes confidence and control. Whilst striding towards the camera, Charlize is roughly throwing her jewellery (that looks expensive and valuable) onto the ground. This presents a reckless character who isn't short of money. However, as she is throwing her jewellery onto the floor, Charlize stares into the camera in front of her and into the audience watching on the other side of the screen - the look that she gives is called the 'Seductive' look distinguished by Trevor Millum in the 1990's. In this look, her eyes are less wide than usual and her expression is less reserved but still self confident whilst staring into the lens. To add to the seductive look that she gives the audience, Charlize starts to undress until she is completely naked and still strutting down the long hallway. Her skin appears smooth and shimmers in some lights, adding to the sexy appeal that Dior were trying to achieve. After undressing, Charlize looks up to the camera lens and throws what's called an 'Invitational' look, created by Marjorie Ferguson in the 1980's, just for about 2 seconds. This look has an emphasis on the eyes and the persons head is to the side whilst looking at the camera. Notice that although she removes her jewellery and clothing, Charlize keeps her high heeled shoes on - This is something we relate to strippers etc. Which then again adds to the sexy theme of the ad. Finally, the advert ends with Charlize still strutting powerfully and remaining as confident as she was at the start of the advert when fully dressed - This advert is more than likely to catch The Male Gaze throughout the whole 19 seconds. This advert is a perfect demonstration of Laura Mulvey's theory of The Male Gaze.

The Gaze

Marjorie Ferguson (1980's)
Chocolate Box
-Half/Full smile
-Lips together/Slightly parched
-Teeth barely visible
-Full/Three quarters of face to the camera

Invitational
-Emphasis on the eyes
-Mouth shut with hint of a smile
-Head to one side or looking back at the camera

Super-Smiler
-Full face
-Wide open, toothy smile
-Head thrusts forward or chin thrown back
-Hair often wind blown

Romantic or Sexual
-Includes male/female 'two somes'
-Dreamy
-Heavy lidded
-Overtly sensual/sexual


Trevor Millum (1990's)
Seductive
-Similar to cool/level
-Eyes less wide
-Expression is less reserved but still self-confident
-Milder

Carefree
-Active
-Healthy
-Vibrant
-Outdoor girl
-Often smiling/grinning

Practical
-Concentrating
-Enraged in business in hand
-Mouth closed
-Eyes object directed
-Sometimes a slight frown
-Hair often tied back or short style

Comic
-Deliberately ridiculous
-Exaggerated
-Acting the fool
-Pulling faces

Catalogue
-A neutral look as of a dummy, artificial or wax like
-Features may be in any position, but most likely to be with eyes open wide and a smile
-Looks remain vacant and empty with personality removed

Instititution and Audience Introduction

One of the films I have been to see recently is The Watch. I was desperate to see the film as soon as it came out because of the cast that starred in the movie, this included Ben Stiller, Jonah Hill, Vince Vaughn and Richard Ayoade. Alongside this, the trailer that promoted the movie did not reveal all of the storyline so therefore I wanted to go and see the film to find out how the movie concluded. As well as this, the trailer hinted at pieces of comedy which is the type of genre that I enjoy watching most. I was really impressed by the film and enjoyed watching it; the film surprised me with the stroyline and there was some hilarious moments in the film that I wasn't expecting. Overall, the storyline and the moments of comedy put together made a really good film, in my opinion.
Another movie I went to see was Ted. I was even more eager to see this movie because the trailer was full of hilarious punch lines and comedy snippets from the film. However, whilst I was watching the film, I realized that the film was made up of all of the funny moments from the trailer and there was nothing I hadn't seen before which was unexpected. In addition, I felt that the storyline was poor and there was no real plot behind the comedy. Therefore I was not impressed with the movie at all.