Calvin Klein essay

How does Calvin Klein represent females in the above advert? Are they objectified or sexually empowered?

Firstly one could argue that Eva is shown as being empowered by Calvin Klein and there are a number of reasons which support this.

Firstly, if we focus on her legs you can see that she is standing in a powerful stance; legs apart and her hands on her hips this is often adopted by people who are angry or in charge of a situation, she would seem to be giving it “attitude” as the colloquial kids say, this still certainly empowers her. Next I’m going to draw attention to the camera angle used to photograph her. It can be seen that it is a low angle photograph, giving her more height and a greater sense of power. She looks taller than she would and this is aided by the fact she is wearing high heels shoes. This gives us the impression that she is a strong, powerful person. Lastly I’m going to say that the use of her eyes is clever. The way Calvin Klein has made her close her eyes, emphasizes her underwear thus giving her control because everybody else is stuck staring at her.

However, you could argue that Calvin Klein were certainly trying to objectify her, there is enough evidence to suggest this is correct.

Starting with her face, always a good place to start, you can see that she has damp hair. This suggests that she has just come out the shower and the head flick with the clenched teeth suggest a certain sexual nature to the photograph such as her sex face or orgasm face. Moving down I can comment on the slyness of Calvin Klein. By giving her a more “masculine” bra the viewers attention is drawn to her legs and groin area, which has more being revealed than her top half. I’ve already mentioned how her manly stance is empowering but the fact that she isn’t wearing a wedding ring isn’t. This doesn’t give people the impression “I’m in” it gives the idea that she is going to be dating and that she isn’t married. Most people think that those who are dating have more sex than those who are married. Whether this is true or not I don’t know but the impression is important. Obviously what she is wearing is important in objectifying her. Her suspenders are very important in this, they add a kinky element to the photograph and they are generally associated with “sexiness.” Even her feet are objectified by the use of high heels; they make her legs look more attractive and make her look taller. This aspect works both ways, for empowering and also on the side of objectifying. Lastly, I’m going to refer back to the idea of her having just got out of the shower. This suggests she has been getting washed to go out and the fact she dresses like that suggests she is going out “pulling” bringing back the idea of sex. Also, Calvin Klein seems to have oiled her to make her more attractive to the opposite sex.

When all these points are put together I think that it can be seen that there is overwhelming evidence of this being made for the males in society and that Calvin Klein are objectifying her.

British T.V drama Cast Off's

Select one character from a British T.V drama and explain how they are a "stereotypical" representation of your area of study.

My area of study was disability. I studied how disabled people in the media are portrayed and presented to those who are without disability. In doing this I studied five main areas and how the disabled character I was studying was presented in these areas. I was looking at the character Dan from the British T.V drama Cast Offs.

Firstly I am going to start with the clothing he is wearing. Previously when I studied disability I noted that often disabled people in T.V shows are shown to be wearing what I called "house wear" this is comfortable clothing that is easy to wear. By this I mean they were never really shown to be wearing smart outfits like say, businessmen do. Dan is wears similar items to what I would describe as a casual look. He wears clothes such as jeans with hole in them and a hooded top. This is what I wear when I am at home "chilling." (Accept less of the holed jeans because frankly, not so cool.) Dan's disability is that he is in a wheelchair after damage done to his back. Now he may choose these items of clothing because they are more comfortable to sit in.

I move onto then the setting of the show. This however doesn't have much to do with the fact he is disabled and doesn't "stereotypically" present anything which people would relate to being disabled. Thinking back to what I found when I researched this there isn't anything in the show that would suggest that they live in rundown houses or squalid living places like disabled people are presented to live in in the media.

Moving on, when Dan is on camera he is often filmed from a far of distance and he in nearly every shot some aspect of him being disabled is shown.
In one shot he is shown looking into the mirror and a whole scene is shot from the reflections in the mirror. This seems to me to indicate him reflecting on his disability and even to reiterate that Dan is disabled by showing mainly wheelchair.

His personality trait shows many different angles of him. Both stereotypical and not stereotypical. Understandably he seems to be struggling with his new found disability, however this isn't focusing on stereotypes.
One stereotype that I did notice however is that his parents still treat him like a child. Especially when his dad says "Bed time son" and Dan replies "you don't tell me my bed time anymore" This is more understandable if I hadn't failed to mention he is in fact 19.
Next he seems to be shown as being lonely. He is part of a basketball team and is constantly trying to earn their respect but is lacking the self confidence to work as part of the team, this lacking of self confidence is stereotypical because often disabled people have more charisma than many able bodied people.

Finally the plot is a Big Brother style plot, with six disabled people having to cooperate and show the outside that they can function properly. They are stranded on a island together. When Dan is stranded he is shown struggling to make his way up the beach. This the last stereotype I'm going to pick up on. Yes it would be hard for a person in a wheel chair to wheel over sand and up sand dunes but it isn't this fact I'm picking up on, it is the fact that he was shown struggling, suggesting disabled people struggle.

Trevor Millum

Seductive:

A milder smile with the eyes lesss wide.

Carefree:

Active and healthy look, likes the outdoors and is often smiling.

Practical:

Concentrating, engaged in business. They look like they're working.

Comic:

Over the top smile, which often looks exaggerated.

Catalogue:

The person is looking vacant, like a dummy. Eyes will be open wide with a smile.

Majorie Fergusen

Majorie Fergusen identified four types of facial expression used in British media.



Chocolate box



 Chocolate box:

• Smile is half/full
• Teeth barely visible
• Looks sweet, hence the name



Invitational



Invitational

• Emphasis on the eyes
• Seducing someone or "inviting them"

Super smiler

Super Smiler:

• Shows all the face
• Big happy smile
• Hair often wind blown

Romantic/sexual

Romantic or sexual:

• Often includes two people. Can be of the same sex
• Dreamy/heavy lidded
• Sensual

The male gaze-Laura Mulvay

Feminists see the gaze in three ways:

• How men look at women
• How women look at themselves
• How women look at women

film audiences have to "view" characters from the perspective of a heterosexual male.

Features of the male gaze
The camera lingers on the curves of the female body and events which occur to women are presented largely in the context of a mans reaction to these events.
This relegates women to the status of objects. The female viewer must experience the narrative secondarily by identification with the male.

Sexualizing of the female body even in situations where female sexiness has nothing to do with the object being sold is common to help promote the object to men. E.g cars.

Leon Festinger

Stereotypes shape public opinion. They are narrative shortcuts which orientate the audiences expectations. Some people argue that stereotypes are fixed and unchanging

• Mass audience-all people share the same views
• Hypodermic theory-Injects an idea into people

Festinger believes that we resist changing our opinions unless faced with overwhelming evidence against what we believe. Cognitive distance is when our "brain" encounters new ideas and rejects them because they don't match our expectations. This is know as reflective or a two way believe.

Questionnaire

What genre of film do you prefer?
Action	2
Horror	1
Animated	1
Comedy	3
Romance	1
Other	2
How many times do you see a movie at the cinema a month?
1	1
2	3
3	2
4	0
other	4
Which do you prefer 3D or normal?
3D	5
Normal	5
Do you by Blu-ray Dvd's?
Dvd's	9
Blu-ray	1
None	0
Do you think your next T.v will be 3D?
yes	1
no	9
What do you prefer, American or British?
American	7
British	3
Do you download films illegally or legally?
Legally	0
Illegally	2
neither	8
Have you got a blu-ray player?
yes	3
no	7
Have you ever been to an Imax theater?
yes	5
no	5
Do you follow movies online?
yes	4
no	6
Do you prefer American or British Actors?
American	7
British	3
Do you prefer sweet or salted popcorn?
sweet	8
salted	2
Do you like prequels or sequels?
prequels	2
sequels	6
neither	2
Do you prefer Star Wars or Star Trek?
Star Wars	5
Star Trek	2
neither	3
Are you signed up to Love film?
yes	2
no	8