Photography

One idea that stood out to me from Monday’s presentation was the difference between Sensuality and Sexuality. This idea was made very clear when looking at the different ways certain models were photographed when the pictures were divided into the category by who photographed them. When photographed by men, women were clearly seen as sexual beings to be observed or looked at as objects of the mind's eye. Whereas one photographed by females they were seen as intelligent beings looking directly back at the camera emphasizing the female gaze which emphasizes the contrast between the two viewpoints of sexuality and sensuality. There is a great difference between the way photographs of women are taken but there are also differences in the field of photography certain people choose. If a man photographs a woman, it is mostly seen as sexual. Similar to how men could never go around photographing young children because there would automatically be the assumption that they were perverted. Since there is so much sexualization around the female figure, men just can’t look at women the same way women do. I think this is a sad reality but it is the truth. If you don’t believe me, ask Mr. Oxton when the last time a guy at Govs photographed a girl without her shirt on. Never. But a plethora of female Gov's photographers over my 3 years here have photographed men and women in half to almost full nudity. That says something about what is acceptable in our society today and how stereotypes and stigmas can encourage certain people to make decisions that may not be in their interest but are safe. So I don't think it is that all men photograph women in a sexual light, but due to stereotypes those men who choose to photograph women accept the fact that people will talk about them anyway so they photograph how they would like. This problem has stemmed from the incredibly unneeded sexualization of women.