The Female Form

The interpretation of art differs greatly from person to person, and it is impossible to predict how one person may interpret a piece of art, even if it was created with a certain message in mind. In Mr.Oxton’s presentation, the class was shown photographs of a woman, many different ones, photographed by both male and female photographers. The difference in the photos was noticeable immediately when comparing the photos done by male photographers and the photos done by female photographers. In the work of the males, the female figure was posed more traditionally, “sexy”, while the work of the females with the very same figure were much more reserved, sensual, and portrayed the figure in a less overtly sexual light. It was peculiar to see the ways in which the different photographers chose to create their art with this model. It is not to say that all these male photographers were necessarily working to sexualize the model, but it was undeniable that the art of the males gravitated one way, and the art of the females gravitated another way. I have observed this very phenomenon in my own photography class at Govs. As Mr.Oxton said as well, very few, if not any, male photographers that he has taught have gravitated towards taking photos of figures, male or female, in an intimate manner. On the other hand, female photographers at Govs have repeatedly gravitated towards photographing figures, particularly females, in states of personal and private moments, or in a much more sensual manner. While this is a different kind of difference than those of the professional photographers who took the pictures of the same model, a difference between the males and females is still observed. The tendency of males to gravitate towards less personal and emotional photography, such as landscapes, is difficult to pinpoint. However, perhaps the pressures to be less emotional, expressive, and artistic that many males face could work its way into the art which they choose to create. On the flipside, females, who are more accepted for their emotions and being personal, may tend to create art which reflects those feelings and emotions. While the creation of the art itself may differ from male to female artists, so can the interpretation of art. During Mr.Oxton’s presentation, the class discussed briefly how art may be wrongly interpreted as sexual by views, despite the creator not intending for that to be part of the message of the art. I find this to be relatable as a photographer myself, as well as a manifestation of the oversexualization of women. Artists being concerned with their art depicting females being interpreted as sexual is a valid concern because of the fact that the female form is an oversexualized thing in this time. While interpretation of art cannot and will never not be able to be controlled, my thinking is that much less of art depicting females would be viewed as sexual if the figure were not oversexualized in the art by artists, and if the viewers themselves could not oversexualize the female form in the first place.