In our culture we use pictures to capture every "big" moment. Newborns, progressive family pictures, first day of school, prom, engagements and weddings and so on. But what can a picture, so full of love tell us?
To the right are 2 engagement pictures of a random couple I found online. We can call them the SUBJECTS and OBJECTS in this case. They are beginning a new part of their relationship, but what can their body language tell us about their relationship, and more generally how our culture views engagement and love?
Look at the picture on the left. See how the man is slightly over the woman, is a body practice that is not uncommon. It ARGUES us into thinking men have more power than women. Its not only the size difference, but the way he stands compared to her, as she leans against the tree, he turns. He wants her to feel comfortable and at the same time shows her that he in in control, without ever saying a word.
The picture on the right does the same thing. The woman has to work harder for the kiss. Yes, some of it is physical difference, she is naturally shorter, but she is also stretching up more than he is leaning down. Who has the control?
As young people look for a "soul mate" most tend to search for the fairy-tale ending. The knight in shining armor or the damsel in distress! It could all be traced back to Disney movies (I know someone did a blog on that last weekend.) We are ARGUED into our beliefs at a young age, without even knowing it, and once we are older we don't even think to question what a relationship should be. We have essentially become DOCILE BODIES, reenacting our childhood dreams through body placement in pictures.
I feel like this picture shows a lot for what we have been studying. The other thing I think of during pictures is how the person is truly feeling. That no matter what the emotion the person has if the picture is meant to be happy, the subjects will be smiling. That a person could truly be upset, annoyed, and etc. How people strive to have a docile body to always be happy and to always be enjoying life. I also agree with how the man is standing compared to the women and how this shows the power that the man has. Even in a picture like this that is usually staged or the subjects being put into a position that the man would be placed in a way that seems as if he has more power than in woman.
ReplyDeleteThere are some interesting points here. What I find slightly upsetting while reading this is that I was bothered by what you were saying. My initial reaction was that you are over thinking something simple and there is no reason to be against something so normal. This is what is upsetting. What you are saying is true, and I am so trained that my first reaction to this reading is that it is absurd. What I also find disturbing is that women, even me, enjoy this feeling of power over her by a man. A man being larger and taking control is something that I find attractive in a man. Great reading on something so simple.
ReplyDeleteA photograph captures a moment that can be interpreted into many things. You pointed some good facts here when you were describing the picture. I understand that body language also interprets the way we feel. When I look at these two pictures, I find it pretty silly how distant they both are in hugging and kissing one another. The man seems to be more engaged in the photo shot. He happens to reveal more of his feelings for her and where he stands in their relationship. The lady on the other hand just seems to look awkward. How she is posing and standing does not look natural. She seems to be distant from him and she looks as if she is holding back from fully giving in. You would think if they are really 'IN LOVE' they would be more passionate in each others presence and not be so shy in front of the camera. This picture makes it look like they just met and are still getting to know one another.
ReplyDeleteEngagement pictures are always fun to analyze. It's a perfect example of a body practice and from what you've said and the comments above, it's obvious how much people read into a single moment in time between a couple that is staged in the first place. Even the fact that it's necessary to announce engagements with a picture that was carefully selected from an hour long photo shoot says a lot about how visual and even vain our culture has become. It makes me think of picnik and all the features on digital cameras and everything else we do just to make ourselves acceptable to others. Really good example.
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