Societal Images

Nicole Lemas

April 21, 2011

The focus of my paper will be on the objectification of women through the outlet of media.

“The Body As Cultural Text” by Lisa Wade, March 16, 2011

“Ambient advertising may have that same message and/or images as traditional advertising but it seeks to have interaction with its environment or given location."


            The ambient advertising seen in this post is one of a woman’s legs being impressioned by a park bench about a sale on ‘short shorts.’ She herself was wearing short shorts, sat down for a while on the bench and then stood up and walked away as a literal billboard. What shocked me in this ad was the lack of humanness in the object, who was in fact a human. It was like watching a piece of clothing being branded and going on the conveyor belt for final production. The frame of the ad was from the behind, from the waist down. What I see from this framework is how media has compartmentalized the female body. We no longer see the whole of the woman; we must break her down only to represent her thighs, buttocks and breasts all separately. This makes it so much easier to objectify women if we can’t even see the totality of them!
            Advertising reflects a social norm or else we would not be attracted to it. This social norm is so subtle yet dangerous. It makes the woman compliant with the reality that her body is not hers. It is for sale, on sale, at the discretion of the consumer. This lack of humanness in advertising leads to more socially accepted norms such as violence against women. If we cannot see the woman as a whole, whom is capable of so much more than what her body represents, we can justify any harm we do to it. This is a very disheartening way to see how advertising and our acceptance of it perpetuates the inferiority of women.

“Finally a Women’s Movement Men Can Get Behind” by Lisa Wade December 9, 2009

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bMcFAER3mE&feature=player_embedded

            The movement for eradicating women’s breast cancer is something well supported and well publicized. In this clip from ‘Men For Women Now’ in support of the National Organization for Women we see how even a serious issue such as cancer is belittled to merely a parody. Kevin Connolly’s message is humorous, his tone brash and his time obviously short. Yet in this :47 second clip he clearly is able to celebrate women’s objectification. By switching the word “breast” with “boobs” it creates the issue at hand to be one of inanimate importance. There was no reality shared in this clip about the struggles of the disease and the deep sorrow women have after losing their breasts. If anything it was a slap in the face from a man who has no clue the fragile uncertainty these women face. As the author stated “they are people, not just tits!” So again, we see that women are inanimate objects even in the face of very daring times. And to be covered up as a man speaking out for an organization being in support of this cause? That’s the real joke.

“How Objectification of Women Makes Women Hate Each Other”

 by Linda Wade, July 13, 2008

http://youtu.be/oelU2CSkxtU

            I just wanted to begin by sharing how shocked I was that they even have TV shows like this! Where women try to guess in what order men will rank them according to their face, their body, and both. The author stated that “how being objectified places women in competition with each other and, thus, creates conflict and antagonism.  Thus, women are “catty” because of gender inequality, NOT because of those two pesky X chromosomes or something to do with hormones.”

            It begins with the men ranking the women behind a glass window and the women deciding what the men perceive as attractive and ranking themselves from there. To start, the set-up of the show is exactly the point of these related articles. By keeping women at a distance and blatantly objectifying them on their physical appearance men obtain and sustain all the power. I felt like the women were lab rats being tested, and they all passed! They passed the realization that women are in fact insecure about their bodies and will continue to be so because we base our worth on what other people think of us. We can no longer find our own unique, inherent beauty because if we compare our “parts” to others, we won’t match up. What we see in this clip is the length women will go to to “claw” their way back up to some power (all being based in the worth of their looks). All the while the men sit back and make a spectacle of the show and enjoy the women fighting for their approval. Sick.

Tatoo Paper #2

          The pursuit of happiness is a quest desired by many. We are all seeking a better life, a better story to leave for the next chapter. If we see humanity as an infinite library, each generation fills the pages with struggles and lessons overcome for the benefit of the next generation. Yet the sacrifices of one generation are often overlooked. The story of Mamasan and Claudia paint a clear picture of perpetuating history all the while trying to shift the current story.

            Mamasan had begun her journey as a comfort woman during the war. Being at the disposal of men was her reality. “After her youth was swallowed up by the appetites of young men, she’d fled from Korea poor, pregnant, and disgraced” (McKinney 129). So, she sought a new life and picked up her bags and headed east. Ken related Mamasan’s story to his own when he said, “immigrants from Asia looking for something better, just like my ancestors, instead finding the same damn thing” (McKinney 106).And that ‘same damn thing’ included more exploitation and more money-hungry driven motives. We are all conditioned by our history, and what Mamasan knew was that of her “comfort” past. Thus rose her kingdom where she created her own empire at the expense of other young, eager girls. It was “a real rags-to-riches story”(McKinney 104).

            At Club Mirage “on any given night, every type of thirsty man came crawling in” (McKinney 108). And Mamasan catered to every one of them. My question is, what is creating this kind of “drought” for men and what exactly ‘quenches’ this thirst? It is this appetite for accommodation that damages the very ones who are forced to accommodate. Ken said it well amidst his own destruction while working for Mamasan when he stated, “I figured I had found my religion, hedonism, and it was led by a god who didn’t answer dreams, but instead drowned them out in a pleasant way” (McKinney 104). The dreams that Mamasan originally had for her daughter, Claudia, were drowned out by the instant gratification of money, power and status within her own right. And therefore “history dried up, and in its place rose an imported way of life” (McKinney 97).

            The irony in the relationship between Claudia and her mother is that a double standard had been set, and therefore no real progress was allowed to unfold.

Claudia said, “My mother knows the lifestyle sucks, and yet she perpetuates it for her own profit. I don’t get it” (McKinney 130). This is a prime example where Mamasan is working within the system to gain resources for her family, yet is then confined and trapped to that life and nothing beyond. So in one way she is giving opportunities to her family through money and direction, but the reality is, her direction is stagnant. She is worshipping the idol of money to solve her problems. Ken said “after a while I became what she was, I became a son who worshiped the same idol” (McKinney 106).

            Claudia knew the work her mother was doing was for her benefit but she also knew that it didn’t change anything. She said “my mother let the ugliness of her past rule her” (McKinney 129). To me, this is the moral of the story. No matter what strides we take for the betterment of the future, we are all in some ways ruled by our past. Those demons we’ve all faced along the way have created a new space inside us, created a newfound capacity for growth. It’s how we manage that new space that defines our next chapter. We can see it in Mamasan being a slave to her own empire. We can see it Claudia not being able to reach far enough beyond her current situation. We can see it in the violence and destruction of Ken and his family. So the bigger question is: in our lifetime, are we every really able to change our past for a better future? And if we are, how persistent does the next generation have to be in order to maintain that new precedent? “One leads while the other blindly follows. It takes trust” (McKinney 125). We are all blindly following the path our ancestors have paved. It’s a matter of trusting that road and knowing when to begin our own path for our next generation that determines the future.

Entourage

ENTOURAGE – SEASON 2 Episodes 11-13

            “Maybe You Can Have It All.” The hit HBO series “Entourage” boasts this motto for good reason. The characters lifestyle, location and leverage allow them to maintain their upper-echelon status by capitalizing on the resources they have acquired along the way. This creates an active breeding ground for multiple dimensions of masculinity. From the verbal interactions to the subtle comparisons in symbolism, this show is a hit for gender exploration.

            Even the first episode’s’ title of “Blue Balls Lagoon” suggests that there is foul play somewhere to be had. The opening scene introduces Turtle, the complacent chauffeur, and Vince, the rags-to-riches actor, rehearsing lines in which one part requires a long awaited embrace. Turtle snaps “I ain’t huggin you!” which then sets the tone for more hyper-masculine exchanges. The scene following establishes “E”, Vince’s manager, and Drama, Vince’s half-brother as interdependent characters who always has his best interest in mind. The fact that the entire relationship of all men is based upon their struggle to stardom is a concept well-endorsed as the “American Dream.” The only difference is the network of characters supporting the star, Vince, is not able to equally share the spotlight, which leaves an unbalance of power and status looming after every episode.

            Hegemonic masculinity is accepted and fostered amongst the inner circles of this Hollywood central show. One characteristic of hegemony is that is a very public matter with all parties concerned. A great example of someone following this protocol would be Vince’s abrasive booking agent, Ari. He is willing to step on anyone or anything in order to get his way to the top of the social totem pole. A reoccurring illustration is how Ari treats his gay personal assistant, Lloyd, who also happens to be Asian. Any chance Ari has to assert his masculinity, he will. For example when Ari’s job is being threatened he turns to Lloyd and says,” Do you want to make it in this industry or fold shirts at a Chinese laundry?” Not only does his comment ring in racism, it also gives Lloyd little chance to actually make a choice of whether or not to help Ari in this instance. After Ari is fired he asks Lloyd to come with him on his behalf to maintain “face” in front of the entire office. By making such a scene, Lloyd has to comply with his subordinate role and agrees under pressure. He is however able to say this to Ari as they exit; “Promise you won’t say anything about my race or sexual orientation?” Ari responds “I can’t promise, but I can promise I’ll always apologize after.” Even in this final statement of the episode, it leaves Lloyd in an inferior position where his request is clearly undermined.

            The maintenance of social stratification is constant throughout the themes expressed in each show. The marginal masculinity is upheld with Drama trying to attain Vince’s status yet can never attain it. It is also seen with Turtle, the obedient driver who, in his decked out gear and “bling bling,” may visually represent someone who has status but who obviously does not. Each individual represents some form of a gender performance and power struggle. A unique case of complicit masculinity is how “E” may not particularly believe in the system in which he works, yet he doesn’t challenge it either. He is in many ways benefitting from its existence by supporting Vince’s lifestyle. The “family” complex that is seen between all the men in this picture requires each person to contribute something to the greater good of their unit. Whether it is performing in films to bring in the big money or simply feeding the media fire to keep a name in the papers, every person contributes somehow to this type of system. Yet amongst a seemingly “functional” family, they are operating in a very dysfunctional system of social stratification. Plus when a situation shifts, so does the status that had been given with the previous position. Thus creating a situational theory to maintain and perpetuate.

            Each scene provides more affirmative statements that strengthen the masculine tension. Upon entering a scene one guy may greet the others with “hey idiots!” while they respond “what’s up asshole?”. The inferiority complex is also apparent in the 12^th episode when Drama and Turtle are allowed an adventure where they attempt to make a rapper a big time name. The exploitation begins here where Drama tries to relate to his counterpart through colloquial language. He saunters over to the new talent ‘Saigon’ and calls him “brother” and claims to be “strapped.” The dramatic change in language also shows how much power a seemingly powerless Drama has when put up against another inferior individual. All in all, this show capitalizes on the resources or lack there of, of many people in society. The extravagant props and relatable characters make it easy to digest for a compliant public consuming these messages. What is most ironic about the popularity of this show is that by us as consumers supporting the meanings expressed in each episode, we are inadvertently perpetuating the entire separation and hierarchy of the entire system.

The Tatoo

THE TATOO

Culture is created through passion which cultivates tradition which is then defined throughout history. Each element is needed in order to obtain and perpetuate autonomy. In “The Tatoo,” inmate Kenji illustrates his ‘hard-knocks’ life story through immense waves of anticipation, rage, vulnerability and growth that dictate his childhood in Hawai’i. His grandfather said it all when he told Ken “history is who we are” (McKinney 31). And quite the history Ken has had thus far.

Ken had his braddah Koa by his side through all the growing pains of local upbringing. He was a savior to Ken. Koa took in a damaged, isolated little boy and made him “a knight in his kingdom” (McKinney 70). The Windward Side was their Kingdom; and rule it they did. They were warriors together side by side; a true brotherhood. Koa was the forefront, and spoke candidly about his hatred for the haoles. “They’d taken his land. They killed his culture and therefore they’d taken his humanity” (McKinney 70). The identity of Hawaiians were stripped; left nothing more than a few tiki’s and coconuts to represent their heritage. Coping by alcoholic binges, cocaine and marijuana highs, Ken and Koa were destined to fight their way to freedom. “These fucking haoles, pick and choose what they like from other cultures and flush the rest down the toilet. One-stop shopping. We don’t get to shop; the medicine is forced down our throats” (McKinney 9). This forceful response of feeding a culture is the last resort for any future. The Hawaiian identity is drowning with each generation. Some are fighting for air while others find refuge by floating in compliance with the way things are.

            There are many lessons to be learned throughout our lives. For the male youth in Hawaii, hatred, violence and substance abuse are what is learned to be acceptable outlets for the frustration they all feel. Ken said “I learned at an early age to keep my questions to myself” (McKinney 16). By accepting a ‘taboo-like’ mentality in a society, it allows bigger issues to be left unsaid. Perpetuating silence among an already suffocated people has tolerated extreme opposites in hopes to resolve. With a lack of educational opportunity and exposure to other ways of life, it seems that the warriors that once were, have lost the battle. Ken captured this feeling of defeat when he stated “More than anything in the world, I’d come to hate the feeling of helplessness the worst” (McKinney 51). Without any valuable tools or resources, the locals have come to terms with what has been dealt to them by accepting their reality and embracing it with humor and rage. Each generation has past on a deeper resentment.

            The ideas and stories shared in this powerful novel surprised me with how relevant it actually was. Living on the windward side, I had my fair share of experiences paralleled to Ken’s past. Albeit I wasn’t exactly the local, I was allowed to see a side of Hawaii I had never imagined. Bartending at a dive bar in Kailua, I saw first hand the collision of two worlds under the sheltering umbrella of alcohol and drugs. Fights were an expected occurrence. I’ll never forget mopping up the blood on a reggae night when the marines and the local boyz duked it out once again. The knucklehead marines never learned. These boys were warriors, protecting their land and fighting for their honor. I could see it in their eyes. Heineken after heineken, the nights wore on with the ritual “smoke break” in between. I was so naïve. I remember picking up a bag of coke and trying to find the rightful owner. Who was I kidding? They all had a right to get lost in the high of the night. That’s exactly what they all were. Lost – within their own home.

“Once your roots dig deep within the hard soil and wrap themselves around underground rocks, they are difficult to unearth” (McKinney 78). The Hawaiian roots are so deep in this land that the issues facing the culture today will not be easily resolved. Just like Ken’s family heirloom, the katana, perched in that glass case; so is the current situation in Hawai’i. Fragile. With any moment the entire existence of a people is soon to be shattered and all that’s left is the display case of what once was.

Global Women's Oppression

Global Issue: Women’s Oppression

          Our social conditions define our perceived reality. To some extent everyone has experienced oppression; some more than others. Women in particular are a group that, although have made huge strides for equality, still remain inferior across the world. As a white female in America, my experience is drastically different compared to women in parts of Africa, the Middle East and Asia. The conditions I encounter are much more liberated due to the feminist movement in the West. However, this is not the case for women in the majority of mass populated areas. Religion, male authority, lack of rights and cultural practices keep these women silent with little to no power. Women’s oppression is still heavily prevalent, yet is somehow not only tolerated, but accepted.
          Religion is an institution, created by man, to create rules for society to abide by. Among the many vastly different religions, there is a running theme of female inferiority. The Bible states that “Men are superior to women. Jesus is superior to men and God is above all. Women should worship all of them.” (14: 34& 35, Corinthian). In other religions, the Qur’an, for instance, claims that “Men have authority over women, for that God has preferred in bounty one of them over another, and for that they have expanded of their property. Righteous women are therefore obedient and those you fear may be rebellious, admonish them to their couch, and beat them.” (Koran, Women, verse 38). Not only are these statements reiterating that females are less than and should not act out, it also allows permission in the latter quote, for the man to physically harm any female. A current example of this is the disturbing occurrences of “bride burning” in areas such as India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Because dowries are still a form of exchange for marriage, the men resume full access and responsibility to the bride’s resources. If the resources are insufficient, the female is blamed and puts shame on the family name. Because the female is tied to the man she was arranged with, there is virtually no way out. “Kitchen accidents” are then the outcome of strained monetary relations, where the woman is doused in kerosene and lit on fire by her husband. The women have no rights and no voice, which is consequently perpetuated by the communal recognition of such ludicrous instances of women being burned to death. This is a “cognitive level of prejudice,” where a major religious group acknowledges the inferiority of one group; that being females.

          Another form of women’s oppression is seen predominately in Africa called “genital mutilation.” There are multiple forms of the procedure; ranging from removing the clitoris to removing the vagina entirely. One elder who performed the rituals said that “In order to be respected in the community, she must be cut.” When asked why this practice is still held in high regard, it was only a matter of the past tribal history performing it. It supposedly reduces a woman’s libido into a subdued “proper” state. The vagina has also been said to be seen as “dirty” or “unsightly,” and therefore must either be mutilated or even completely removed. This is a very extreme case of not being ‘good enough’ in our natural state, but is all too common across cultures. The most sacred part of a woman, her reproductive system, is being violated and dismembered…all for the sake of respect and acceptance. The message that is being perceived it that as women, we are never fully presentable.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBEhynDDRkk

          In Saudi Arabia social stratification is implemented into all areas of society, at the expense of the women in the country. The apparent physical boundary appears with the hijab, or veil, used to conceal the women in public. She is not allowed to show her face, in fear of men acting upon such a seductive action. Women are not allowed to vote or drive a car. They are under strict male guardianship at all times, whether it be a brother, father or husband. This male guardian is in complete control of her every move. If she requests work, it must be “suitable” and approved by her guardian. There is sex-segregation in public and up until last year, all education was separated by gender. Polygamy is also practiced involving as many as four wives. In all of these non-disputable laws, it shows that women literally have no voice and thus have no personal freedom. Dictionary.com defines slavery as “a civil relationship whereby one person has absolute power over another and controls his life, liberty, and fortune.” It’s hard to see any form of liberation in a culture as controlling as Islamic rule. The most disturbing aspect of Saudi culture is that women have been conditioned to be so compliant that they accept their conditions under the name of Allah. But do they really have any other choice in such a patriarchal society? This is an evident form of institutional discrimination where the customs and laws dictate a certain group’s existence. The selective employment, limited education and lack of resources make it difficult for any woman to break the mold and speak out against such belittling and insulting treatment.

http://www.globalshift.org/2010/02/28/slow-changes-to-womens-rights-in-saudi-arabia

          These are just a few examples cross-culturally and internationally that women are still knowingly being oppressed and treated clearly substandard. Knowledge is power, and by exposing this type of tyranny it allows people to see their world in a different perspective and hopefully provide a voice to a seemingly silent group.

Resources

“The Elders” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-JcpNBiRcM Jimmy Carter says that “religion is the cause of female inferiority.”

http://www.bikhodayan.com/Islamwoman/10.htm

Adapted from a speech given at a seminar on 8 March 19999 held by NUS’ Women’s Campaign at Cambridge University – U.K.

Copyright © New York Times, Jan 15, 1989 http://www.aintnowaytogo.com/hotBride.htm

 “Saudi Arabia: Women’s Right’s Promises Broken.” Human Rights Watch, July 8, 2009.

“War Against Women.” CBS News, 60 Minutes, August 17, 2008.

Manipulative Media

Nicole Lemas

SOC Domestic Paper

Mayeda 2/11/11

Manipulative Media

Allen Ginsberg, a passionate poet who criticized conformity and capitalism in America, used his words as a social force demanding honesty in humanity.  He once claimed that “whoever controls the media, the images, controls the culture.” In a generation where mass media and technology has defined our current culture, it’s clear that as a nation we depend on media. Our primary source of information is found in our computers, on our TV’s and through our cell phones. Our communication is reliant on these means of contact, but what we fail to recognize and question is who is responsible for providing this information?

Politics are the key player in the distribution of advertising and propaganda. For instance, in a 2005 New York Times article, they stated that “the Bush administration spent $254 million in its first term on public relations contracts.” By maintaining a seemingly strong visual relationship with the public, any government is allowed more leeway on their actual motives. We can take Karl Marx’s ‘Conflict Theory’ into account as we see the consumer mentality of the majority of Americans. By emphasizing that there are limited resources, in whichever arena, individuals are urged to act quickly on their innate desires. This market censorship allows manipulation in all forms of the media to be a constant force.

As a culture, we are conditioned to demand instant gratification. We can see this within our relationships, our “self-help” phenomenon and even our concept of beauty. In “Celluloid Dreams” Kellner and Share (2005) point out that ‘individuals are often not aware that they are being educated and constructed by media culture, as its pedagogy is frequently invisible and unconscious’ (p.372). This insistence for immediate satisfaction has stemmed from the mass media telling us as consumers that we can have and be it all. But in reality it is deteriorating our relationships by impatience, our faith by intellect and our beauty by artificial products. Now when a question arises, an Iphone is illuminated by Wikipedia. There is no search for deeper knowledge and as a result our citizens are becoming more surface oriented by collecting what they see as the ideal being.

There is a new wave of socialization that is happening in our society where the customs and cultural norms are constantly being redefined. The way we experience symbols and interact with one another has become more and more distant. Long were the days when an individual’s audience only extended as far as their voice could carry. If anything the “freedom of speech” is being fully taken advantage of, for now everyone’s voice truly can be heard, even across borders. Globalization is happening at a rapid rate where our communication is the foundation to this spread of culture. Medium forms such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube allow people from all corners of the world to share their opinion and unique community. We can also see that these forums can also be monitored and controlled by powerful forces such as the local government. Whereas in the U.S. there is a wide spectrum of free speech, in other areas such as China, “Big Brother” is always watching. In that sense as free as we may feel in our speech, because of the easy access to media, we are all being observed.

Fear is a common emotion felt amongst every human being. It is a vulnerable state to dwell in as we gather more anxiety about the current experience. Networks like Fox News fan people’s fears by wearing a propaganda costume and calling themselves a credible source of information. Our entire institution of information is based on seducing the innocent. We long for warm and fuzzy stories to make us feel safe and secure as a society, but instead we are bombarded by negative images of racism and inequality. This then instills more fear in our communities further strengthening the discord between humanity. If the analogy “we are what we eat” can apply to the concept of nourishing ourselves with ideas and concepts fed to us by media, we are all stuffed of false impressions of our reality.

The mass media manipulation may seem very abrasive and people may even outright deny being influenced by it. But the fact of the matter is, we are conditioned and brainwashed to be exactly what the media wants us to be: Compliant Consumers. We consume materials just as we consume others culture. Which makes me question if there is such as thing as ‘cultural integrity.’ And if there is, as an American society we honor this system and will perpetuate it for years to come.

http://www.projectcensored.org/ This is a link dedicated to uncovering censored media.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJnFZKbSqxw “Dreamworlds” is a documentary about how stereotypes are highlighted and praised in music videos and the alarming correlation between violence and sexual authority in the videos and in real life.

Celluloid Dreams: How Film Shapes America (Kendall Hunt) 2010

David Mayeda, Lisa Pasko, Christopher Ramos

Kellner, D., & Share, J. (2005). Toward critical media literacy: Core concepts, debates, organizations, and policy. Discourse: Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education, 372.

http://www.globalissues.org/article/532/media-manipulation

"The Rape Of The World"-Tracy Chapman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMtvrG8_N_E

Mother of us all
Place of our birth
How can we stand aside
And watch the rape of the world

This the beginning of the end
This the most heinous of crimes
This the deadliest of sins
The greatest violation of all time

Mother of us all
Place of our birth
We all are witness
To the rape of the world

You've seen her stripped mined
You've heard of bombs exploded underground
You know the sun shines
Hotter than ever before

Mother of us all
Place of our birth
We all are witness
To the rape of the world

Some claim to have crowned her
A queen
With cities of concrete and steel
But there is no glory no honor
In what results
From the rape of the world

Mother of us all
Place of our birth
We all are witness
To the rape of the world

She has been clear-cut
She has been dumped on
She has been poisoned and beaten up
And we have been witness
To the rape of the world

Mother of us all
Place of our birth
How can we stand aside
And watch the rape of the world

If you look you'll see it with your own eyes
If you listen you will hear her cries
If you care you will stand and testify
And stop the rape of the world

Stop the rape of the world
Mother of us all
Mother of us all
Mother of us all
Mother of us all...