Cultural Studies Project - Report Example

Cultural Studies Project - Picture Analysis Inserts His/Her Inserts Grade Inserts 03 June 2009 Question -1 It is common knowledge that most people are attracted to films, either bewitched by its beauty and splendor of the film field or of the popularity it offers. Regarding the common folk, they consider the field of cinema as a magnificent one and they often show a tendency to take certain scenes to their hearts or to imitate the heroes they come across in films. However, there are some religious factions, who strongly oppose the medium of cinema and the followers of these religions are strictly banned from watching films. Though there is such kind of restriction existing among different religious groups, they violate the rules very often. An analysis of this issue reveals the fact that fanatics/extremists strongly oppose films and terrorist groups like Taliban often threaten or sometimes murder people for watching films. When attempting an evaluation, one can understand that “these fanatics dismiss cinema as an evil way of entertainment and yet they obviously have been deeply influenced by what they saw in the movies” (Woody Allen, provided by customer). The best example for such an attack, influenced with films is none other than the September 11 attack of US. Here one can see the terrorists imbibed the tactics and energy motivated by films which portray attacks of the similar kind. The ever time hit films like the Pearl Harbor (25 May 2001, USA), Air Force-1 (25 July 1997, USA), Carlitos Way (1993), Artificial Intelligence: AI (29 June 2001). Escape from New York (10 July 1981 (USA), (OC Adult Movies 2006) and so on might be the motivating factor for these terrorist groups in conducting attacks like 9/11. In Air Force-1, one can see hijackers seizing the plane carrying American president and his family. There are similarities in the 9/11 attack and the film Air Force-1, where one finds terrorists or hijackers gets the control of the plane. Though the film Air Force-1 ends happily, the hijackers/ the Taliban terrorists crashed two planes on the twin towers of World Trade Centre and killed thousands of people. One can conclude that though the terrorist groups oppose cinema, they are deeply influenced with films and they very often use it for executing their evil purposes, by justifying it as the ‘holy war’. Question no-2 Today commercial advertisement became an inevitable part of consumer society. In case of tobacco industry, the advertisements are so luxurious and costly. The producers of these advertisements want to gain maximum attention of the public. The given picture is an example of typical commercial advertisement of cigarettes. The first advertisement illustrates a sporting event, which portrays the background of a battlefield. The dark figure of man on the picture may be a soldier or a man with exceeding personality, born in an aristocratic family. As he has illustrated with different and royal personality, common people may misinterpret the use of that particular brand will provide an extra power and will be capable of solving problems. Cigarette smoking plays a vital role in Western culture where most of the people consider it as the symbol of aristocratic life. The second picture presents some mischievous feelings to the mind of the viewer. It reveals the hypocrisy of 18th century Victorian England. The physical appearance of the woman in the second picture provides the message of deep sexual desire and the man behind the curtain is the symbol of false morality of high-class society. When analyzing the history of smoking, one can see that the influence of mythical ideas in smoking. People think that it provides an extra power of self- control, and the part of their personality development. “Cigarettes are meaningful because they address the two things we cant live without.” (Brody Alan 2009.) They thought that smoking has psychological relations with sex and death. The smell of cigarettes is helpful for sexual stimulation in women. The man in the first picture also expresses the colonial mentality of Western community. Though Victorian people in England have suffered from religious barrenness and social anarchism, their appearance was quite gentle and royal. The second figure raises questions against existing social morality and it indicates the sense of illegal relationship between a man and woman. After the analysis of the pictures, one can assume that both figures express the dealings of an elite group in society. Question- 3 Democracy ensures personal liberty and rights of a person and it provides people the chance for considering the feelings and needs of others. The real democracy is possible only through the curtailment of personal freedom. The given picture is very simple in its external appearance but it conveys a deeper message. One can interpret the first picture as the illustration of an ideal person. A person who followed some ideologies or principles in his life, whose words and actions are highly subjective. It expresses the mindless conformity and in other words, the man merged with the society because of the pressures by circumstances. Whenever a white man mentions about Blacks, he tends to express his hegemony through his words and one can see the influence racial discrimination in him. The second one conveys an opposite message to the first. The man in second figure is a person who has flexibility in behavior. Here specific hairstyle and clothing are the symbols of a person’s impotent protest. The man in second figure reveals his emotional and circumstantial protest against the existing social system through his expressions. Even the principles of democracy provides manifestations of personal freedom, some times democratic principles become an instrument or conveying hegemony of a particular person, institution, society, and community. The words of A.G. Gardner makes it clear when he says, “Often you may have to submit to a curtailment of private liberty in order that you may enjoy a social order, which makes your liberty a reality”.(A.G.Gardiner (n.d.)) The implementation of democratic principles in a society is an intricate job, which should consider the choice of civilians; otherwise, it may become a part of discursive formation. Through dressing, way of speaking, behavioral pattern, and so on, a man becomes the representative or symbols of a particular institution or a community. It also provides some serious notions about the misuse of personal liberty. Question-4 Deconstruction is the concept of attributing more than one meaning to a particular text. If one analyzing the picture by using the concept of deconstruction, one can attribute more than one meaning to it. As the first step of deconstruction, when one observes the picture without a prejudiced mind, one can visualize the picture of two men turning backwards after watching ‘DANGER’ board. One cannot find any enthusiasm or fear on their faces, passes by casually. One can interpret the two men illustrated in the picture are the symbols of modern man who is leading a carefree life. He does not have the thought of imminent dangers of his life, simply neglecting them. Another possible interpretation of the picture is that modern man always wishes to approach things with a prejudiced mind, delineating everything in his style. He depends on others for his own benefit, but other man offers a cold shoulder. He never considers the needs of his fellow beings. The picture also gives the idea that the physical appearance of two people expresses their social status. They represent a high-class society. They have formed their own ideology and way of life. The performance of the two people in this picture is an example of discursive formation in the society. They want to make their own world. When reaching the conclusion, one can reach the conclusion that the skeptic nature of modern man also reveals in this picture. Question- 5 Psychoanalytical reading is the approach where a text or picture is analyzed as a kind of dream. “Psychoanalytic readers want to identify the concepts operating in a text in such a way as to enrich our understanding of it and maybe offer ways to "cure" the patient.”(Psyche (n.d.)) When analyzing the given picture in psychoanalytical method, one feels different images form in the mind of the observer. If one analyses the picture in a causal way, one will recognize a lady in her dressing room adjusts her headdress. As her backside is only visible, an observer cannot view her face or understand her feelings; instead some different masks of women are visible. Psychoanalytical evaluation of the picture is capable of bringing a very different image to the observer, where he can regard the lady as the symbol of the modern aristocratic woman, who hides her real face and keeping several faces at the same time. Artist has won in his attempt in sketching the different faces/ mischievous natures of the modern woman. The white faces on the picture may signify the loveless and corporal life they lead. An overview of the picture will also reveal the motivated life of these aristocratic ladies, who finds time for conjugal love and luxurious life. As they wish to lead a luxurious life, they always disregard all other factors including the familial ties, kindness, devotion and so on. The lady in the picture has portrayed as one dressing anxiously for her ‘lover.’ The background of the picture itself is suggestive as it is drawn in grey background; concord with the feelings of these women. Some of the faces looking so passionately and some other faces keep some kind of mysterious look which is symbolic of the modern women. The psychoanalytical reading of the given illustration makes one reaches in the conclusion that the lady portrayed in the picture is the true symbol of modern aristocratic women who keeps different faces at the same time. Reference list OC Adult Movies 2006, viewed 3 June, 2009, . Psyche, An Introduction to Freudian Psychoanalysis, viewed 3 June, 2009, . Brody Alan, Cigarette Seduction: How Cigarettes Brands Work, 2009, viewed 3 June, 2009, < http://www.tobacco.org/resources/general/9708cigsed.html>. Gardiner A.G., On the Rule of the Road, viewed 3 June, 2009, . Read More