Roland Barthes is a brilliant man who’s genius is sometimes far too great for the likes of college students like us to understand or even begin to grasp at first glance. This is why we as a group are thankful that we were able to delve into the inner workings of Barthes the structuralist, rather than the Barthes Band 1 had, which was Barthes on acid. However, no matter what state of mind he was in, his texts are still very difficult to break down into meaning without some dedication and serious critical thinking skills. Therefore, our group really had to keep one question in mind when trying to create this presentation: So what does it mean???
Our discussion focused mostly on the photographic message as well as the significance of memory work. We defined the photographic message as the denotation and connotation we get from pictures and its surrounding layout. We discussed whether a photograph can actually be denoted or if we are only allowed connotation. We also investigated Barthes notion of six connotation procedures. The first three (trick effects, pose, objects) must be separated from the last three because the connotation “is produced by modification of the reality itself, of, that is, the denoted message.” While the other three (aesthetic, photogenia, syntax) reside on a more subconscious, historical plane. However all six do benefit from the status of the denotation in that the viewer may not always see the photographers preparation prior to the moment the picture is taken. All in all the most important point is that we all see these images differently because our own personal historical and cultural experiences.
After reading, our group came together to discuss what he was really trying to say. This proved to be very helpful because what one of us didn’t understand, the other was able to explain. We brainstormed ideas for what to do and immediately decided that there was no better way to explain Barthes notion of this photographic message, than with the use of photographs. Then, we went on to decide that having each of us focus on a specific section to present would be the best way to formulate our presentation. It simply made the most sense because one is always better at breaking down and fully understand one section of something rather than trying to become an expert at the whole entire thing. This separation of sections also allowed us to add our own individual flavor and personality to our sections and then come together as a group to make it all flow together through language and imagery to create our own interpretation of Barthes’ photographic message.
Bridget eased the class into the presentation with the introduction and the photographic paradox, Jordan gave them some context using imagery to explain connotation procedures, and Chase brought it home with text and image and photographic insignificance. Each group member did their best to draw meaning from their respective texts and translated that meaning to their classmates. Of course, we each needed help from one another along the way as we hit little bumps in the road, but nothing completely deterred us from our goal.
Our photographs did a fantastic job of driving each point home and the connections we made to Kuhn’s, further confirmed and illustrated Barthes’ message.
Now that it’s over, we just hope we were able to accurately and interestingly answer the question we began with for our class. Now the only question left to ask is… Do know what it means? If you do, then we have effectively done our job.
14 comments:
My first thought in regards to the cover was that the magazine was trying to be "controversial" by having semi-nude presidential candidates on there to increase sales by grabbing the attention of people browsing magazines on a newsstand.
And when I say it's "controversial" I am not speaking of what the image is trying to imply (if anything) I am just speaking of them being naked and of the fact that the photo is clearly photo shopped. This goes along with Barthe's idea of connotation procedures, more specifically in this case Tricks Effects to add meaning to the picture. But recognizing that the picture is not real, does requires some previous knowledge on American politics and of the candidates themselves: in that you know that they would not pose for such a picture. That is what I mean by it being "controversial."
So with that knowledge in mind, the person recognizes that the picture is in fact "photo shopped" and thus has to figure out what the intention or meaning behind the decision to create the fake photo was. Why did they decide to put semi-nude candidates on there and arrange them the way they did?
Having previous knowledge is very important in figuring out the meaning or intention of the photo.
For example, I don't know Radar Magazine and thus can't use their views to guide me in interpreting the image. Is it supposed to be humorous, ironic, controversial? Also, might the image been a "reproduction" of some famous painting/portrait I don't know about? If so, would that have changed my interpretation of the meaning of the photo?
Having previous knowledge can also lead to more questions/doubt, such as: is it significant that Giuliani, a republican, appears to be whispering a secret into Hillary's ear, a democrat? And why is Obama alone and looking dejected? Are there some real life implication here?
So, via memory work, we take our own individual, limited knowledge and use it to interpret the meaning; what remains to be seen though is if your interpretation matches the author's intent.
I still don't know what the magazine is trying to imply with the poses and semi-nudeness, and given my limited knowledge, I think they don't mean anything by it or like some obscure joke, I am failing to see the reference.
Also, given my business major background I'm under the suspicion that the picture was only used to increase sales and nothing more. This is further evidenced by on the cover where it does tie in the phrase "naked ambition" so maybe that simply could be the whole reason for having them be naked, and any other implications are the reader's own.
-Thiago
Band 3; Chad
I think that this images depicts all six different aspects of connotation. The main two are trick effects and pose. First of all you can tell that all three were photoshopped onto this one image and that all three were wearing what they were wearing or in obama's and holary's cases not wearing. The second big thing you see here is pose. The positions of hilary and rudy are as if there secret lovers t\, how rudy is whispering in her ear and how hilary isnt wearing anything which could be objects. Its a hgood example of all the six different connotation procedures
This picture is a perfect example of Trick Effects and Poses playing a role in how this picture is being precieved.Eventhough Barthes said that a syntax requires movement for the photograph to be comic,it definately carries that "typification" clause. This is clearly a good use of photoshop.
My first impression when seeing this picture was obviously one of repulsion. The picture seems to simply be intended as a humorous jab towards our politicians intended to shock us. Yet the intention seems to go a little beyond this.
For me, it calls to mind a few pages of Jon Stewart's America: The Book, in which each of the Supreme Court Justices's faces are photoshopped onto pictures of old nude bodies. Even if these pictures may be fake, they seem to suggest something to us, as aware as we may be of photoshop technology. What such a technique does is take a powerful, political figure whose position seems to expect a high level of respect, and show them in a different light that is humbling and very human. Without the fancy suit (or in America: the Book, the judge's gown), these political figures whom are entreated with such dignity and respect are at the same level as everyone else--they are merely human.
Yet there is more to this, for as we learned from Kuhn, the text that we see around an image can help to lead us in the direction of the message that that image was intended to give. As we see below, the text on the cover promises "20 pages of mudslinging, dirty tricks, and naked ambition." And so we can see the intention of the picture to give a shocking image of the foulplay and truth-bending antics of our politicians, hence the image depicting them in such a scandalous, promiscuous pose.
I remember the vanity fair issue that this image is based on. I wonder if Barthes has a special section that is reserved for the art of photo parody? Anyway...
this image does not result in the same negative repercussions as the example presented within the Trick Effects section (about senator Millard Tidings). The reason for this is that the image is intended to be cheeky and evoke humor. In order for this intention to be possible the point of reception (audience) must be up to date on either politics, pop culture or both.
~Cynthia
When I first saw this photo...i had no idea what to think. It is just so out there and is so out of the ordinary.
First of all, let's face it, America loves sex and sexuality. Sexuality is what draws us into most ads and magazine articles; it is a point of interest for many in our society. We are intrigued by sex. So at first I thought that this cover was a way to appeal to all Americans because although not all Americans are intrigued by politics, we are all to a certain extent intrigued by sex. This magazine draws readers in; it makes them want to open up the magazine and read more about the candidates. I think the magazine was using the photo of naked candidates as a muse or a hook to try and attract attention. As I've talked about before, society loves drama and controversy. This was apparent in Barthes' The World of Wrestling and is very apparent in this magazine cover. We like to be surprised and shocked. This is exactly what this cover does. To go along with Barthes, this photo is no doubt a display of trick effects, or photo shop. According to Barthes, trick effects in a way manipulate how we think. By using trick effects, we are in some way moved past the analogen, or denoted message. There is not much left up to the feelings and emotions to interpret the meanings of the photo. Instead, the artist or photo shopper tells us what to think, creates for us something to look at or something that he wants to draw attention to. The artist forces us to overlook denoted ideas and instead skip over to connoted ideas. In this case the artist is attempting to draw attention to the presidential candidates through nudeness. This photo says so much more and breeds much more interest than a photo of the candidates in suits, waving to a crowd. It sparks interest and shock and surprise. It draws at the connoted ideal that nudity is not to be shown by the future leaders of our country; nudity is far too "shameful" for famous or influential people. That is why this photo creates controversy, to almost call attention to the taboo of nudity. Although Americans enjoy nudity, it is not something that is seen as tasteful by society. When actresses and famous people are shot naked by the paparazzi, a great stream of controversy and shock entails. The public is outraged by the celebrities’ "irresponsible acts." This brings to mind Barthes' ideal that connoted ideas are based on history and culture. We must have some certain idea of common stereotypes and ideas within society in order to accurately interpret this picture. We know that nudity is not widely accepted. We know that presidential candidates do not pose in the fashion that this magazine article depicts. Thus, we must be aware that the artist of this photo is calling something else into question. He is using these social taboos to call attention to and spark interest in the presidential nominees. Because, what better way to get to the American public than through controversy?
-Alena Thomas Band 3
Mia Lopez
This Imaged reminded me of the use of Trick Effects.. I feel that this image was in some way making politics seem more about who is more "popular". This type of image would have not been seen by the public 20 years ago. The Picture makes you think what message they are truly trying to send to the reader and Bartes explains how this process is done.
This picture represents most of the 6 elements Barthes talks about in 'The Photographic Message". Obviously, it engages in trick effects, as well as pose (altered by trick effects), photogenia, and syntax. The connotated messages are infused throughout this magazine cover like no other. The clever play on words in the text "Dirty Tricks! Naked Ambition!" is there to mock the media and their superfluous issues that seem to dominate their sphere of influence. It also kind of hits on how scandal in politics is nothing new. Alexander Hamilton was the first politician to have a public sex scandal, however many before him, such as Thomas Jefferson, had records decorated with affairs and sexual relationships. Does a person's personal sex life really reflect their ability to lead effectively? Is it really an issue to be fired over? This cover is very clever in its use of tricks on photoshop.
"To find this code of connotation would thus be to isolate, inventoriate and structure all the "historical" elements of the photograph, all the parts of the photographic surface which derive their very discontinuity from a certain knowledge on the reader's part, or, if one prefers, from the reader's cultural situation(28)."
Once recovered from the shock value of the image, if one considers Barthes necessity to evaluate the photograph from a historical and cultural perspective the cover is quite cleverly conceived. Obama lays belly down below Hilary and Rudy segregated, emphasizing the distinction of skin color. Hilary smirks as she poses naked between two men.. way to stick it to Bill. As for Rudy, he looks like a man with a secret. The connotation of this photograph is ingenious for its ability to draw on the network of popular and political culture to engender individual thought.
*Band 2 I really enjoyed your presentation and images!
The image is meant to be shocking, and I think that they clearly met their goal. Anyone that looks at this image is at first taken back by the sight of nude presidential candidates. The Photographer used Trick Effects, in order to create an image that is not real. Obama, Clinton, and Giuliani would never agree to be in a picture together, let alone nude in a picture together. The absurdity of the situation makes it a funny photograph. As a culture we know that his picture violates all of our societal norms, and presidential candidates are supposed to follow all of society’s norms, that is why the photo is funny. Also the pose of the individuals in the picture creates a sexual feel. The way that Obama is position lying down looking out is a very sexual pose. Also the way Giuliani is whispering in Clinton’s ear creates a feeling of sexuality. As to why the editor of Radar wanted to show the presidential candidates in a sexual pose is beyond me. I guess there goal was to be funny and shocking.
Michael
I think that the magazine cover was a really great example for Mindsight to use in their presentation, because it demonstrates several of the connotation procedures. The most obvious would be trick effects, since the picture was photoshopped. Like Cynthia already mentioned, this cover didn't have the same negative results that Barthes describes with Millard Tydings, because everyone realizes that the candidates didn't really pose nude for the cover. For that reason, it is intended to be humorous. Another connotation that is very prevalent is pose. The "bodies" of the candidates are very strategically placed.
At first glance, I was immediately drawn by the scandalous nature of the photograph. The American public has a fixation on sex, and the editor of this photograph understood that. When a magazine with a racy cover is on the shelf, readers' eyes go straight to it.
This image was created using trick effects. I am not quite sure if there was much meaning to it besides to catch readers eyes and make sales. To be honest, maybe I only feel that way because I haven't thoroughly researched the issues. For me, looking at this picture provokes the idea that politics are grimey. Im not sure if that's what the editor was going for, but that is my personal interpretation.
Besides the trick effects, pose is also a major factor in this photo. Though they are juxtaposed, they are used to tell a story. The suggestive poses play on the American infatuation with sex. Hilary has the classic female "look at me looking at you" pose.
The image also leaves me with many questions. Why are Obama and Clinton naked? Why is Giuliani not? Why is Giuliani whispering in Hilary's ear? These questions almost pierce me. If I saw this on the shelves, I would want to read more. This was the perfect example image.
Shayna Tucker
My first reaction after looking at this picture was to laugh. It’s hard not to laugh seeing Obama naked in that pose and Giuliani fully clothed whispering in Clinton’s ear in a very sexually way while her being naked. My second reaction which someone in class stated was thank god McCain was not pictures there lol. This then leads to one of the connotation procedures mentioned by Barthes being used, which is pose. All of them are expressing very sexually poses. Trick effects is clearly being used unless I’ve been mistaken all along about Clinton and Obama’s bodies. This was a perfect picture for Band 2 to use being relevant in every way possible, it incorporated some of the connotation procedures, evoked humor, and related to current events.
You all got some fantastic responses, no? Excellent image choice!
Great work on your presentation. I still owe you all a presentation grade...I'll email you about it later this week. In the meantime, you get 100 A+ for Blog 4.
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