Interpreting Aleatory

DEFINITION. 

I initially denoted aleatory as as being art created through random choice or luck. The use of this idea allowed me to think and analyse about control and how much control we choose to have, how much control is given to us or how much control is created. Having this in mind I researched into control in the media and how much content is realistically exposed to us as audiences. Most of the time acting as passive audiences we allow our selfs to absorb the content given to us without any hesitation. Examining censorship and the portrayal of women in mainstream media  allowed me to create a final piece with strong and prominent visuals. 

CENSORSHIP IN MAINSTREAM MEDIA / SOCIAL MEDIA. 

Focusing on the unnecessary censorship of the female body in main stream and social media  i created a moving piece highly influenced by my visual communications background. Extracting both still and moving visuals from Godards' films i used the viewer's cultural capital to create a digital collage with iconography from mainstream online platforms. Jean Luc Godard was my main reference an i believe i have created a visually commutative piece using his content. The main films i looked into was A woman is a woman is a woman and Masculine and Feminine.  

WHY DID I WANT TO FOCUS ON THE FEMALE BODY? 

The female body is one of the most broadcasted image in media and social media, this is mainly due to the exploitation of the female body along with  the social and cultural exploitation / objectification. The contradictory nature of the sexualisation of the naked female body in film, tv and advertisements is problematic due to the often censored image of the female body when coupled with desire. In conclusion when linked to female sexuality or liberation the format is highly censored and limited. This often creates the notion that the female body is simultaneously a source of desire as well as shame. As  to the counter part the male sexuality is treated with great importance in society and in media and film. Certain narrow cinematic idea of female sexuality still manages to objectify the women it claims to focus upon. Even outside of the heterosexual sphere, cinema is still permeated by the male gaze and the examples of this are visible in every aspect of media. 

I wanted to use the male gaze in many of these scenes in response to the objectification fo women in media/ film/ tv today. Using the windows error sign was a conscious decision as the viewers are culturally conditioned to examine its significance. Its an iconic symbol and the viewers are able to use their cultural capital. 

I think the contrast between the black and white imagery to the bright blue and tint of yellow creates a juxtaposition for the viewer. The background imagery is very minimal and simplistic, this juxtaposed with  the colour in the windows signs adds conflicting ideologies for the viewer. This also makes my introspective for the viewer as they can examine their own relation with the media and censorship. I guess my intend was the viewer to see if they view the female body with a male and gaze and to help them identity this and common it can be in media.

The film still Godard films adds to the complexity of the context as it reminds the viewers that the objectification of  the female has bene prevalent throughout cinema and is still is an issue. 

As well as having a visual element, I wanted to included audio which would go hand in hand with the moving imagery. Throughout the clip, there is an exert of a woman say "une femme est une femme" , which translates to a woman  is a woman. I think the implementation of the audio makes for an interesting relations between the audio and visuals, especially when accompanied with noises of scratches and audio of the windows error page coming up. Mid way through the clip we see the audio getting quieter and deteriorating, the sound of the woman slowly fades away and we cut away to the windows error page taking over the clips audio. 

 I wanted to include the youtube logo as its widely recognisable and universally understood. Youtube is one of many social media platforms that censor female nudity however they still benefit from female objectification due to many of its content which gains them viewers on their platform. i wanted to show case this contradictory nature of social media platforms. Youtube
usually monitor the videos on their
website

Towards the end of the clip i juxtaposed the censored image with images from playboy magazine covers. This created a highly contrasted visual, i think the opposing images by both of the images evokes a feeling of analysis and self reflection from the viewer. Playboy is culturally associated with the sexualisation/ objectification of women. I have used this to my advantage by making the message for the viewer more clearer with these covers. The images are always portrayed through the male gaze, which position women in a state of being scantly clad. I wanted to portray our society unhealthy, contradictory relationship with the female body/sexuality. Which i believe i have achieved through an extended.