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Rumination Week 16

Chapter 10 of Practices of Looking explores visual culture globally. One of the main ideas throughout the chapter are the concepts of globalisation. The chapter begins with looking at the history of global reproduction with the exploration of the initial techniques of woodblock and metal-plate prints to the use of image circulation on the internet. Concepts of globalisation explored throughout the chapter are cultural imperialism, time-space compression., diaspora, and deterritorialization. An example of cultural imperialism was the use of Donald Duck in pamphlet criticising the “capitalist exploitation of Latin America” (Sturkin, 2018, p.392). Globalisation has also changed the way films and television series are produced and distributed. The chapter mentions that Hollywood no longer holds a monopoly over the film industry and these changes have occurred due to an increase in global diasporic popular culture.

A particular section of this chapter that peaked my interest was the concept of cultural imperialism as a form of globalisation. The example of Donald Duck used in the chapter reminded me of a Wired article I read about Disney and cultural imperialism, “The Ever-Expanding, Profit-Maximizing, Cultural-Imperialist Wonderful World of Disney”.

Disney is often used as an example of cultural imperialism or “disneyisation”. An example constantly used to showcase this cultural imperialism in the Disney theme parks spread across the world that sell “all-American fun” (Weber, 2002). Disney not only sells these American ideas of fun but many of the Disney characters have television shows in multiple countries and languages were there are only slight wardrobe changes. These characters, however, keep with the same traditions and values of American culture.  

The picture I have attached is an example of this, with the Disney characters dressed in traditional Hong Kong dress for Hong Kong Disneyland.

Daps Magic. (2020). Hong Kong Disneyland Resort Celebrates Mickey During The Year Of The Mouse [Online Image]. In Daps Magic. https://dapsmagic.com/2020/01/hong-kong-disneyland-resort-celebrates-mickey-during-the-year-of-the-mouse/

Sturken, M., & Cartwright, L. (2018). Practices of looking: an introduction to visual culture (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press.

Weber, J. (2002, February 1). The Ever-Expanding, Profit-Maximizing, Cultural-Imperialist, Wonderful World of Disney. Wired. https://www.wired.com/2002/02/disney-4/

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Week 12 Rumination

The chapter Postmodernism: Irony, Parody, and Pastiche talks about postmodernism and critiques surrounding the idea of postmodernism. The chapter dives into the idea of postmodern design and one of the kay aspects of postmodernism “is the turn from the copy and representation to simulation” (Sturken, 2018, p.307). The explanation of Disneyland and other theme parks helped me to understand this aspect. The chapter also explains how “irony is a crucial aspect of postmodernism’s knowing address” (Sturken, 2018, p.321), this is explained by many modern artists referring to the idea of ‘self-knowing’. Sturken also explains the idea of remixes and how remixes occur only because the audience knows the original text and references. One area of the text I am having a harder time understanding is the idea of Pastiche. From what I can understand from the book and the lecture is it is just reusing other things? Similar to irony?

For my attendance on Wednesday, I noted how the television series Fleabag was a comment on postmodernity, after doing more research about modernity and postmodernity I found a few articles that further commented on Fleabag specifically as an example of modernity. The show fleabag focuses of reflexivity and distant knowing. The way Fleabag address the audience throughout the series provides great examples of this. In his article Fleabag, Modernism, and New Television, Martin Shuster writes:

“Fleabag is the first piece of new television to address in a sophisticated way the technique of direct address, thereby shifting the focus from thereby shifting the focus from direct address as a technique towards us, the audience, and thereby locating this technique as an element of the world Fleabag, no more explicitly or exclusively addressed to us than anything else in that world” (Shuster, 2021, p. 330).

The video link I’ve provided is a scene in season 2, episode 3 where there is an interaction between Fleabag and the Priest that addresses the constant comments and looks made towards the audience.

Adreon. (2020). Fleabag - Where did you just go? [YouTube Video]. In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJBksdTtn00

Shuster, M. (2021). Fleabag, Modernism, and New Television. Canadian Review of American Studies, 51(3), 324–336. https://doi.org/10.3138/cras-2020-013

Sturken, M., & Cartwright, L. (2018). Practices of looking : an introduction to visual culture (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press.

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Week 11 Rumination

This chapter talks about brand culture and how brands become a part of life. Sturkin mentions that this culture is not just found “in the culture of commodity” (p. 258) but “inside the corporate structure” (p.258).  This chapter also compares the consumerism space from the 19th and 20th century to what it is now. This is shown through the explanation of shopping malls and arcades compared to the branding of the movie Frozen as well as the idea of DIY culture. Another topic discussed in the chapter is brand ideologies through social awareness and how brands sell humanitarianism, “marketers attach meanings of social responsibility, civic engagement, environmentalism, and feminism” (p. 283). 

I mentioned this in my attendance for Wednesday, but I think its interesting to note how brands now must be socially aware and sell humanitarianism. I say this, as most of the brands really pushing these ideas out in their advertisements and marketing are the brands that are well known for being controversial with their ethics and practices. Commodity fetishism really stuck out to me in the reading. The idea that brands are promising and selling ideas that they would not be able to achieve (Sturken & Cartwright, 2018). A more relevant example of this is fashion brands supporting and raising funds for Ukraine. Below is a screenshot of an Instagram post from Kering. Kering is a group that owns many luxury fashion brands such as, Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, and Gucci (Sen Gupta, 2022). I think this is a great example of a brand selling humanitarianism.  Many brands throughout this crisis have shown support and boycotted Russia to market and show social awareness.

Sen Gupta, M. (2022, March 4). Fashion brands are helping with the crisis in Ukraine. Here’s how. Lifestyle Asia Singapore. https://www.lifestyleasia.com/sg/style/fashion/fashion-brands-helping-with-crisis-in-ukraine/

Sturken, M., & Cartwright, L. (2018). Practices of looking : an introduction to visual culture (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press.

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Week 8 Rumination

This week’s reding from chapter 5 ‘Visual Technologies, Reproduction, and the Copy’ explores topics such as, technologies, agency, power, and the copy. Sturkin examines how technology has shaped not only how we see the world but how the world can be transformed through what technologies we see it through. One particular example used is the photograph, Sturkin mentions “photography emerged as a popular visual technology because it fit certain merging social concepts and needs” (pg.186) Throughout the chapter it is discussed how the copy used to diminish certain art forms but as it gained more popularity, reproduction and the copy started to increase the value of art.  

This chapter, like most of the book, has made me super aware of the things and technologies surrounding me. The book ‘The Machine in the Garden’ was mentioned in this chapter. This book uses the train whistle sound in a natural as a metaphor for the relationship of technology and culture. I feel if this book was written today it would be someone shouting “hey Google”,”hey Alexia”, or “hey Siri”. These examples to me seem like today’s metaphor for the relationship of technology and culture.

“Jacques Ellul […] proposed that when advanced technology rushes into all areas of life, it has the capacity to become autonomous – to function independent of human control, to define and even to threaten life” (pg.182). This quote in the book reminded me of this TED Talk of a robotics researcher who is afraid of robots. Not only the quote, but this particular video also relates to the bias that technology and algorithms often have. In the lecture it was mentioned that “machine agency overtakes human agency,” this TED Talk is a great example of that.

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Activity 6

This assignment emphasises the idea of the myth of photographic truth, as I was able to manipulate my settings to make objects appear larger or smaller. Through the perspective technique I was able to manipulate the context of the image and make use of the objects I used in a way that accentuated my idea. I was able to distort the reality of the image and convince the audience of my chosen reality.

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Activity 3

The meme I chose is the ‘distracted boyfriend’ meme. I chose this to represent the section in chapter 2 of Practices of Looking where it talks about the value, collecting, and institutional critique. Upon reflection I also noticed this meme I created could fall into the section about aesthetics and tase. “High culture” is typically not meant to enjoy street art such as the Banksy painting, as it wouldn’t necessarily be defined as fine art. I’m referring to fine art in the sense of its traditional and historical meaning. However, as proven in the discussion and lecture Wednesday and Friday, the Banksy piece of art sold for a significant about considering it’s “street art.” The girlfriend representing fine art and the boyfriend representing high culture are usually the two things that we consider going together. However, the boyfriend being distracted by Banksy’s ‘girl with balloon’ show a humorous coupling that “shouldn’t” work.

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Activity 1

I’ve posted two photos and I think they perfectly describe who I am. The first photo is me with a kangaroo. I posted this because I am Australian, I moved here 2 years ago to study from Adelaide, South Australia. I love it here, but I am missing being a 5-minute walk from the beach. The second photo is my sister and I at Stonehenge. I chose this photo because not only does it show my family, but it also shows that I love to travel. My sister and I have moved to numerous countries throughout our lives, so we always have the ‘itch’ to travel. I love to travel, and I try to do it as much as I possibly can.