Symbolic Self-Portrait

         The term realism refers to a set of conventions or representation that is understood at a given time to represent and interpret accurate meanings about people, objects or events. (146) In a way, I am trying to use realism about myself through a representation of symbols and signs. But because I am using signs and symbols, this second picture of me I’ve created is really more abstract. However the line between abstract and realism is nearly impossible to draw for they both use conventions of realism to some extent. Reproduction is a difficult task for the context of history always changes what can be understood from the visual representations. Over time and in different context the photos can mean something different for over time we develop different ways of seeing, knowing, and different views about value and meaning. (145) The link between the signifier and signified is the link between the image and its meaning- we must remember this link is arbitrary and contextually specific; (141) Similarly, an episteme is a term coined by Foucault meaning how truth is organized in any given era. (149) We must use the episteme of our era in order to understand all the symbols represented in my pictures. We could assume in this era wearing multi-colored sun glasses is “cool.” Though it could also symbolize sun in my eyes. Perspective is another term that’s important here, meaning the set of systems used to produce representations through a certain frame. (151) Here the audience is forced to take the perspective from the other side of the computer screen since this is on my blog. We can see as for me symbolically, there are a number of things that represent me. Headphones and an iPod are the signifier and they signify my love for music, which would be the signified. Additionally we can assume my lover for coffee, the Redsox, cheap beer, and fruit. Insulin is a sign for my diabetes while an Orchard Trails pamphlet symbolizes my residence.  

Interpellating the Subject

 

Viewing is more than just looking, and the additional element of locating oneself in a field of meaning-making is known as interpellation. I would describe Interpellation as the act of being pulled in and gripped by a powerful image, and the relationship that follows. As Sturken and Cartwright agreed upon, “Interpellation is the process of interruption through which an individual viewer comes to recognize himself or herself as among the class or group of subjects for whom the image’s messages seems to be intended.” (103) Following this logic, in my example, we can see how I am a target for the messages of a concert aimed at young adults such as myself. I am interpellated by the idea that many people crowded together in the dark with lights and music, must be a great time. We can also understand how I would be prone to lending my gaze to the image. Gaze is defined by visual theorist as the act of looking emphasizing the embeddedness of the gaze of the individual viewer in a social and contextual field of looks, objects and other sensory information. (94) That means here we must consider why I as a viewer am prone to the messages of this image. This larger idea is always constituted in relationships of power that are enacted through discourse. (100) This was an term created by Forcault that says our understanding of signs is made up within the fields in which we communicate. As we remember the greater context of discourse, we must remember to gaze is to enter into a relational activity of looking. “In modernity, the gaze is constituted through a relationship of subjects defined within and through the discourses of institutions.” (104) “The gaze, whether institutional or individual, thus helps to establish relationships of power.” (111) Hence, thousands of people gazing at one individual clearly places great power in his hands, through the organization of institutions. However, since, this is just an image, others won’t look in the same conditions as at the concert (loud, hot, nighttime, smelly etc.). When others do look at the image, they will all be viewing from a different set of circumstances (possibly cold and wet, or maybe warm and content etc.). The term spectatorship allows us to consider the broader context in which looking is enacted in an interactive, multimodal and relational field. (93) It’s also important to consider the greater context of an image to gain a better understanding of its meaning.

Cultural Appropriation Picture

It appears the image from my last blog post didn't upload properly- sorry about that! Here is my disgruntled look and the image I was referring to.

Cultural Appropriation

Culture is a vital aspect to understand when it comes to communication for culture provides all of us with our background for the meaning-making process. We use signs to assign meaning to all objects, with the most unanimously shared meanings being dominant meanings, that prevail over all within a culture. (55) However it's important to realize there is no true inherit meaning in any given signifier; Entities such as shared meaning, history, and agreed upon values provide meaning, but even within the same culture slightly different interpretations of the signified will occur. Because of this ever-changing nature of culture, cultural appropriation is able to exist by modifying meanings of products that previously/alternatively/additionally mean something else. As explained by Cartwright and Sturken, “Cultural appropriation is the process of borrowing and changing the meaning of cultural products, slogans, images or elements of fashion” (83.) This change in meaning allows us to mix and match different text with different products to form a whole new meaning altogether. 
For my example we can look at the popular Burger King slogan, "Have It Your Way". This slogan is meant to say that you are most important as the customer and you may have anything you'd like, how ever you'd like it. It has a positive connotation and is meant genuinely.  Taken out of context and paired with another photo we can see how the meaning changes.     Here when we apply the same phrase, a different meaning emerges. Because of my clearly disgruntled look, "have it your way" doesn't feel genuine here, and to say that would probably hold a sarcastic tone, implying actual frustration and not satisfaction. Here, our meaning does a complete 180 turn, but also through the culturally understood form of sarcasm. Again, it's impossible to get outside of cultural meaning making, even when applying cultural appropriation and seeking out alternative functions of the signifier. Here however, we are still able to escape the dominant meaning of "have it your way" by adding a sarcastic twist.