Monday, February 25, 2013

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.  

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