Visual Culture Exam Mobilizing Shame for a Essay

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Visual Culture Exam

Mobilizing Shame

For a very long time now, people have perceived shame as a feeling of embarrassment, inadequacy, or the feeling that prevails after someone has done something, which a given society believes is wrong. However, shame can mean something else; it only depends on the perspective it is viewed. Therefore, shame is brining or exposing something to the public, for the public to critic, and allow social transformation. The word shame is the root of the term mobilizing shame, which is popular with human rights movements, and associated with a mass of people. It refers to the awakening of people, by making them aware of the oppression they are facing, as a means to identify with their suffering, and instigate them to protest against the oppression. One of the earliest statements, which helped in establishing the meaning of this term, states, "We intend, in the language of human rights lawyers, to bring the mobilization of shame against the Soviet Union, to expose the Achilles heel of their human rights violations." Numerous articles, especially Keenan Thomas' have worked well to bring out another perception of the term Shame in relation to Mobilizing shame because the latter applies to another concept of "protesting" evil deeds, or making public, what has been in the dark. In addition, there have been numerous and evident ways in which this term has applied. A typical example is the war in Kosovo, where the army commander was against a media personnel, probably shooting some video on the scene; this suggests that, perhaps the media personnel could "mobilize shame," meaning that it was possible to record "other agendas" carried out by the arm, except from fighting the Kalashnikov armed guerillas. In support of this concept, the soldiers, after their mission burnt down houses, destroyed civilian's properties, and looted.

Oppositional Gaze

Gazing or looking is a means of passing a message. Owing to the expression, which forms after a gaze, it is enough to make you aware of hatred or likeability. This is why there is a consensus that there is power in looking. During the slave trade, which date back to the 18th century, the White master punished the enslaved black people, just because of looking. This makes it clear that the masters did not like the way the blacks looked at them. It further suggests that the slaves were not supposed to look at their masters. This means that there was a potential punishment for gazing. Children were reprimanded for staring at their parents, or adults, but in some cases, a child was supposed to look, especially when an adult was talking to them. On the other hand, the term oppositional gaze, apparently makes it known that looking was a mode of rebellion, which in this case applies to the blacks. In Bell Hooks article "The Oppositional Gaze," the information provides another level of racism, which people did not seem to be aware; or rather, the degree at, which racism had grown roots. Apparently, racism, which is the main theme, was paramount, suggesting that it was almost a sin for a black to look at a white man or woman. "The white supremacist structure that had murdered Emmet Till after interpreting his look as violation, as rape of white womanhood…. " There are numerous cases where the oppositional gaze is evident. When Bell Hooks turned into films when she was young, after a long time, she developed an "oppositional gaze." Apparently, she felt alone and hurt in case there were no other black females around. This is because she felt it was wrong, it was a violation of the white representation, which made her question her film career.

Punctum

In Anna Szorenyi's article, The face of suffering in Afghanistan we are introduced to a world of identification, or rather unknowns. This is where the term "punctum" comes in; it refers to the process of ascertaining the true identification of an individual. This is because there is little information concerning the individual; therefore, there is a need to identity the true identification. Actually, this term has relevance to this article because in the search of the missing Afghan girl, the image of the girl is present, and the boxes containing her images did not have any other details except for her name. In support, the aim was to uncover and extract the identity of the missing girl from a crowd of refugees. Notably, from the time the film begins, there are no other details concerning the girl, which points to the relevance of the term to the article.

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In addition, the girl is later found, and when the FBI use scientific methods to identify if she was really the missing girl, the results were positive. "… It all comes down to the eyes; iris scanning technology finally proves her to be true, authentic, Afghan girl." Typically, this article represents the perception behind refugees, but most importantly, the seductive side of the Afghan girl. The image of the veil kept recurring in the investigators mind because of the naked body and this suggests sexuality.

Catastrophe

In general terms, the term catastrophe has associations with something bad; a situation, which is tragic. However, in the article Information, Crisis, Catastrophe, the term has an entirely new meaning. It refers to the unexpected discontinuity of a system, from the television point-of-view; it is brings about the most fascination. Notably, the television is a system of complete discontinuities, an aspect that suits the definition of this term. Moreover, the information in the article provides similar meaning to the actual meaning, or rather borrows greatly from the actual meaning. Nevertheless, the term suits the concept driven across in the article, which is the link of catastrophe with progress. This is evident, especially when catastrophe is the failure, or collapse of a system, or discontinuity of progress. As postulated in the article, "The concept of progress is to be grounded in the idea of catastrophe…. That things 'just go on' is the catastrophe." In 1988, Jennings was live on TV tracking the movements of Hurricane Gilbert, and there was a plane flying into the heart of the hurricane. This case shows how catastrophes are important, and the TV was the main medium to present the catastrophe to the public. Nevertheless, the unexpected nature of the aftermath was not known, which is a catastrophe.

Spectacle

In the article Spectatorship and capture in King Kong: the guilty look, there was the intent to photograph, which in this case develops the spectators. The "thing" to be photographed becomes the spectacle. In general, terms, spectacle refers to something catchy, unique, or interesting. In the descriptions provided by the author several interesting and catchy things appear, such as King Kong, the wall, and the dancing men around a girl, scenes they find interesting and want to take picture. However, King Kong's description in the article, the author manages to create something out of the normal, which one cannot stand to look. Instead, one would opt to run, but the aim of the characters in the movie was to set out for adventure. In addition, we see Denham supporting the notion of King Kong being a spectacle, which he felt could earn him more money if he could take him home. "If I could only bring back one of these alive… we came here to get a moving picture, and we've found something worth more than all the movies in the world…. If we can capture him alive." This is evidence of their adventure, as spectators who stumble on a major spectacle. The characters go further to drug the King Kong, but apparently, they cannot take the creature with them. Therefore, King Kong remains as a spectacle to them and they can take as many pictures, but cannot take him with them.

Part 2

In the current society, money is the main pursuit for every human being. People have chosen to pursue money at the expense of the normal routine, which is in contrast with the people of the past. However, this contrast, through analysis will provide major similarities. A typical example is the search of food, green pastures and shelter in the past. Currently, although this does not happen directly, money is the major factor, which brings about food, green pastures, and better shelters. Therefore, it is apparent that food, which the early people searched for is equivalent to the money in pursuit today to buy the food.

The selected four images represent major characteristics, which a human being undertakes in their daily lives. Using the common knowledge, the images represent a door, clock, jug, and a briefcase. In general, terms, the clock will show the time, the door will give way, the briefcase will carry money; or it is a safe place to carry money, and the jug will serve drinks, or most importantly, water, which majors in the continuity of life. In a normal day, a human being will wake up, check the time….....

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