The Semiotics of Advertising

  For this blog entry I wanted to speak about the semiotics within advertising. I will also talk about how we are persuaded through advertisement into buying a particular product in hope that we will achieve the same results as displayed in the image. In reality what they fail to explain is that within most advertising the product is actually not as effective as they make out. Yet through media and advertising we are lead to believe that certain products work miracles when in fact they don't. When looking at the aims of advertisement it is created to influence attitudes and lifestyle behaviours by covertly suggesting how we can best satisfy our innermost urges and aspirations through consumption. I think that the messages of advertisers  today are promising to deliver something that they just simply can't. Everywhere we look we are faced by advertisements whether it be on the train, newspapers, bill boards, television. Advertisers of today are using persuasive techniques to make us buy that product.

Below is an image of Kate Moss in the advertisement for Rimmel London. This image was banned due to complaints that the lashes within the image are actually false. When you think of advertisements many years ago products were sold based on the truth. I think that advertising today has simply gone too far and we aren't actually receiving the same results as promised. The manipulative techniques of advertisment simply push us into buying a product that we either don't need or doesn't benefit us as much as the advertiser promises.

You too can look just like Kate Moss with our new RIMMEL Mascara!


Reading List

Book/ Persuasive Signs : The Semiotics of Advertising, by Ron Beasly, Marcel Danesi

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-485333/Kate-Moss-mascara-ads-banned-complaints-lashes-false.html

Feminism in Photography

Artist and Photographer Cindy Sherman has clearly set her ground as one of the most successful artists of our time. She doesn't stick to what is known as safe, she takes her artwork and pushes boundaries and the fact she is a female photographer makes this an even bigger achievement. When looking into feminism it is assumed that Cindy Sherman is a modern pioneer of feminist photography. Although Sherman denies this herself there is no doubt that her images reflect many stereotypes of women in society today. What I like most about the images is they do not just fit one stereotype of a woman which is what a lot of people tend to do in photography. They will display a woman as a sexual object, sometimes just for male viewing. Sherman shows power in women, seduction, insanity, fear and captures all these emotions to create a unique portrait each time. Whether or not Sherman likes to see herself as a feminist photographer there is a clear pattern within feminism. 

Another artist who has their special place in feminism and art is Tracy Emin, an artist who I studied whilst taking fine art in college back in 2008. Her work stands for women and most importantly it proves that not just men are successful within the world of working or making a statement. Like Cindy Sherman her work is based around women but Emin in particular makes her art based on her own life events. Her work doesn't portray women in a sense that they are a success but instead speaks true to life. Emin reveals her hopes, humiliations, failures and successes within her art. I respect her for this because she isn't trying to paint a picture of something perfect. She is showing us a side of life that isn't covered in glitter, instead it is quite raw and brings up feelings of discomfort and controversy.

When thinking of females and the world of art I definitely think that women play a huge part in making art a step beyond boring. In my opinion I believe women have a tendency to put a lot of emotion into their work. They show us a side to life that is quite true and intimate. Resulting from this they create outstanding pieces of art work touching on the reality of true life itself.

My final point to this entry is that I do believe females are now more accepted within society and respected for their opinions and work. We have came a long way since the times in which women were perceived as weaker individuals and not recognised as being intellectual or artists. I believe women add a sense of emotion and reality to art which some male artists fail to achieve. 

Cindy Sherman – Untitled Film

Reading:

http://www.tate.org.uk/magazine/issue5/sherman.htm

http://www.whitecube.com/artists/emin/

August Sander

August Sander was a German photographer best known for his documentary styled images. In the 1920's he travelled through Sardinia taking around  500 portraits. What I like most about his work is how up close and personal it is. The images allow us to see what it would have been like to live in that era. Although his images included landscapes and buildings most of his work consisted of black and white portraits. His work also allows us to look at a past time and what Germany was like including the war period. Alot of his images were seized and destroyed due to not meeting approval with Nazi authority, however I think his images showed true reality making him a great photographer of his time.

Mozos agricultores vestidos de domingo, 1914

Nan Goldin

American photographer born September 12, 1953 best known for her autobiography images showing love, gender, domesticity, and sexuality. I especially like Nan Goldin's work because it shows life as true form. The images are raw and true to life showing true reality. I think for me Goldin is an inspiration because her images allow us to see the more realistic moments in life. One image that has most impact is a self portrait “One month after being battered". This image plays with our emotions showing something that is quite personal and concerning. I think when it comes to art I would prefer to see something realistic and moving than superficial. It is nice to see photography that's moved us and makes us feel sadness, happiness and many other emotions. It shouldn't just be aesthetically pleasing but it should make us sit back and think. We are in a world today were we are constantly faced with images of 'perfect' looking models who appear to have the perfect appearence and because of this we sometimes feel that we should also look that way. Goldin's work in my opinion gives us the comfort that not everything is perfect nor should it be, we can also find perfection in something that is considered imperfect.

The Ballad of Sexual Dependency. Nan Goldin. 1983. Nan One Month After Being Battered



Martin Parr

I have to say I have never been a huge fan of Martin Parr's work, however it is safe to say he has became one of the best British photographers of our time. He is best known for his photography that includes aspects within modern life, more specifically life in England.

MARTIN PARR - FROM THE SERIES THE LAST RESORT (1986)

This image in particular shows the British public in a typical sea side restaurant in new Brighton. Although I wasn't born the time this image was taken it still gives me a feeling of nostalgia and understanding. I myself have been on more British holidays than abroad so I understand more about British culture especially growing up close to New Brighton. In my opinion these are the type of images that will forever be remembered because they capture our times and allow our future generation to have insight into our past experiences. I especially like the way Parr takes the essence of British culture giving it his own comical twist. I think this helps him as a photographer to stand out from the rest who are trying to achieve the documentary styled photographs.

Reading
Magnum Photos / Books / The Last Resort

Polaroid

Lady Gaga is quickly taking over a huge part of today’s music industry and now she is not just a music artist she is now a household name and a brand. Currently one of her latest achievements is being Creative Director for the new Polaroid camera series. In life this should be seen as a huge achievement however I believe advertisement can get out of control at times. For an artist to keep a long and healthy career within the music industry there needs to be a certain amount of control on how much publicity a person receives. People do not realise that Lady Gaga is only the creation of other peoples work, she has a good team backing her up and they too have years of experience. 
                             
 There is no doubt that she has a raw talent as she has gone from a thriving artist into an international superstar. Her efforts as a business woman are extremely successful but I think for the public to relate to you there needs to be a certain amount of realistic personality which is where she lacks. Although she has put in so much work to achieve her goals and supports many charities, I can’t help but think that a certain amount of this is contrived.