The Power Dynamic of When People With Power Look at Those Without
How do you feel when you look at animals caged at the zoo? Or perhaps a prisoner behind bars? The term 'gaze' is defined as looking steadily and intently in admiration, surprise, or thought. Gaze is a psychoanalytic term to describe the anxious state that comes with the awareness that one can be viewed and was brought into popular usage by Jacques Lacan. The effect of this look is that the subject loses a degree of freedom upon realizing that he or she is a visual object and this concept of the gaze can also be used as a tool for the reproduction of 'norms' in a society. The gaze in society becomes the perfect medium for spreading domination and the 'speaking eye' that's equated with knowledge which in turn is equated with power. The Victorian Freak Show was an exhibition of biological rarities which began in the 16th century and continued through the 19th century as these deformities were treated as a commercially ran enterprise as crowds flocked to see them. What is the secret fascination with 'otherness'? Using Stuart Hall's theory of disavowal, it states that science becomes the alibi or excuse that allows this power of the illicit gaze to exist and become legitimized. This show primarily serves as a representation of transgression that demonstrates this affirming power of the gaze, representing difference also brought on by a certain symbolic power.
An example this power demonstrated through representation is in the life of Saartjie "Sarah" Baartman, an African woman who was put on display for French and British audiences for the enlargement and 'unusual' size of her buttocks and labia. Sarah's body was subjected to fetishism which is where fantasy blends in with representation and involves the substitution of an object for a certain force wanting to be felt from the 'norm' represented in society. Hall says, " What is declared to be different, hideous, 'primitive', deformed, is at the same time being obsessively enjoyed and lingered over because it is strange, 'different', and exotic." Bartmaan was subjected to extreme reductionism and symbolized the embodiment of difference. Sarah Bartmaan's biography is very similar to others who were not considered the 'norm' in society and all their various experiences share one thing in common: being unwillingly subjected to display themselves under 'scientific' reasoning for being separated from 'norm' and experienced the gaze that self consciously be lowered them from the rest of society.
In today's society, the power of the gaze is still effective. Society still has its 'norms' people fit inside to be considered normal and there are still characteristics that would set you aside from everyone else. However, the difference between the power back then and now is that some people deliberately set themselves apart from this 'norm' in hopes of catching one's eye. They want the attention and they want to be considered different from everyone else whereas before the people considered to be outside the 'norm' simply did not have a choice.
In today's society, the power of the gaze is still effective. Society still has its 'norms' people fit inside to be considered normal and there are still characteristics that would set you aside from everyone else. However, the difference between the power back then and now is that some people deliberately set themselves apart from this 'norm' in hopes of catching one's eye. They want the attention and they want to be considered different from everyone else whereas before the people considered to be outside the 'norm' simply did not have a choice.
How Does Society's Power of the Gaze Contribute to Their Success?
When it comes to receiving attention, celebrities are prone to being in the spotlight. Their lives are broadcasted for everyone to see and hear, whether they like it or not. Certain celebrities and musicians, however, deliberately thrive off of the attention that's given to make them even more famous setting themselves apart to keep their fan base interested. The power of the gaze that society has on the celebrities pictured above and many others has had a huge impact on their careers. Think about it, how famous would you think they would be if their portion of the public was not interested? These celebrities certainly would not be the celebrities they are today.
Resources:
1. "Gaze," last modified October 15, 2013, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaze.
2. Lillian Craton, The Victorian Freak Show: The Significance of Disability and Physical Differences in 19th Century Fiction (New York: Cambria Press, 2009), 11-12.
3. Lindsey Churchill, "What Is it? Difference, Darwin, and the Freak Show" in Darwin in Atlantic Cultures: Evolutionary Visions of Race, Gender and Sexuality. (New York: Routledge, 2010) 129-130.
4. http://www.metro.us/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Lady-Gaga.jpg
5. http://www.billboard.com/files/styles/promo_650/public/media/miley-cyrus-we-cant-stop-1-650-430.jpg
6. http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/51fac90e6bb3f7d366000009/kim-kardashian-blasts-katie-couric-on-instagram-as-fake-media-friend.jpg
7. http://www.billboard.com/files/styles/promo_650/public/stylus/1219529-nicki-minaj-iheartradio-potw-617-409.jpg
8. http://www.ryanseacrest.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Kanye-West.jpg
9. http://www.highsnobiety.com/files/2012/08/terry-richardson-shoots-frank-ocean-tyler-the-creator-odd-future-2.jpg
10. http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qryuAXt86Hg/UPT8m4PDEbI/AAAAAAAACAE/AtXSGa4gzf0/s1600/Sarah+Baartman+Fred+Mpuuga.jpg
Resources:
1. "Gaze," last modified October 15, 2013, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaze.
2. Lillian Craton, The Victorian Freak Show: The Significance of Disability and Physical Differences in 19th Century Fiction (New York: Cambria Press, 2009), 11-12.
3. Lindsey Churchill, "What Is it? Difference, Darwin, and the Freak Show" in Darwin in Atlantic Cultures: Evolutionary Visions of Race, Gender and Sexuality. (New York: Routledge, 2010) 129-130.
4. http://www.metro.us/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Lady-Gaga.jpg
5. http://www.billboard.com/files/styles/promo_650/public/media/miley-cyrus-we-cant-stop-1-650-430.jpg
6. http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/51fac90e6bb3f7d366000009/kim-kardashian-blasts-katie-couric-on-instagram-as-fake-media-friend.jpg
7. http://www.billboard.com/files/styles/promo_650/public/stylus/1219529-nicki-minaj-iheartradio-potw-617-409.jpg
8. http://www.ryanseacrest.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Kanye-West.jpg
9. http://www.highsnobiety.com/files/2012/08/terry-richardson-shoots-frank-ocean-tyler-the-creator-odd-future-2.jpg
10. http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qryuAXt86Hg/UPT8m4PDEbI/AAAAAAAACAE/AtXSGa4gzf0/s1600/Sarah+Baartman+Fred+Mpuuga.jpg