For this post, follow the same procedure as the group-blog, but this time work as individuals to analyze one Thomas Allen photograph.
What themes does the photograph evoke or portray? How do Martin & Munoz use symbols and archetypes to convey that theme?
Make sure to use three quotes:
one with an introductory phrase;
one with an independent clause and colon;
one with pieces incorporated into your own sentence.
Calie Wright
ReplyDeleteWomen can represent many things; mother, love, or femininity. Femininity can mean different things it doesn’t just mean motherhood or love. Thomas Allen’s “Horseplay” represents the Amazon type of femininity. The women that are seen in Allen’s picture are “independent and self-sufficient” the typical “Amazon archetype” (Stevens 1998, p. 309). The picture also shows the symbol of the horse and how it is represented as: “a splendid creature that can symbolize the celestial realm, Earth, Underworld, and sea” (p. 358). The horse and the Amazon together in the picture also symbolize the Horseman, or woman. The Horseman archetype “has mastered the forces of nature and disciplined them in service to his will” (p. 327). The fact that the women in the picture have a horse shows that they earn enough money to be able to afford the horse which was seen as a “status symbol” in ancient times (p.327). The picture represents two archetypes and a symbol; the Amazon, the Horseman, and the horse.
Chika Nwanonenyi
ReplyDeleteThomas Allen's photograph, the "Polecats," portrays sexuality. To be more specific, Allen uses the archetypal figure, sexual anima, which is used to capture the trance-like hold that women can sometimes have over men. Further, a woman’s sexuality is one feature that definitely animates men. In this photo, the pole illustrates the power this “untamed” woman has over three men. According to Freud, a pole falls in the category with “All elongated objects, such as sticks, tree-trunks and umbrellas [which] may stand for the male organ” (as cited in Stevens, 1998, p. 311-12). This explains why these men are drawn into her every move. The woman is made the center of attention, which is conveyed by an aura of light that surrounds her. The light is used to initiate the trance: “Studies of the orientation response have demonstrated that people respond acutely to changes in stimulus intensity, and this explains why changes in brightness of light, which indicate weather fluctuations or changes in the time of day, excite emotional responses” (p. 108). Furthermore, their excitement is evident in their facial expressions and body language. Allen, the artist, uses a stack of paper to hide the bottom half of the woman’s body to convey a sense of mystery. The only body parts visible to the men are the woman’s face, arm, part of her breast and back. Not only does the woman’s nudity depict her “as an evocative image of sexuality,” but also “capable of creating […] passion,” which catches the men’s attention, keeps them guessing, and wanting more (p. 399). The fact that they desire to know what the rest of her tempting body has to offer is what keeps them interested. Even the way the woman’s body is positioned; she has her back turned to the men, causing even more curiosity. For these men, this represents the freedom they do not get to experience in their “normal” restricted lives.
Rogelio Alvarado
ReplyDeleteThomas Allens “Cornered” photograph evokes the sense of danger and bravery. Martin and Munoze use the archetype figure of the outlaw with symbols of strong men with boots, cowboy hats, and guns. According to Stevens, “The purpose of the trials and ordeals is to enable the hero to prove his metal, that he is truly worthy of the treasure” (p. 151). In the photograph one individual is going to confront three opponents to prove his courage. This will cause the forced individual to take action by himself: “In all social animals, threat from a nonspecific perceived as having higher resource holding power results in two alternative kinds of defensive behavior: submission or escape” (p. 55). As a result someone has to begin the fight and there will be deaths. Consequently, the three men will lose the battle indeed because the good guy always wins in a “social cooperation and integration” manner in which bravery overcomes the situation of “submission” danger in a life or death scenario (p. 56). Evidently, this outlaw battle will change the outcome of an unfair, but accepted encounter among these men.
Rosa Mendoza
ReplyDeleteThomas Allen's Photograph, "Migrate" portrays two bird cutouts that are in two different sides of a book page. Each bird cutout is unique, one appears to be in front of the branch while the other appears behind a branch. The branch appears to continue in the air where the bird appears on the background. These two birds could represent happiness, life, journey, and freedom because they flew out of the paper. According to Stevens (1998) the lark is "A symbol of ascent and descent and of passage from earth to heaven and from heaven to earth. On account of its delightful song, generally considered to be happy bird of good omen" (pg.363). The meaning of the color brown, in the branches, is: "The colour of the earth, the soil, potentially fertility, and nature's womb" (Stevens, 1998, p.149). The color green "As with brown," are related and seen as "both life and death" (Stevens, 1998, p.149). We can also interpret both birds as a female and male that have fled together to populate other lands. This correlates with the meaning of the colors brown and green, "[…] reproduction, new life, abundance, gladness" (Stevens, 1998, p.149).
Ariana Branson
ReplyDeleteThis photograph by Thomas Allen titled Recover, 2003 portrays many feelings and themes through the use of archetypes and symbols. This photograph is of three men who appear to be stranded in the ocean. Two of the men appear to be struggling to survive and the third looks as if he is trying to rescue them. The boat is located in the bottom left hand corner so as to display the vastness of both the sky and the ocean. The ocean and the sky blend together with a shade of blue. The use of blue portrays: “the sky and the sea; it therefore shares in their symbolism, their translucency, their vastness, their infinity, and their coolness.” (Stevens, 1998, p. 149). According to Anthony Stevens (1998), the water is the “natural symbols of spiritual refreshment and salvation.” (p. 129). The men are trying to find salvation in the water and are using it as a way of refreshing themselves in their dire situation. The author describes a boat as “the body carrying the soul on it voyage through life and beyond” this describes the men’s journey and their possible death yet the boat is also used to portray “a womb that contains, preserves, and delivers life.” (Stevens, 1998, p. 292). The message portrayed by the artist can be taken in many different ways. The archetypes in this photo have many meanings and the way they are used in the photo show two of them. The choice of whether the men are on a journey to somewhere beyond or if they are being preserved and delivered life is left to the viewer.
Ashley Corvera
ReplyDeleteThomas Allen
Maneater, 2006
Thomas Allen’s depiction “Maneater, 2006” represents how much control women have over men’s sexual desires, needs, and wants. “Maneater” is a woman who uses men for her personal gain. According to the author, “using the body as a highly evocative means of symbolic communication (‘body language’), each part is invested with symbolic implications” (p. 395). The artist’s photograph displays a woman that is advertising herself with body language. The man in the photo finds the woman is irresistible and has to have her. Her body language is mysterious and seductive; which is driving the man insane. The idea is complex: “evolved sexual strategies for males prompts them to be lustful, novelty-seeking, susceptible to visually arousing erotic stimuli, and prone to seize sexual opportunities when they present themselves” (p. 308). Even though these two ideas are similar in that they both “permeate all reality and to be present and active in both males and females” (p.306), the first idea is more important in that it’s “the nature and function of masculine and feminine principles is that of the ancient Chinese Taoists with their concepts of Yang and Yin” (p. 306).
Thomas Allen, “Chemistry” photograph portrays romance, education, wishful thinking, knowledge, breaking women’s stereotype to lacking knowledge in the “hard sciences”, and what happens behind the scenes. It has various outlooks it just depends how the viewer wants to perceive the photograph. Allen shows these symbols by having the romantic scene behind the woman doing chemistry symbolizing she is doing chemistry at the moment but in the back of her head she is thinking about romance or even wishing she was with her loved one or even have time for romance. Thomas Allen also shows breaking the stereotype because women are thought of not being good at mathematics and the “hard sciences”. But this photograph also shows the women as “I am a chemist now but, behind the scenes when no one is around or looking I am a lover and involved in a relationship or affair”. This scene can mean several things to a viewer. Allen illustrate various perceptions with one portrait, “it can be sexual desire, anger, fear[…but] the answer can only lie in the psychological perception of what is being experienced and this is determined by the actual circumstances that are being responded to” (pg 62). One may have fear of never having a relationship, anger because they are too busy to have a romance or anger because female chemist are not the norm and are stereotyped, or wishful thinking on their sexual desires. Allen made this woman stand out to me because she chose chemistry versus her other options: “To choose from or between (iner) things is to display intelligence, inter-legere, from which we also derive intellectum, intellect” (p 66). Allen illustrate how something claimed to be unordinary grasps peoples attention, “Anything that is unaccustomed or extraordinary possess the capacity to arrest our attention, inspire awe and fascination, or provoke fear and withdrawl […]”(p 67). The woman doing chemistry versus being out with her loved one astonishes people but even more, how she seems to be aware of what she is doing in the lab.
ReplyDeleteThomas Allen’s photograph, “Chemistry”, portrays love and bonding. Martin and Munoz use the symbols of love and passion in their photograph to evoke chemistry between the couple, by showing them in the midst of a passionate kiss, intertwined in each other’s arms. According to Stevens, “The knot is another symbol of uniting, bonding, or tying together, as in a betrothal or marriage, a business partnership, or a covenant with God” (p. 317). Love is very difficult to define, but according Stevens, Plato has explained in a very simple way: “both masculine and feminine are incorporated within a circle” (p.49). There are two parts to Plato’s circle; the first part, which symbolizes the masculine figure which is the, “Yang, energetic and assertive, embodies the light of heaven and the spirit”, and the feminine part which is the, “Yin, passive and containing, embodies the darkness of the womb, the cave, and the earth” (p. 49). Martin and Munoz represent the idea of the circle, the yin and yang, and the knot in this photograph by showing us the fervent embrace of the couple.
ReplyDeleteFrancisco Hernandez
ReplyDeleteThe theme in Thomas Allen’s photograph, “Spring”, portrays women as a powerful gender. The fact that the woman is controlling a horse shows mastery. Furthermore, Stevens supports this when he states that, “the powerful steed who gallops across the countryside entirely subject to the horseman’s guidance and will is a symbolic expression of the mastery that the ego (and the dominant left cerebral hemisphere) exerts over the instinctual energies of [horses]” (p. 358). Also, it is of great importance acknowledging that a horse falls under the category of domesticated animals. Considering that “symbolic implications” (p. 353) of domesticated animals, such as horses, “are extremely rich,” we can conclude that this woman is “rich” in power. Additionally, the woman in the horse has her sleeves rolled up representing the following: “activity, power, aggression, and self-defence” (p. 401). In conclusion, this woman mastering the horse illustrates women as a powerful gender.
Gonzalo Heredia
ReplyDeleteThomas Allen’s photograph “Explorer” portrays various archetypes relating to feminine and masculine behavior and their interactions. The archetype of the feminine behavior that is portray in this photograph is the one of the Love Goddess since she is dress very provocative and is in a sexy pose. According to Stevens(1998), “she is primarily concerned with her love life, relating to her man at the intensively personal level [...] she eschews commitment in favor of flirtation and living the provisional life”(p. 309).The title and the posture of the female can imply the need of men to “explorer” sexual opportunities when : “the evolved sexual strategies for males prompts them to be lustful, novelty-seeking, susceptible to visually arousing erotic stimuli, and prone to seized sexual opportunities”(p. 308). Further, another archetype of sexuality on the photograph is the man in the uniform as “uniforms can function as erotic fetishes and as enhancers of sex appeal”; especially in this case, military uniforms are “specifically designed to perform this function”(p. 401). Overall, the main focus on this photograph is the sexual behavior of both genders.
Thomas Ellen’s “explorer 2006” shows a woman attempting to seduce a man and he has fallen for her. This image portrays women as a sexual anima that uses her body to seduce the gentleman: “sexual anima: as with Eve, this figure motivates man’s biological instincts” (Woodman, 2011, slide 36). The background is black which represents the shadow, representing that they might be having an affair, “ [Black] symbolizes the ‘shadow’ aspect of the unconscious psyche” (Stevens, 1998, p.147) the red in her skirt symbolizes the passion in their relation, “[red symbolizes] passion”(Stevens, 1998, p.149). The image also shows the man wearing a uniform that represents commitment as well as sex appeal, “uniforms display status dominance, as well as sex appeal…this would explain why men have always loved to dress up in them” (Stevens, 1998. p.401). Overall this image expresses seduction, desire and romance.
ReplyDeleteThalia Rios
Thomas Allen
ReplyDeleteOutbreak, 2009
Thomas Allen's photograph of "Outbreak," shows two women in an argument. One woman is frightened of another who is holding a broken bottle. The writing in the background states "I get what I want". According to Stevens (1998), author of Ariadne's Clue, "we compete with one another for love, resources, and rank" (p.53). The woman with the bottle may be jealous of the other and she may find herself obsessed with someone else's man. She is attempting to hold on to a man, a lover, that is slipping away: "the evolved sexual strategies for females prompt them still to be selective and to seek to confine sexual relations to the context of a secure and lasting relationship" (p.308). By threatening the other woman, she believes she will win the man in the end. Women "not only sacrifice for the benefit of [love]" they will ultimately "sometimes [make] supreme sacrifice" (p.260). Overall, women tend to get jealous and want what other women have.
The photograph by Explorer,2006 Chromogenic print has a theme of betrayal and sexuality. There is this very seductive woman who is being sexually touched by a man in the military. She is leaning against a book that says “The way down had her kisses betrayed”.
ReplyDeleteAccording to the author, Anthony Stevens (1998), “She is primarily concerned with her love life, relating to her man at the intensely personal level”(p.309). Therefore, in this photograph it may be using the woman as a symbol of a Love Goddess. She cared more about her needs than her husband while he was not present.
Dominance was a man’s job. For example, “ Uniforms are also unmistakably linked to the two great archetypal systems: sexuality and dominance”(Stevens, 1998,p.400). In this photograph we see the man wearing his uniform showing dominance over the woman.
While “one can be consumed by them and driven to irrational behaviour”, this does not mean the individual should go through with their actions because it “may bring catastrophe to oneself or to others”(Stevens. 1998, p.126). This is what this photograph may be trying to communicate that this man is being consumed by this woman who in reality is married to another man.
Hilda Nieblas
ReplyDeleteThe photograph by Explorer,2006 Chromogenic print has a theme of betrayal and sexuality. There is this very seductive woman who is being sexually touched by a man in the military. She is leaning against a book that says “The way down had her kisses betrayed”.
According to the author, Anthony Stevens (1998), “She is primarily concerned with her love life, relating to her man at the intensely personal level”(p.309). Therefore, in this photograph it may be using the woman as a symbol of a Love Goddess. She cared more about her needs than her husband while he was not present.
Dominance was a man’s job. For example, “ Uniforms are also unmistakably linked to the two great archetypal systems: sexuality and dominance”(Stevens, 1998,p.400). In this photograph we see the man wearing his uniform showing dominance over the woman.
While “one can be consumed by them and driven to irrational behaviour”, this does not mean the individual should go through with their actions because it “may bring catastrophe to oneself or to others”(Stevens. 1998, p.126). This is what this photograph may be trying to communicate that this man is being consumed by this woman who in reality is married to another man.
Thomas Allen's photograph, the "Outbreak," portrays two different types of women. There are two different women shown, one being aggressive and violent and the other being scared and fragile. According to Stevens, “dominant submissive behavior patterns are associates with characteristic complexes of emotion, ideas, and symbols, and contribute to the psychopathology of manic-depressive disorder” (pg. 324). The back ground of the picture is black which represents darkness, evil and scares, “as the color of the primordial void before the coming of light, black is universal associated with darkness, death sickness and evil” (pg.147). Both women in the picture are wearing white dresses which represent pureness, “surrender friendship and goodwill – this would explain both women’s way of surrender one to get what she wants using violence and the other one shown frightened” (pg.148). Over all the main focus on this picture shows the two views of a woman getting what she wants, one using aggression to get what she wants and the other not wanting to have nothing to do with the problem.
ReplyDeleteBaleria
The photograph ‘Fancy’ by Thomas Allen portrays a traditional family from the 50’s: a wife, husband, two children (a boy and a girl). The mother is playing the piano as the family sings a song. The mother figure in this case represents nurture, and that her only concern is being a good wife, and takes pride in the “child-rearing” and “home-making” as her only job in life (Stevens, 1998, p. 308). In the background there is a sexy cabaret dancer which during those times was not something that was acceptable for a housewife to do. The housewife is dressed in a conservative manner; hair is picked up, and is wearing very little make-up. On the other hand, the dancer has her hair down, has a lot of make-up, her outfit is tight to her body, and it also exposes her shoulders, chest and legs. Her body language symbolizes sensuality, temptation, and power. There are many possibilities to interpret this photograph, but I would like to explore the following: This photograph reflects that the housewife is content with her role at home, but deep inside wishes to liberate her sexuality and wants to experience a sense of empowerment. According to Stevens (1998), “dancing is perhaps the most ancient social activity, having profound influences on the mood and psychology of the dancers…”(p.416). As previously mentioned, the dancer’s hair is down, but it’s also important to note that it is curly which crates lots of volume giving the idea that: “A full head of hair symbolizes youthful vigor, sex appeal and abundant vitality (Stevens, 1998, p. 409).- Zully
ReplyDeleteMelissa L. Sherman
ReplyDelete“A protoscience which anticipated psychology as much as chemistry, alchemy was essentially a symbolic exercise by which the alchemist projected his fantasies into matter” (Anthony Stevens, p. 132). Is chemistry more important than love? The message that science is more important to society than love is what we will try to determine from the messages in a photo by Thomas. The photo in question is abounding in contrasts, alone versus together, light versus dark, passion versus knowledge. Thomas has created quite a nasty quandary, for the observer to unveil.
A woman chemist is seen in the foreground, and the couple is noted in the background, symbolic of one or the other, but not both. The female chemist is in the foreground which has been highlighted by the artist, which indicates that it is more important than the young lovers in the background, surrounded by darkness. It has been seen for many years that light is the “universal symbol of both consciousness and divinity” and that darkness is seen as “unconsciousness, fearful, mystery and evil” (Stevens p. 141” This could also be taken one step further and viewed as good versus bad, when is comes to the light versus dark backgrounds, surrounding each image.
The red color of the young woman’s dress, pictured in an embrace can represent many things: “fire, passion, energy” as well as “redemption” and “rage” (Stevens p. 148). As the young couple embrace in the background, we get a sense of feeling that science is more important than the relationship of the young lovers, and the chemist, by being alone is achieving great things for the benefit of society.
In Thomas Allan’s photo Might we see numerous symbols and archetypes portrayed. The picture shows this smaller boy winning a battle against a much larger warrior fully suited in armor. This represents the theme of the little guy winning or the “hero” archetype. Allan also used two figures that appear to be David and Goliath. The significant of these two men in Christianity is to show the power of god if a person has faith despite the odds against David the unlikely heroin. It is our human nature to be aware of these archetype, reproduce and use rules to govern the societies that exist, but “it is religion that provides the link between them” (Stevens, 1998, p.82). The stories found in the bible are the link between basic human archetypes and cultural symbolism that is created in any given Christian society. The smaller figure (David) had faith and courage and because of that he was able to defeat an opponent that seemed unbeatable in comparison. Creativity is critical in these religious stories. For example in the story of David and Goliath the odds of David winning takes a lot of creativity: “The profane object is transformed – or even transubstantiated – into the sacred object through a culturally sanctioned act of imagination” (Stevens, 1998, p.76). This combination of archetype and symbolism makes up the basic principles of many religions such as Christianity. Many times you have these archetypal figures participating in acts that are beyond imagination. As Anthony Stevens (1998) states, “To feel the power of a symbol is to enter a world of make-believe” (p. 76). Often this idea of “make-believe” is used in biblical stories such as David and Goliath (Stevens, 1998, p.76).
ReplyDeleteMaricela Isarraras
ReplyDeleteThe photograph by Thomas Allen, “Chemistry”, portrays relationships and love. Munoz and Martin use love as a symbol in their photograph to show the relationships between the couple. They are showing this by the couple hugging and kissing each other. “A protoscience which anticipated psychology […] fantasies in to, matter” (Stevens, p.132). Love has to do with chemistry according to Stevens. Martin and Munoz use the idea of the yin and yang to show how both of them are attached to each other. The red dress of the woman may represent love and passion, as well as "redemption" and "rage" (Stevens, p. 148). As we see, love is more important to the back couple.
Cristina Elizondo
ReplyDeleteThomas Allen’s photograph “Might” is based on the legendary story of “David and Goliath.” The traditional story teaches the importance of belief and honor. The story talks about a young shepherd boy (David) who stands against a giant (Goliath) who is threatening his city and David kills him. The photograph captures the exact moment when Goliath is going down after David has hit him with a stone. It is interesting to know that Goliaths’ is killed with something as simple as a slingshot and stone, it is believed that he was hit right between the eyes, at the “Centre” of his sight which is the “point of departure and at the beginning of time”(1998, p.120) this could represent the point where life ends and a new life or afterlife begins for Goliath. It is also important to notice the difference in attire between the two men, David is wearing simple clothing while Goliath is wearing his battle uniform which represents: “status dominance, as well as sex appeal and prestigious social role […] the higher the rank, the more splendid the uniform” (Stevens, 1998, p.401). Even with his mighty sword, the giant was unable to defeat his opponent, according to Stevens, 1998 the sword is the “symbol of honor, strength, and courage, of the highest achievement of knightly chivalry, of royal prerogative and power, of marshal vigilance, and of intellectual discrimination” (p.287). Seeing the difference between the two men portrays the dignity and courage that David had to stand up to a giant and be successful.
JAVIER CALDERON
ReplyDeleteChemistry, 2006
This picture portrays the theme of love, viewed by the “chemistry of love” perspective. Love is one of the most important bonds humans can form; and according to Stevens (1994), the fear of losing love “can result in anger and aggression, as well as anxiety” (p.48).
Martin and Munoz use the symbol of a man embracing and kissing a woman to evoke the archetype of love, and the wholeness it brings: “The symbolic association of union with the notion of wholeness and joy, and of separation with division, loss, and longing is beautifully represented in Plato’s myth of the original human beings” (Stevens, 1998, p. 48). According to Plato, the gods separated the original human beings into halves, men and women. This creates in all of us a longing to be “reunited with our other half,” and to lose it again is “a recapitulation of the original anguish of division” (Stevens, 1998, p. 49).
The main goal for humans is to find their other half, coming once again to wholeness. The Martin and Munoz picture emphasizes that through the “chemistry of love” we can find the perfect match that makes us whole.
Ashly Anfield
ReplyDeleteIn the image Wreak 2009, by Thomas Allen, I feel that the picture is showing us that the man in the image has lost all hope in life and feels overcome by the troubles that he has been faced with. Even though he has lost all hope, the light in the image represents a way out, even when it seems like there not a way to overcome the hardship he is going through. The man in the picture is poorly dressed, by not having a shirt or shoes on, and has some raggedy looking pants on, with a big whole in them. According to Anthony Stevens, Headgear and footwear are particularly linked with status symbolism, the dominance- submission archetypal system, and with the fetishes and practices of sado- masochism, as the notions of ‘highness and ‘lowness ‘are clearly implicated (1998, p.398). There are many causes of this problem: a bent back, which has been over- burdened and thus indicates lower status ( Stevens, 1998, p.402). The idea is complex: The bent back may possibly be the result of having too many people on one’s back. (Stevens, 1998, p. 402). While the author describes wearing bare a symbol of subdominance, poor inadequate footwear can also symbolize the same thing (Stevens, 1998, p.399).
I chose Stress 2004, by Thomas Allen.
ReplyDeleteThis photo portrays a man that is coming apart at the seams; it looks like he is being held together with glue like the binding of the book he is leaning on. The splintered man is peaking out from the left side showing his face, head, and left shoulder. This man appears to be waiting like he is getting ready to pounce on his next victim. The man has a look of determination like, even though he is stressed and about to blow apart at any minute, he will still risk it all to obtain his goal. He is a broken man, yet he possess the power to hold all the fractured pieces of him self together. A man would need great strength to carry such burdens. (Stevens p. 414) Allen used black to suggest or symbolize a malevolent force. According to Stevens, “Black is universally associated with darkness, death, sickness, and evil.”(Stevens p. 147) There are many causes of this problem: the most dreaded force widely believed to have the capacity for invading a patient and causing disease, especially mental disease, is the force of evil. (Stevens p. 276)
Lauri Slocumb