proposal for 144

I liked the idea of how light can be a factor that influences whether an object is masculine or femminine, so for this project I wanted to test this idea by using typically femminine and masculine objects, such as lipsticks, mens shaving razors etc,  to see if the way that the objects are lit up effects the way the viewer identifies whether the visual components in the picture seem more masculine or feminine. For example feminine objects will be most likely associated with soft, bright light where Masculine objects would be associated with dark, contrasting light.

i will then experiment with the different kinds of lighting (ambient, high contrast, bright, harsh etc) and explore looking at the masculine and feminine objects in different lights to see if the different types of lighting really do effect the way we perceive masculine and feminine objects. If this succeeds, I want to convince the audience, through the transition of different lighting in the photographs, that the lighting can transform our perceptions of masculinity and femininity.

I plan to photograph the images in a studio using more abstract views and angles so that the pictures involve more guess work and dont give away what the object is straight away and also because it allows the lighting in the photos to impact the way the audience read the picture. I will use precedents to help give me ideas on how to photograph objects in a way that emphasizes shape, shadows, light and presents my objects in a creative or unique way. I will use different surfaces and light settings to investigate how reflections, shadows and different ranges of light tones work with my idea and the objects.

I decided to use this idea because it interested me how femininity and masculinity can be visually recognized and communicated through particular conventions or typical features that allows individuals to categorize whether something is masculine or feminine. Im not aiming to target a specific audience, but allow the viewers to think about how things around us are designed specifically to attract a group or market audience and how gender helps the object become more attractive for the two different groups. this would then ingage the viewers and allow them to think about gender in depth and why manufacturers and designers focus so much on making gender-specific items and how they achieve this.

M y final product will consist of photographs of 2 typically feminine objects, such as high heel shoes and jewelry and then 2 typically masculine objects such as cufflinks and a can of mens deodorant (examples only) and then by adjusting and changing the lighting arrangements the objects will start off looking relevant to the way that they are being lit up and then as the light settings are re-arranged the objects will look more ambiguous and maybe will give off a different view so that it appears that the new way of lighting up the object transforms how the audience sees and perceives it.