Image Analysis 6: Image of a Celebrity

This is a photo of the American singer Katy Perry during a 2009 performance on The Today Show. Katy Perry is known for her theatrical style of dressing, often wearing clothes that channel the themes of her up-beat pop songs. This red sequined fuzzy dice dress was worn in coordination with the performance of her song “Waking up in Vegas”. Her band was also dressed up in dollar bill suits. The spectacle of her physical appearance and clothing choices create a strong rhetorical relationship between text, writer and audience, which seeks to promote her celebrity status, sexuality and music. As the writer of this particular “Vegas” themed text, Katy Perry chose to associate herself and her band with her music in an overt way – by dressing up in stereotypical symbols of Las Vegas. Her costume makes a direct connection with the well-known glitzy and gambling image of Las Vegas through the bold colours, fabric, cut and adornment of the physical object of fuzzy dice. Her hair and makeup choices also reflect this air of Las Vegas performance. The message is communicated to her teen and young adult audience in an obvious and cheeky way.

Pop stars are visual spectacles to be gazed upon and Katy Perry certainly gives her audience something to look at. The argument is one which aims to promote her identity as intimately tied to her profession. This identity presents a fun, youthful, light-hearted and over-the-top package of escapism from the real world. Her theatricality is accepted because her position as a performance artist in the world of heavily produced popular music holds cultural resonance. Her exaggerated image and music are finely crafted to appeal to young people. Using ethos through the appeal to her celebrity status and sexual attractiveness, Katy Perry often and very successfully uses her clothing as performance rhetoric to promote her music career.

Grossman, Ashley. “Katy Perry Rolls In Dice.” Weblog posting. GlamChic. 27 Jul. 2009. 23 Nov. 2010                   
                <http://blogs.glam.com/glamchic/files/2009/07/katy.jpg>.

Image Analysis 5: Fashion Photography

       Here’s an image from a 2009 V Magazine fashion editorial entitled “Live From New York”. It was shot by photographer Mario Sorrenti, and the spread features two female models wearing a variety of structural garments whilst gallivanting around in New York City. I chose this theatrical photograph because there are a number of strong rhetorical features. The whole spread is shot in black-and-white, which does a number of things to set the strong, iconic tone. The black-and-white enhances the contrast between the many different shapes and lines within the scene. It also asserts a level of seriousness and uniformity which makes the models stand out from the busyness of the Times Square background. As an audience we often associate the iconic area with clashing colours, lights and signs. The iconic energy of the city is still captured, but the use of black and white subdues this backdrop and brings the attention to the models. 
       Another strong rhetorical choice made has to do with the camera angle. The photographer chose to shoot the models and the city from below looking up, which enhances the vertical orientation of the photograph, and the New York symbolism. Shooting the models from below works to heighten their place of importance or dominance over the viewer, in turn strengthening the overall argument of the photograph. It communicates the idea that fashion photography should be regarded as serious art. The height difference between the pair of models over the two “everyday people” also suggests that models and the fashion world are above the general population, and the crowds of tourists that flock to Times Square. This stance also legitimizes the character of V Magazine, which is known for its style of edgy fashion-forward photography. This impact also raises the status of the designer clothing, the models and the photographer. 
        This editorial takes on a big and bold statement by associating itself with New York City – arguably one of the strongest symbols of both fashion and American culture. This use of the city instantly allows the photograph to connect with viewers through pathos on a cultural level. It’s selling the popular ideal of New York urban sophistication – offering the viewer, along with the bystanders in the image, a glimpse into the trendy New York fashion scene of young beautiful models. The models’ questioning facial expressions invite the viewer to size them up as in-the-know members of fashion’s elite, while at the same time making the audience take in the brash consumerism of Times Square and the heavy set, high-rise buildings. The models seem to know their place in the fashion world and in New York as spectacle, while our presence is more in question. I find it's an interesting spread in terms of visual aesthetic with its play on textures and lines to say the least. 

Sorrenti, Mario. Live From New York. 2009. V Magazine.

Image Analysis 4: Personal Photograph

I took this photograph in the summer at Trinity Bellwoods Park in the Queen St. West area of Toronto. The park is a sprawling green space in the heart of downtown, full of trees, fields, bike paths, benches, and all sorts of interesting people. It's safe to say that this park is one of my all time favourite places in the city. For the past two summers I have worked at an arts camp called “Art in the Park” situated in Trinity Bellwoods. The park has such an incredible and unique bohemian character. There are always different groups of people enjoying the park. I've seen older women practicing Tai Chi in the early mornings, artists painting, drum circles, groups of moms jogging with their strollers, families enjoying picnics, dog walkers congregating at the dog pit, and once I even saw a pack of people dressed as mimes meeting there! The park is also known for being home to the elusive white squirrel – literally there are two squirrels as white as snow that live in the park! They are quite the sight to see for the first time, and it’s a fairly rare occasion to spot them, so perhaps they’re good luck. A coffee shop across the street, “The White Squirrel” was aptly named in their honor, and serves up a pretty great cup of coffee.

In consideration of the rhetorical situation I am the writer. I took this photograph one sunny afternoon, after I had left camp for the day. Some friends and I sat in the park relaxing and I borrowed my friend’s digital camera to snap a few pictures. I wanted to capture the essence of the park and character of Queen West. I especially liked the look of the clouds that day. The text relies on an entirely visual argument. This picture features the path that leads to the front gates of the park, as well as a red TTC streetcar driving by. One’s eye is led from the path towards the centre of the photograph and then up to the blue sky. The trees work to frame the main scene of the street. This image connotes the idea of urban life in Toronto. The tone is pleasant and relaxed. The audience could be anyone interested in urban photography and those familiar with the park or symbol of the TTC would have an even deeper connection, recognizing the location. It’s an intimate view of Queen St. West through the eyes of the park. The photograph was taken at eye level, which places the audience as holder of the gaze. There is repetition of shape and colour as the leaves on the right side mimic the clouds, and the yellow flowers pick up the yellow streetlights. The photograph offers the dualistic theme of nature and city, and how these forces meet and interact on a sunny afternoon.