McCloud & Mitchell: More than Post Cards

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A person with a “good” eye would easily be able to recognize that this postcard is a representation of a woman’s differing sexuality contingent upon time of day. It’s easy to identify that on the left the woman appears tired and in a disarray. She sports an ill fitting night gown, disheveled rollers in her hair from the night before, and an overall expression that tells the audience she is flustered. However, on the right side her expression exudes confidence as she’s now clad in a black dress, with her hair and makeup done. To a viewer with a good eye, one would be able to determine that this comment is trying to assert a specific point about how the evening time can influence a woman to be more glamorous and sexy. However, when looking on with a curious eye a whole other set of details make themselves apparent. “By de-emphasizing the appearance of the physical world in favor of the idea of form, the cartoon places itself in the world of concepts”. (McCloud, 40) This cartoon manages to do this because in many ways the artist could have depicted it more realistically. After all, the woman’s face lacks detail as do her surroundings. However, we are able to get a notion of what the artist is attempting to convey in terms of a message without being distracted by photo realistic detail. Even small things like the inclusion of the pearls and makeup on the right side serve as signs that point toward the author’s message about femininity and sexuality.

http://fsucardarchive.org/items/show/1267

This postcard is similar in the fact that it contains it’s own abstract depictions. Someone with a “good” eye would easily be able to identify the primary coloring and bold lettering, as well as the interpret the overall message of the postcard as being one that’s meant to be welcoming. However, the abstract depiction of the human face seems to work in a different way here. Sure, the deemphasizing of realistic facial expression works to make the postcard more conceptual, but instead of providing the individual with a more universal, relatable appeal it singles out a specific group and highlights their features in an unflattering way. Thus, it allows the audience to assign an exact ethnicity, and even social class to the individual depicted. In his essay, Mitchell reminds us that “The taking of human subjects by a photographer or writer is a concrete social encounter, often between a damaged, victimized, and powerless individual and a relatively privileged observer, often acting as the “eye of power”. (pg. 286) This image speaks to that because the subject depicted, obviously in a lesser position than the creator themselves, is being exploited by the creator in the name of the message or artistic vision of the post card. This postcard (http://fsucardarchive.org/files/original/05ff8d4194c14d31fe042b157b55977f.jpg) serves a similar function because it while to a “good” eye it might appear a harmless post card, to a more trained eye we would be able to recognize the clear division and assertions of power depicted. “Foucault offers two basic depictions of power: “that which is exerted over things and the ways certain persons exercise their power over others” (p. 325) A curious eye would question whether the writer was trying to assert a certain dominance over a particular group, even before glancing at the text.

http://fsucardarchive.org/files/original/65247f5637d31b8db7f8dc840367222f.jpg In this post card there is again the use of the abstract artwork. Neither the faces of of the woman or the animals are defined or realistic. However, symbolism comes into play and allows most people to interpret the symbols for what they are. We are also able to recognize that the woman is supposed to be an old maid due to her frumpy attire, and hairstyle. Still, a curious reader would would wonder if a reader not from an American background would be able to interpret the image in the same way. The final card (http://fsucardarchive.org/exhibits/show/army-comics/depicting-military-life--censo) raises similar questions because though it’s symbols are interpreted easily enough, (soldiers, a letter, tents, etc.), an individual would need at least some context of how an army functions to understand the message that the author is attempting to convey. Even the depictions of the ill-fitting clothing might not convey well in an alternate culture, due to separate values and standards for dress.