In today's seminar we began to use semiotics to analyse and look at images or other visual texts to find both the obvious and hidden/symbolised meanings. Below is my chosen image (an outfit from Martin Margiela's S/S 2005 collection) and my response to the tasks given.
1. Initial Response (Words/Phrases)
Layered, Dark, Scruffy, Disheveled, Contrast, Rough, Covered Face, Emotionless, Collage, Simple, Business wear, Number, Writing, French, Possibility of underlying complex meaning, Roland Barthes - "The terror of uncertain signs".
2. Description of Visual & Purpose
Photograph from photoshoot, model is wearing an outfit from Spring/Summer women's wear collection 2005. Could be classed as advertisement or documentation.
3. Denotations
A woman/female model in collection outfit
All black clothes - some contrasting nude/flesh/white tones - white shoes
Hair is not done - slightly scruffy/disheveled looking
Black line across eyes
Straight face - quite emotionless
Strip of paper over-layed with typewriter style typography - states what women is wearing - written in french
Number in the corner - place in order of collection
4. Connotation
Combination of scruffy, disheveled clothing, mixed with ideas of business dress - goes against conventional ideas, pushes boundaries, tries to move away from traditional tailoring
Black line over eyes and straight face - shows no emotion - makes clothes the focus of audiences attention - more about what they were than the face - the clothes may tell more of a story than the face
Writing in French - French company - French associated with elegance and perfection/precision - this emphasises a point of going against the conventions
5. Q&A
What is it?
An outfit created by Martin Margiela at his company 'Maison Martin Margiela' for his Spring/Summer 2005 Collection
Who produced it?
Martin Margiela under his label
When was it produced?
Made for 2005 S/S so most likely 2004
What else was going on at the time of production, both in the field of fashion and in the wider social and historical context?
Does it belong to a specific trend or movement? What immediately preceded it?
Did any specific ideas or theories inform its production?
Who was it produced for?
What technology/media/materials have been used and why?
Sketchbook
Below is an image of the notes taken in my sketchbook, which I have then translated onto here:
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