Final Reaction Essay/201101883 Hyojeong Shim

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Final Essay

 

(Reaction Essay)

 

Beauty Knows No Age, Race, or Countries!

 

For centuries, beauty standards have been undeniably media-centric. Such narrow criteria are difficult for anyone to achieve, but can be particularly alienating to women of color. For example, bright complexion, huge blue eyes, and straight nose are part of the beauty standard set by media and it affects both men and women to believe that beauty is based on set criteria. Also, we can commonly see the photos of flawless body and complexion of celebrities on a magazine, and a lot of women are obsessed over getting such fabricated and unattainable image of perfection. Eventually, that leads to low self-esteem and even worse some consider changing some parts of their face and body through surgery.

 

But is beauty really something that is confined by standard? Just because every little detail about someone's complexion matches that of what media defines beauty as, is that someone more beautiful than any other person in the world? If you answered yes, take a look at these two photos below. Both of the women in each picture are not white, have fair complexion, nor presented in their best selves. They are not dressed in fancy clothes, they are not posing on the runway, and most of all, both photos are taken naturally without perfectly set background or poses. However, as soon as you look at these women, would you call them not beautiful? Would you judge them for some of the flaws that are shown on the face? In most honest responses, the answer would be no. In fact, we would find ourselves not paying that much attention to the details, but the whole image the details create when they are combined. In other words, we feel the atmosphere that comes out from the image and the women, not the single details.

 

In the first photo, a woman with unwashed powdered face is beaming presumably at a market selling leaves. Her clothing is casual, and she has no makeup on her face. By looking at this woman, we can feel her happiness and her smile seems to give out positive energy. Unless we are a beauty pageant judges, we barely notice anything about her skin color, eyebrow shape, and whether or not she is stylish. What makes this photo/this woman beautiful is the sincerity. There is no pretention and her smile seems genuine. Would she look more beautiful and shinier if her photo was photoshopped to look exactly like those in a cover magazine? Maybe, from media's perspective, but that would take away her own charm, what she has that makes her who she is.

 

 

 

Same can be sensed from the second photo. Unlike the woman in the first photo, the second woman isn't smiling. However, that doesn't make this young lady look less beautiful if not ugly. There seems to be sadness flickering across her face like a shadow, and she is true to her feelings rather than faking a smile. She doesn't have white complexion, she doesn't have colored eyes, and she doesn't seem fit. But that's probably not the first part about this photo that will grasp your eyes and heart. The fact that she presumably is a Native American and how natural her posture and facial expression are what you will get to notice first. Nobody will think, "She is way out of beauty range," but get to appreciate the sincerity and naturalness the photo of this woman has. I'm not trying to say you must think these two ladies in the photos are beautiful. What I'm trying to say is, after looking at these photos at a glance, we rarely notice the flaws of one's complexion and body. Rather, we are unconsciously driven by the whole image and vibe the person effortlessly and inevitably shows, not the perfection of a single body part.

 

That's why we shouldn't be insecure about the things that make us different. Maybe your nose is a little crooked, maybe you don't have the longest legs, and maybe you have freckles. But it isn't that little intricate things that are important; it is how those little things harmonize and make us who we are and how we look that set us apart from every other random girls on the media that look exactly the same. Beauty is diversity. Everybody is beautiful in their own way, and maybe we don't fit media's beauty criteria, but so what? That doesn't marginalize us and we are still who we are. Beauty is racially and geographically, and even individually, diverse, and trying to align with stereotypically Western standard of beauty has to stop. Furthermore, it's important to emphasize that outer beauty should not be a determining factor of women's worth in the first place. We must continue to advocate for a society where women's intelligence, humor and capacity for empathy are held in higher regard than their appearance. After all, beauty is what comes from within, and it is that energy and vibe that influences how we look on the outside.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bae Young Ha/Diffent two sisters/Thursday 56

Different two sisters – the final Children are honest expressing their emotions. So there's always integrity when I look at the pictures of children. A Mood of a photo of children is determined by color, their facial expressions, background, and even the clothes they put on. I was given two photos of two children each. Each photo commonly shows two girls standing close together but there are also dissimilarities in their facial expressions and the mood. In the left photo, you can see two girls standing on the soil. They look like they are from south-east Asia considering the color of their faces. In the background there's no buildings that stand for modernization and all we can see is a boundless plain. Compositionally this photo implies diagonal line rising from right to left. Wooden posts at the back and shadows are creating diagonal lines that contributes to asymmetry. The most important factor that creates the mood in this photo involves subject matters' gaze and facial expressions. They gives scared and terrified look which form gloomy mood with the background and their skin color altogether. There are also two girls in the right photo, standing on the brick ground right in front of a building. They are white. Compositionally it also implies a diagonal line as well, but in this case, the line rises from left to right. Their different heights and shadows contributes to this diagonal line. Most importantly their smiles creates bright and peaceful mood. They are wearing clothes that has no decoration and it makes them look tidy and not poor. The starkest difference between the pictures involves subject matters' gaze. You can easily catch their gazes because they are too obvious to ignore. In the left picture girls look scared and frightened but in contrast girls in the right picture shows warm smiles. Backgrounds creates different moods too. Plain and wooden posts standing with some intervals contributes to a desolate and gloomy mood. Two girls are standing straight in both pictures. They both implies a diagonal line. But girls in the left one looks scared while those in the right one looks happy and peaceful. Backgrounds contributes to different moods too. I can feel a desolate mood in the left one and a modern and tidy mood in the right. Yet both are focusing on the children and we can guess their feeling by their gazes.   Reflection on the presentation  As the professor has pointed out throughout the whole semester, the presentation also include the things we have to consider when we write. Writings should be more specific and detailed. And also we need to put examples properly.

LeeSeongho/Final Exam-Reaction Paper/Thur56 Int_EW

Infering Pictures' Situation

 

 

   Photographs which seem similar can infer totally different situations. Emotional and background details in pictures have people seeing them discern what is going on, how the moods are. Here are two similar but different photographs. First, the left one is putting in two small young girls and its film is black and white. The other one on the right is also a black and white photo of another two little young girls. In both, the girls are all standing and placed on the center but the facial expression, details they are showing like hair and feet, and the background differ enough to infer totally contrast situations.

 

   In the first photograph, two tiny young girls are standing on a bleak land consisting of only sand. They look so scared and afraid because they are making a long face and staring at something. And their poses are not natural and voluntary. The left one is wrapping something white on her left hand and the other is putting her hands backward. And also one is wearing shoes and the other is not. It means the one whose feet are naked had no shoes to wear. Their hair is also not neat and clean. It looks as if they could not wash. And also the background in this picture suggests that the situation is bad and miserable because the place, on which the two girls are standing, is totally jejune. It only has sand and some sticks looking like wood without any branches. The two are also likely to be there without their own will. By things like that, the whole mood we can feel from this picture is sad and regretful.

 

   In the other picture, two tiny young girls are also standing. They look so happy and amused because they are smiling and bright and they are just looking at the camera without any fear. Due to the fact they look happy and enjoying, although their poses are not really different from those in the first picture, it looks like they are just putting their hands back to take a picture. Their hair and clothes are so clean that they don't look poor and out of care. Although they are not wearing shoes, the brick-paved ground tells us that they are just taking a picture while they play around their hometown. The wall behind them is also usual one which town or country dwelling people can easily see. So the round and the wall are insinuating that they are in a safe place and they are not standing there by force but by their will. The details like that are clear enough to let us know that the mood in this picture is peaceful and positive.

 

   Now that the details and backgrounds of are explored enough it became crystal clear to contrast the two pictures. The girls in the first picture look unhappy and scared, their feet say that they are standing there forcibly, the dirty hair says that they are out of care and poor. The background is also arid and seems inappropriate for children. The total visual clues in the first picture bring the people seeing it an idea that the situation is as if they lost their house or they are on violation. The other is on the contrary. The girls are rather happy and bright. They are willingly taking a picture and the poses are also their own ones. The background is just usual. It looks like the two girls are in their town and they just are just taking a photo while they hang around their house. So, in contrast to the details in the first one, those in this picture implies that the situation is very peaceful and just ordinary life.

 

   In my conclusion, two pairs of two girls are depicted in two pictures. They are ,at the first glance, similar but totally different. The girls in two pictures show totally differing clues like clean and dirty hair, afraid facial expression and happy one and also the backgrounds are telling that the two are totally different. So it is clear that all the details in the pictures infer contrast situations. Seeing the pictures and inferring what is going on and how the moods are so interesting and a real fun in pictures.   

 

 

201200440 Minji Kim Final essay

Importance of the face

         If you want to take the pictures of people, who is the best model to you? Someone who has a remarkable sense of fashion or who has characterful belongings could be the popular target to the photographer. However, if you see the two pictures here, there are no fancy items, but the impression of pictures are strong. The children in the left picture are Pima Indian, and the children in the right picture are the Victorians. Although both pictures are simple, both photographs display the facial expressions of the subjects which draw the observer's attention.

         In the left picture, two Pima Indian children are standing side by side. The girl on the left seems fold her hands behind her back. She has hair tangled for want of combing and look unkindly at camera. The girl next to her also shows uncomfortable expression. The differences are that her hair is more neat and hold something in her right hand. She also wears shoes. There are tree looking columns are in the background but the atmosphere of the picture is like the wasteland.

         The girls in the right picture are posing like left pictures. However, Victorian children seems more joyful than Pima Indian children. Even they are bare foot, they are smiling. The taller girl wears hair band with ribbon and shorter girl tie some of her hairs. They might be living in a town because the background shows the brick wall and road.

         Both pictures shows the children with similar posing. The Pima child shows uncomfortable expressions to us but they don't make us angry at them. Rather, observers become concerning about the girl's barefoot and the hollow background. The picture of the children tell us the poor circumstances of their life. It's same in right picture. The smiling faces of the girls make the picture more comfortable than the left picture, but the bare feet and the old clothes tell us the poor situation.

 

         Photographers all want to take great portrait. The best way of delivering the messages of photographers are the target's face. Here, there is no fancy cars or beautiful backgrounds, but observers are impressed by the children's faces and the mood. Therefore, if you want to take a good picture and deliver the message, targeting the people's face is the nice way.

 

Lee Hanwook 201102805 / Final examination / Thurs56

 

The face of the little girls

Everybody has different memory of their childhood. Some may remember it as valuable moment with full of happiness and brightness, while others remember it as miserable and lonely days. Here are two photographs of two girls. Both pictures are black-and-white pictures which seem like to have been taken long time ago. In these photos, two young girls standing straight and staring at front in the same way. However the tone and mood of the pictures are somewhat different.

 

The left picture was taken in the bleak and desolate area. It seems like a little town in a desert which is far from the major city. The center of the focus is two girls wearing shabby dress. Because of the barren and dreary background, two girls appear worn and isolated. And also both of them are frowning with the expression of dissatisfaction. The left side girl is glaring at front with raised eyes. The right side girl is watching something with a little bit of fear. Perhaps they do not like the situation or moment they are faced with.

 

In the right picture, two girls are in front of the old wall with standing barefoot on the street. It seems like a small country town or maybe slums. From what they are wearing and their bare foot, they are not well cared children in a wealthy family. However they are not look like miserable. Rather, the girls are happy enough. They are looking at the camera with the brightest smile in the world. And they seem like sisters as their pretty smile looks alike.

 

Two different kinds of children are depicted in these two pictures. In the left picture, overall impression is loneliness and grief. As two girls look so unhappy and miserable, we strongly feel some uneasiness just by watching it. The other picture gives a sense of calmness and stillness. However we can also feel active and light mood in two girls' face. We smile along with the girls as their expressions are so naïve and immaculate. Although both of them focus on little cute girls, one is more bright and mellow than the other.

 

There is a saying, "a picture is worth a thousand words." Just one shot of photo can deliver diverse meanings and feelings. The two paintings show comparison between sad faces and the hopeful faces. From these two faces, we can guess the figures' social backgrounds or psychological conditions. It is the power of the pictrue. And also, all of us would respond differently to the same faces as our personal experience and feelings.

201302308 Dooseok Lee / Impact of Young Faces on Pictures / Thurs 56

     Did you know that children rarely hide or conceal their feelings? Therefore, faces and expressions they make mostly leads to their true feelings. Therefore, faces of young children are the most important factors in determining the mood of the picture. These pictures show pairs of young girls at a similar age. Because faces children make comes from their real feelings, it makes people wonder what made girls feel so different. 

 

     In the first picture, two young girls are making serious faces. They seem to be dissatisfied on something. Clothes they are wearing feels weary and exotic at the same time. Judging from their hair and faces, it seems that they haven't had a shower for a while. Also, the girl on the right has white dressing on her hand, which can mean injury. The bright sunlight is shining upon these girls, and behind them, objects assumed dead trees are standing. The moods these trees and faces of girls make are a sad and calm.

 

     In the second picture, just like the first picture, two young girls are standing side by side. They are making brightest smiles as if they are living a happy life. Assuming they have similar looks and one girl is taller than the other, they might be sisters. They are standing in front of the wall made of bricks. Even though they are bare footed and wearing unwashed clothes,  their faces and hair look well washed. The bright faces they make and bright sunlight makes the mood of the picture warm and peaceful.

 

     The first picture and the second one have many things in common. Two girls are standing side by side, and the bright sunlight is shining upon them. Also, they are staring right through the camera, and they are both wearing weary clothes. But the moods and impressions that these two pictures give are totally different. What made these differences? Faces they make is the answer for the question. Sad and unsatisfied faces girls make in the first picture is the major determinant on sad mood 

 

     In conclusion, we can find out that when young children appear in pictures, the faces and impressions they make are very important in deciding the mood of pictures. It is interesting that just making different faces can make different mood of the pictures. 

201200018 Dong Yi Kang / Exam Essay / Thurs 5-6

​201200018 강동이 Dong Yi Kang 

 

 

             The two photographs are similar in nature – they are black-and-white photographs depicting two girls standing. However, they seem to be utterly different with a closer look- the background, the girls' attires, the girls' facial expressions and the overall atmosphere.  With the same subject, the two photographs emit totally different emotions and atmospheres, hinting things about themselves. 

             The first photo depicts girls about ages 3 to 5. Looking closely at the two girls' expression, they seem fearful, or uncomfortable. Perhaps they are not used to the act of being photographed. The small numbers in the left bottom corner hints that the photograph may be a historical record of an exhibition or something similar. The girls have matted hair that do not look as if they have been combed for a long time, and their faces are dirtied with dirt. Their garments seem unnatural, as if they are wearing something that do not belong to them, or as if they are wearing something that were not made for them, but secondhand clothing. Looking closely at the background reveals erect sticks. They are blurred, so we do not know for sure what they are. They may be cactuses, or they may be fences for livestock. The ground seems arid, without a hint of rain. The background hints at where this picture was taken. In the background, what is visible is flat land without any trees, and some buildings in the vicinity. The geographical feature is much like that of the American West, where there are prairies and deserts for miles that it is possible to actually see the horizon. The two girls may be American Indians, or the children of the settlers of the wild west, or the children of the plantation workers, who are not purely Caucasians, by the look of their faces.

             The second paragraph depicts barefooted girls again this time. However, their appearances and the background differ from the first picture. First of all, looking at their background, it is easily noticeable that they are standing on neatly-laid pavements. Though the bricks seem rough, the building behind them seems pretty modern. Another clearly visible thing is their facial expression. They are smiling with ease at the camera. Though the smaller girl seem awkward standing before the camera, the taller girl beams into the camera, and this hints that these girls may be familiar with posing before a camera. One peculiar thing is their attire. The girls' hair seem shiny and well combed, and the taller girl is even wearing a hairband with a large bow, something that any caring mother would love to place on her little girls' head. However, their clothing is strikingly contrasting. The girls' clothing seem as if they were made roughly from potato sacks, or pillowcases. The girls are not wearing any shoes either. Perhaps a sudden famine or economic hardship such as the Great Depression or a war struck the modern town, and their parents could not manage to purchase decent clothing and shoes for the little girls because of the skyrocketing prices or the shortages of clothing and leather. Despite the poor clothing, the children seem to be well washed.

             The two photographs are much similar, and different at the same time. Yet they seem to portray something historically significant. In comparison, the emotions arising from the first photograph are disturbance, discomfort, caution, and perhaps even hatred. The two girls are hunched, like a small animal ready to fight back or spring away. Also, the angle of the photograph suggest that the photographer did not kneel or lower the posture while taking the photograph, so he must have been standing tall while taking the photograph. That may have added to the girls' fear. Their expressions are much weary. Perhaps the photographer did not speak in a language that the little girls understood, or he didn't even ask for consent to take the picture. The emotions conveyed from the second photograph are joy and pure surprise. The two girls seem pleasantly surprised. Judging by the angle of the photograph, the photographer had knelt in front of the girls to take the girls, lessening the vigilance of the girls. The photograph may have been taken by the girls' relative or even their parents. 

A photograph is a truly amazing thing, for it clearly and evidently captures the moment that had once actually existed. It cannot be distorted, and no parts are left out, and the exact expressions, weather, posture, and the details of the background add to the overall impression and significance of the photograph. Appreciating these minute details of the photograph allow us to interpret the lives and the moments that the subjects of these photographs had once lived, and what we have not seen with our actual eyes.