Week 12 - Positive Images

Kiss and Tell

Drawing the Line

1988

The article "Framing the Questions: Positive Imaging and Scarcity in Lesbian Photographs," by Jan Zita Grover explores the representation of lesbians in photography, specifically focusing on how lesbian images have been marginalized or underrepresented in mainstream media in the past and present. Grover discusses "positive imaging," which is the intention to create something empowering or affirming to the lesbian identity through photography. She then discusses the fact that these are scarce things which has led to a misrepresentation in art and culture for this group of people. We talked in class about how scarcity of images of this kind is validated, because groups of people do not want to be stereotyped for their identities. Grover explains that images that show lesbians in diverse and positive ways help resist those negative stereotypes. With the scarcity of these images, positive representation creates a form of resistance against other cultures that exclude lesbians from the mainstream.

Photos have a complicated relationship with reality in my opinion. Sometimes they can reflect certain aspects of reality, but they are not a direct reflection of the world around us. Viewers and photographers use the principles of selection, framing, and interpretation to construct images. Photographs depict moments, identities, and emotions. They can be a tool to remember a time or forget a time depending on the situation. With this in mind, photos can influence how we remember the past, therefore they have an impact on how we live our future.

While positive images that depict sexual activity can promote healthy, respectful relationships, depictions of sexual activity must careful to ensure they show consent, respect, and emotional well-being.

Pornography defined as explicit material created primarily to arouse sexual desire. It often focuses on the graphic depiction of sexual acts. There are certain depictions of sexuality that are not considered pornography especially in art, literature, and culture, where they can explore human intimacy, emotion, and relationships. These representations aim to capture the complexity of human experience, instead of arise sexual desire.

Problems with labeling photographs of lesbian sexual activity as pornography and hiding them away causes lack of positive representation and censorship and control over lesbians. Grover critiques the practice of labeling lesbian sexual imagery as pornography because it reinforces negative stereotypes. She argues that with the limited positive representation of lesbians, it leads to scarcity of any images at all and makes them feel invisible. Hiding images makes queer people lack visual representations that affirms their identity. On the other hand, trying to conceal lesbian sexual imagery and labeling it as pornography is a form of social control. These images would then never reach a wider audience where they could possibly challenge norms of relationships. It forms this idea in peoples heads that lesbian sexuality is inappropriate to be seen in public.

Subcultures often police their images for multiple reasons. The most common is self-definition or identity. When images of certain groups of people are posted, it can make fake stereotypes about the group which can lead to distorted opinions about them. Policing their images is a way for subcultures to protect their identity and control how they are represented. By doing this, they are not changed by the outside world and they stay a unique group of individuals that holds them apart from mainstream society.

Overall, Grover's work calls for a rethinking of how lesbian images are shown and continues to explore the factors that contribute to the lack of representation in the media. The knowledge of censorship and positive images could be helpful for my work as an artist because I know the boundaries and how to try to push them. I also think it is important to know when it comes to interpreting others art because you can keep in mind what they many have had to censor.