Orbiting Stability

I chose this photograph because of the way the images are hung on the wall. At a glance, the images hung on the wall could look like they are placed in this way to appease some form of spatial aesthetic. Looking at the way they are hung with a critical eye can show they are situated in this way to represent structure or stability. In the middle of the wall, a picture of what looks like a castle is placed. Around this are images of walking, people working together, flight and a world map. Through travel and working together whether it is with others or yourself, you can find freedom and a stability that will last. With the addition of the vintage chair, one can get a sense of rest after this perceived stability is acquired.
Discourse Analysis 2 would say the institutional power of this image is stability. Though the picture of the castle is not the biggest, the eye is drawn to it because it is in the center of the photograph. With the other hung images orbiting around it, the connection of this idea about stability being central can be made. With this orbiting, the eye is naturally drawn to the center or whatever the other images are orbiting around. The institutional technology in this situation is how the images are hung and arranged. With the chair resting underneath all of the images, this can bring a final conclusion of once you find stability, you can find rest. The sign for this is the chair. With it being an older chair, it is can be a sign that this concept or ideology of stability and rest has been around for some time. With the chair being older but still in good shape, it solidifies that this ideology is justified or sound.
In doing a short Content Analysis (Rose 85) of the pictures orbiting the center piece, it can be implied that through travel and working together, one can reach a form of stability. The coding (Rose 92) for this is short, does the image involve movement? The pennants imply movement because some people move away to go to college (Luther pennant) and Murfreesboro, Arkansas is far away, and someone might need to travel to go to that town. The bird is moving through the air. The people working have to move to do their job. The person with the backpack full of things is walking. All of these images have movement. Through this analysis of the content of the images, it becomes valid that they all involve movement. Because of the images orbiting the castle, this sign of stability, that this travel and movement is the process to get to stability.
With the eye starting on the pennants, specifically the one of Luther, this can be the starting point of the whole journey to obtain stability. College is a place where people can go to learn, to grow, to become structured, this sign of growth that college represents is the ultimate desire, or the destination that is being grabbed at.
Structure and stability are two concepts that are sought after by many people. Especially in young adults this idea is pressing. They are told and constantly reminded either by family members, media, and other sources that to be a responsible adult, you need to have a stable job and stable relationships. This is drilled into the minds of children at a young age. Go to high school to get a diploma so you can go off to college and get a bachelor’s degree that will ultimately help you land a job that pays well. And after that go and work on a master’s degree so you can earn even more than the bachelor degree. Once you can earn this stable amount of money and have this structure, then you can rest. You can sit down and think about your journey and how you obtained structure and rest.

Commentary on Rachel Tanur's Works: Dog and Masker

I chose the image “Dog and Masker,” from Rachels gallery. This image evokes aloneness or anonymity but still the desire to have a companion and be known. At first, I thought this image could represent religion and it’s need for followers, but looking into it further, I can see a stronger correlation between how people want to unknown but still want or need someone to be beside them. In the “Dog and Masker,” it is most prominent in how the masker is holding a leash connected to a dog. Dogs are known companions of their owners and there, I see the connection of wanting or needing a companion even though the desire to be unknown is present. Using ‘The Good Eye’ (Rose 56), Semiology (Rose 106) and Discourse Analysis 2 (Rose 220) the images in the photo can be given meaning. Something that immediately popped out to me is how the Masker and the Dog are spatially organized (Rose 66). Neither the Masker or the Dog are set in the center of the image. This can denote that the desire to be anonymous and having a companion are both of importance. But looking at the image closer, the Masker and the Dog are not on the same plane. With this in mind, the viewer can get a sense that the desire to be anonymous is more important than being known. Looking at the background of the image I see an institutional apparatus and technology (Rose 223). The ability to be alone or anonymous does come with a price at times and I see the glass as a representation of this desire costing something or being out of reach at times. With the glass case being the technology of the cost. The case shows that yes, it is visible, but you do need to pay for it some way. Whether that is monetarily or emotionally or at the cost of losing relationships, one can acquire being alone or being anonymous. Though this image can symbolize wanting to be alone and anonymous, this forces the reverse, companionship. One can not be without the other (Sturken and Cartwright 113). You can not have the notion of being alone or anonymous without having the reverse of having a companion and being known. The conduit for this connection can be the leash. Leashes can be seen as an institutional technology (Rose 223) for control. People put pets on leashes to prevent them they from run away or going too far. Because of this, it gives power to the anonymity being able to control who knows them. This image spoke to me about anonymity and companionship because of my own desire for both. Moving from a place where I could not be anonymous, to a school and a city that I have this aloneness or anonymity gives me this control and power of who I allow to know me. But in gaining this control, I paid the price of emotional pain and turmoil. This image brings forth anonymity and companionship. Through the way the Masker and the Dog have equal space anonymity and companionship can be seen as equals. In this situation, anonymity is given importance and power. This is indicated by the Masker being more forward. With this power, it gives the Masker the ability to control when they have companionships with someone or something.