Body Image

Nochlin, a professor of modern art, and Bordo, a philosopher, both have an interesting way of presenting the body in relation to culture. Personally, I feel Bordo speaks more powerfully to my generation about body image. Bordo highlights the conventionalized reaction to our idea of "appropriate" body image. Through the use of examples in modern culture she emphasizes the constructed acceptance of certain views of the body. On the other hand, Nochlin focuses on a more historical construction of body image, revealing the foundation for our modern conventions of image. The work of Nochlin allows one to perceive the perpetuation of views regarding image in different time periods, with different cultural characteristics.

Bordo's work makes more sense to me because of not only her writing style, but her use of helpful examples to convey her points. In "Beauty Rediscovers the Male Body," she connects with specific aspects of culture that are present in my time period and my current culture. One example Bordo uses for the constructed view of body image was very enlightening, concerning the convention of a women's shame for curiosity. Bordo begins the piece discussing her surprise when being aroused by an advertisement, which featured a male model. Traditionally men are the starers and women are the subjects observed, when these roles are reversed it displays an unnatural occurrence. The presence of more male models in advertising was a shift that challenged the conventions of a woman's appropriate level of curiosity. This shift also challenged a male's appropriate display of body image in relation to gender roles. Bordo used the example of Michael Jordan, as a representative of both masculinity and fashion to question the present cultural convention of masculinity. "Male decorativeness" was acceptable for Jordan because he is an athlete, meaning our culture is circumstantial and manipulated by what the majority views as acceptable. Therefore, Bordo conveyed that the reversal of roles regarding starer and observer; and the circumstantial cultural views in society challenge body image.

Nochlin's research on Renoir's painting, "The Great Bathers," posed as the central example of constructed views of body image. This work of art from the late 1800s poses little inquiry without Nochlin's view of the importance of perspective, while examining the piece. Renoir's work inspired a collection of art in a "Bathers" genre. The evaluation of this work challenges the foundation of conventions constructed through different time periods. For example, the Greeks featured men and boys in the nude, yet after the rise of Christianity only women were featured in the nude. This shift created a convention that objectifies women and allows men to be starers, without conviction. Nochlin doesn't present a clear view of her perspective, revealing the importance of respecting numerous opinions. By observing the broad spectrum of perspective, one can see the importance of a historical understanding of conventional changes in different time periods.    

Through the use of examples in modern culture Bordo emphasizes the constructed acceptance of certain views of the body. Nochlin focuses on a more historical construction of body image, revealing the foundation for our modern conventions of image. Both, Bordo and Nochlin's work, are necessary to have a complete idea and understanding of body image. They discuss present and historical information to develop a clear timeline of conventions, and the reason for conventional shifts.