Visual Culture Level 5 - Gendering The Image

In this session we carried out a task where we were given some sets of 2 images, one image was created by a woman and the other image by a man. Our challenge was to figure out which was by the woman and which was by the man and have reasons for our choices. This task made me realise that it is possible to tell what gender has created the piece by having simple art history knowledge. I found this as one set of the images were 2 embroidered clothing items from Japanese culture, one of which was very intricate and detailed while one was a rather simple design and in a group we came to the conclusion that the detailed one was by the male because for that type of detail you need to be taught in schools and in those times of early Japan women weren't given the privilege of going to school to learn, this theory proved to be correct. 

I have taken this opportunity to look at 2 illustrators, one female and one male and I am going to explain why I think one portrays male and the other portrays female. I have chosen 2 illustrators which create similar images because I think that will create a good comparison. I have chosen Sunga Park as the male and Jennifer Maravillas as the female. They have both created images which show buildings and architecture and below I will explain why i think the images portray their gender. 

Jennifer Maravillas:

In the same session as above I remember one of my fellow class mates say that women perceive colours differently to men therefore that's why I believe this image portrays the female gender.

Also the lines and shapes of the buildings are very careless. There is a general shape to the images but it is very simplified and I think this is because men are more likely to see things in more of an industrial sense therefore a female is more likely to use shapes and bold lines rather than perfect architectural like lines.

I also think the fact that the image is majorly clustered with images and I think this is more of a female doing as they tend to create things as more of a design than a single image.

Sunga Park:

The first thing that jumps out at me about this one is the colour Sunga has used. It is has been test proven that males are more likely to be more attracted to using the colour blue than women.

The lines of the building are very perfectly drawn, like that of architectural sketches / drawings whilst in the female image the lines are rather bold and not so delicate.

The drawing is also very industrial which is more of a male trait. Men seem to look at things in a more industrial way therefore he was able to create this image with very small detail and intricacy.   

http://www.colormatters.com/color-symbolism/gender-differences