I struggled all week to come up with a topic that I could illustrate through my photography. I wanted it to be something that could be clearly conveyed, but at the same time, not too obviously.
I decided to illustrate the topic of relationship abuse. So many people are trapped in abusive relationships and they feel like they can't speak out about it. I thought about exploring the physical side of the abuse, but instead I decided to focus more on the emotional aspect. I chose to use the Barbie doll to represent the abused person in the relationship. She lays immobile in the bed that she and her abuser share. The tape over her mouth conveys the idea that she is silenced, unable to cry out for help.
ISO 800, f/8, 1/20
Context of the photo:
Physical- the bed she is "trapped" in, being the bed that she shares with her partner, her abuser.
Psychological- The brightness in Barbie's eyes would usually be complimented by a smile, however, her mouth is taped. Without her smile, to me, her eyes become wide and afraid.
Cultural- We see Barbies as child's toys, which is what the abused woman has become to her partner-- a toy.
Social- Barbies are usually depicted as "the perfect woman." She is the model of American beauty.
Temporal- I felt that the image of her laying stiff and immobile in the bed conveyed that she has been in this relationship for a while and has gone into a numb state of acceptance.
ISO 800, f/4.8, 1/20
I also included this close up landscape oriented photo, closing her in more, in comparison to the next photo, which has more negative space. I felt that the empty space around her portrayed that she feels very alone.
ISO 800, f/4.8, 1/20
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