final image

I finally decided on a final image, using all of my favourite aspects of my previous attempts.
I found the original colour version of the image I wanted to use previously and used the idea of the wifi waves, bleached eyes, televisions with sexy images, lyrics and the 18 tattoo to create this:

continued

This image is a continuance from the previous idea but this time I found a colour version of one of my images. I know I don't necessarily have to use my own images but I'd like to for this project and I feel that the images I have previously taken work well in terms of poses etc.
I found this image of the girl lying down and once again use the lyrics as a dress, I created a bigger cleavage to give it a sexier feel and positioned her on a pile of old televisions. I chose to do this because I felt that using just music didn't have as big an impact as I'd hoped and realised that televesion is as responsible for over-sexualising the women in the music industry as the lyricists. My plan was to add sexy images onto the televisions and continue the brainwashing idea but I wasn't as happy with the model's position in the image and decided to try again.

lyrics continued

Here I used another of my own images and after some feedback of the lyrics not seeming to connect to the model, I chose to edit the image so that she would be wearing the song words. I decided to add the 18 logo onto her skin as a tattoo to suggest that she had been affected by the music and it had become a lifestyle for her now. I used the brainwashing idea again by whitening out her eyes but instead of wires I used the wifi waves around her head.

The image is black and white because I only had access to the black and white version of the original image of the girl and so I made the whole image greyscale. I like it but I think it looks too classy for the message I'm trying to portray and so will try a colour version when I get access to the original image at home.

lyrics.

The last image I didn't think challenged my abilities enough and I felt it wasn't as outspoken as my chosen artist's style, and so using one of my own images, I created a new bright and eye catching collage.
I gave the image a pink background and posterised it to make it seem a bit more surreal like La Chapelle's images, I then added type to the image (lyrics from a Rihanna song) and also added wires to the model's head to give the idea of her being plugged into the music and being brainwashed. I also whitened her eyes to give more of the brainwashed idea:

Music

My stance on this cyborg project is through music and the way women are used objectively and so I created this image to make the point of the female body being over sexualised and how some of these women themselves have no real recognition.

This is my first attempt at collage

My plan was to use David La Chapelle as inspiration but rather than using lots of props I would use photoshop to create collages.

My first attempt didn't go too well but it had some potential to develop my ideas further.
I found the raunchiest image I could find of Rihanna and then cut and pasted images of her fans over the image to show how young her audience is and how impressionable they would be to her behaviour, lyrics and dress sense.

Dazed and Confused Interview with David LaChapelle

http://www.dazeddigital.com/artsandculture/article/7066/1/renaissance-man-david-lachapelle

David LaChapelle

Artist Research

David LaChapelle:

Fashion, Glamour and Pop Culture photographer, film director and fine artist.

I was reminded of LaChapelle's work after viewing the video for Rihanna's "S&M" which was not directed by LaChapelle but had a very similar style.

LaChapelle's work is typical for being bright, outspoken and often close to pornographic. His sets are often full to the brim of props and the outfits that his models are dressed in are equally full of character.
When photographing celebrities he will bring their personality quite literally to the set in form of props and costume.
He also photographs very risque and taboo subjects such as S&M, prostitution and often brings an element  of sex or pornography to his advertising images.

I think his work reflects the sort of issues with sex in modern pop culture that I wish to explore through this project and I would like to use his style in my work.

another article

http://www.whatwilliweartoday.ie/2011/08/what-to-wear-when-youre-riri-the-role-model-not-a-lot/

This link includes images and stills from concerts and music videos by the artist Rihanna. All of which are accessible to young girls.

http://blog.sophianetwork.org.uk/2011/11/article-21st-century-role-model-liberated-women-or-living-dolls-by-claire-rush.html

Here's an article I found which gives the same opinions as I have on modern female role models.
The article is actually taken from a website for religious charities but the points made I found were very useful and gave me more ideas and information on how I can develop my ideas further

Ideas continued...

I've decided that my initial take on this project will be the way that music and specifically female musicians affect children and young women's perception of beauty, sex and self worth.

I've noticed how music is something that is around us on a daily basis and how music can be used to subliminally send messages to listeners.

I wish to explore this idea through the use of imagery, collage, video and sound.

I plan to research articles on modern day female role models (Rihanna, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga)
I plan on exploring the rules on censorship in music, music videos and restrictions on purchasing/downloading music with adult content.

Ideas

• Music
• Ipods/iphones etc
• Advertising
• Censorship
• Role Models
• Magazines
• Facebook

Cyborgs

For my most recent university project I will be exploring the idea of cyborgs.
Man and machine combined in modern society and incorporating that into my work.