What is a bat? Perception is key.
Media texts can be described as the different types of ways in which companies convey their content. This can be seen through different platforms of the media such as videos games, movies and even books. Each of these media texts offering differing perspectives and perceptions on how individuals react to them.
These ‘perceptions’ of texts are key to discovering the way the media can influence us towards thinking, acting and reacting towards a medium.
This also leads onto the idea of ideology being that each individual will react to a stimulus of material differently depending on their experiences or perceptions in life.
Controversial images spark this discussion of an individuals perception and reactions towards certain media texts.
What is this image and what does it mean? The context of this image is in relation to the oppression of women due to the Islamic faith and the use of cloth to conceal themselves. Their faith uses this clothing to prohibit women from attracting other men as their bodies are only for their husband.
The signifier in this case is the Niqab being used in a way which symbols oppression and control which Islam has over women. Using dark, hard, metallic colours suggests the facist ways in which individuals treat women as well as the themes and powerful messages which this image invokes. The steel bars across the eyes convey the nature in which Islamic women feel as though they are trapped and cannot escape the lifes in which they live. It also sparks the discussion of women having no rights or freedom in the Islamic faith. However, at the same time it is a women’s choice wether they wear this clothing or not.
This image is purely used for the notion of awareness to the public that womens rights are being breached. It is used as a campaign which is quite confronting to establish how women are not allowed a future due to having little education and freedom. It conveys the message of rejection, oppression and capture in relation to Islamic women.
However. What is a Niqab? It is a garment used by an Islamic woman to express her faith. It is a sign of modesty to her husband as well as other men, as a woman’s body is sacred and must be kept from men. This then therefore has the effect of empowering women to take control of their own bodies.
Which of these perceptions is right? Empowerment, or oppression.
Perception is the Key.
~ krisesandchrosses ~
(I also found this story very relevant to this topic: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3492176/Down-syndrome-beautiful-Photographer-captures-men-women-ages-genetic-disorder-heartwarming-shoot-fight-negative-perceptions.html. It contrasts the beauty of individuals living with a terrible illness).
Sources:
krisesandchrosses 
You’re post is very well written and interesting to read. The image you’ve chosen is so powerful and I 100% agree with what you have said about the meanings behind it. You’ve made a great point in your last paragraph about whether the niqab is a sign of empowerment or oppression. I think it could be either depending on who the woman is wearing it. If it is her decision then it could definitely be showing her empowerment and dedication to her husband and faith. However, it is not always the woman’s choice to where it in which case it would be a sign of oppression. This just goes to show that there is never just one answer and there will always be varying connotations.
Great post!
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I found a great blog post relevant to this that you might be interested in. It describes even more examples of semiotics in advertising. https://unmcj268fa2011.wordpress.com/2011/10/24/advertising-and-semiotics/
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The use of the what is a bat image at the start if your post was very clever! It was a good way to engage people in the idea that your initial perception of something might not be similar to someone else’s. I think the image you chose well describes that. This issue has always been one that has heated debates, because while oppression of these women are pretty persistent, there are also a lot of women who choose to wear the Niqab as their devotion to their faith. I think the problem with this is that we are very quick to classify something as oppression especially when it comes to religion because it has unfortunately been developed with a lot of patriarchal norms engrained in it, however it would be definitely very useful for movements such as the feminist women to get different perspective on things so that seeing an image such as the one you showed would not immediately be equated to oppression. I read this article on feminism and religion of you want to check it out: http://theconversation.com/why-feminists-need-to-learn-about-religion-52475 Overall though, this was a great blogpost that really highlighted how different ideologies and experiences can result in different connotations for the same picture 🙂
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