This image relates to a
2013 article from the Hollywood reporter, a gossip magazine about the exposing
of models and actresses becoming escorts for powerful businessmen as a means of
money or to further their career.
This illustration bases itself off the social culture of the Cannes film festival, it’s based on capitalistic view that sex workers gain more social acceptability when they are earning a high amount of money from rich clients. The image makes prostitution look glamorous and almost James Bond-esque. A common trick gossip magazines and sensationalising media does which is 'perpetuating a falsely positive perception of global sex industries, and contend that this constitutes a form of symbolic violence' (Bourdieu,1990)
This illustration bases itself off the social culture of the Cannes film festival, it’s based on capitalistic view that sex workers gain more social acceptability when they are earning a high amount of money from rich clients. The image makes prostitution look glamorous and almost James Bond-esque. A common trick gossip magazines and sensationalising media does which is 'perpetuating a falsely positive perception of global sex industries, and contend that this constitutes a form of symbolic violence' (Bourdieu,1990)
The setting of a high-rise flat and yacht in the
background makes it seem like a glamorous job; however that is only due to the
sense of exclusivity that is given to the illustration by looking through a
keyhole. The keyhole serves two purposes the former has been explained but the
latter is the concept of the altercation happening being one that is still a
taboo scenario, showing how even in the most luxurious of scenarios
prostitution is still stigmatised. Usually Cannes like many other cities tries 'create the image of
a modern city, attractive to both tourists and capital, prostitutes are
denied public space, criminalised, and associated with poor
immigrants who are trafficked as sex slaves and subject to deportation.'
(Freire,2009)
'Prostitution is an integral part of
a patriarchal capitalism' (Pateman,1999), and this illustration highlights the strong and heavily evident
patriarchal and capitalistic society that surrounds prostitution. The fact that the man is
fully dressed while the woman is almost nude holds strong implications of
female submissiveness and male dominance. The John chooses how much of his and
her clothes stay on; he has all the power in this scenario, he has the money
the clothes and the control.
The media used reflects the idealisation of prostitution. The use
of digital media it allows you to create a sleek piece of illustration that is
clean cut and devoid of markings it is manufactured in away that makes it easy to
swallow for the consumer with out really looking into the complex and
morally grey world of prostitution.
The Article content itself
goes along with the notion of the prostitution rings in Cannes being a very
appealing venture for young women who want to make a lot of money. By
emphasising the fact that some Hollywood celebrities do it and the fact that
you could earn up to $40,000 in one night the article glosses over the fact
that many women have been coerced into prostitution on false pretences and do
not get the money they worked for as it goes to their pimp.
The image also reflects this by the way the woman struts confidently towards the man giving off the idea of a woman who has power and is this seductress rather than a woman who is doing this as away of making money. However ‘prostitution is a classist, ageist, racist and sexist industry in which the disadvantaged sell services to those who are
more privileged’ (Overall, 1992) so depicting the woman as having the power turns the viewer thoughts away from the reality the prostitution is rather a patriarchal based business than an act of empowerment.
The image also reflects this by the way the woman struts confidently towards the man giving off the idea of a woman who has power and is this seductress rather than a woman who is doing this as away of making money. However ‘prostitution is a classist, ageist, racist and sexist industry in which the disadvantaged sell services to those who are
more privileged’ (Overall, 1992) so depicting the woman as having the power turns the viewer thoughts away from the reality the prostitution is rather a patriarchal based business than an act of empowerment.
It all focuses on the male gaze, lifting guilt
off the man by saying well it’s obvious the woman wants it. An image
and article like this that idealise the sex working industry is partially to blame for
setting up the notion that money can by consent and makes you question if
'the typical "John" asks the woman "Are you sure you want
to..." or does he he assume that once he pays her, her wishes no longer
matter' (Hampton, 2007)
It focuses more on the glitz of the Cannes film festival sex industry than it does on the more serious issue of illegal prostitution and sexual coercion.
On the whole the illustration and article shows how prostitution is heavily reliant on a capitalist and patriarchal society but it does raise the question; when analysing in more depth of whether prostitution is a form of sexual slavery or if they are two separate things.
It focuses more on the glitz of the Cannes film festival sex industry than it does on the more serious issue of illegal prostitution and sexual coercion.
On the whole the illustration and article shows how prostitution is heavily reliant on a capitalist and patriarchal society but it does raise the question; when analysing in more depth of whether prostitution is a form of sexual slavery or if they are two separate things.
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Fig. 4
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bourdieu, Pierre (1990). 'The logic of practice' 1st ed, Cambridge: Polity Press.
Freire, Luna Juliana (2009) , 'Urban Capitalism and Prostitution: An Analysis of Princesas', Volume 7, No. 1, University of Arizona, p24
Pateman, Carole, (1999) 'What's Wrong with Prostitution?' Women's Studies Quarterly, Vol. 27, No. 1/2, Teaching About Violence Against Women, pp. 53-64
Overall, Christine (1992). What's Wrong with Prostitution? Evaluating Sex Work. Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society. 17(4), p724
Hampton, S (2007) 'Drawing the line: Is prostitution consensual sex for a
price or men’s violence against women?' Available: http://www.prostitutionresearch.com/Hampton-Drawing%20the%20line.pdf ,Last Accessed 4th November 2014
Fig. 1, Cardona, Juan (1905) 'Prostitute at Jardin De Parid' [Print]
Fig. 2 Goudappel, Aad (2013) 'Child Abuse' [Editorial]
Fig. 3 Toulouse-Lauterc, de Henry (1894-96) 'The Sofa' [Documentation of the lives of prostitutes]
Fig. 4 Bonfils, Robert (1964) 'Sweet Slut' [Book Cover]
Fig. 5 Bar, Norman (2013) 'The Science of Sexual Abuse' [Editorial]
