Cultural PracticeCultural Practice

Media Cultures 1 Media Cultures 1 (NEWM1001) (NEWM1001)

Week 4 11 August 2009Week 4 11 August 2009

The Practice of Everyday The Practice of Everyday Life (Life (de Certeau, 1984)de Certeau, 1984)

‘‘To the ordinary man.To the ordinary man.To a common hero, an ubiquitous To a common hero, an ubiquitous

character, walking in countless character, walking in countless thousands on the streets…I inquire thousands on the streets…I inquire into the desire whose impossible into the desire whose impossible object he represents… He is the object he represents… He is the murmuring voice of societies. In all murmuring voice of societies. In all ages, he comes before texts. He ages, he comes before texts. He does not expect representations…does not expect representations…

Discourse (Barthes)Discourse (Barthes)

There are 2 ways in which this word is There are 2 ways in which this word is used (in Critical/Cultural Theory)used (in Critical/Cultural Theory)

1.1. One or more sets of One or more sets of communication(s) that talk about communication(s) that talk about the same thing, eg ‘ a discourse on the same thing, eg ‘ a discourse on ‘child-minding’ could include ‘child-minding’ could include articles, films, training courses, articles, films, training courses, posters and television programs posters and television programs that are involved in discussing that are involved in discussing ‘child-minding practices’. ‘child-minding practices’.

Discourse (Foucault)Discourse (Foucault)

2. Michel Foucault’s2. Michel Foucault’s idea of ‘discourse’ is idea of ‘discourse’ is something much more significant which something much more significant which operates in society – a force which is the operates in society – a force which is the result of all the discourses described before. result of all the discourses described before. Foucault’s describes discourse as a Foucault’s describes discourse as a ‘framework’ of ‘framework’ of powerpower. It is an idea that can . It is an idea that can be used to examine the ways in which power be used to examine the ways in which power is used in society. This kind of discourse on is used in society. This kind of discourse on ‘child-minding’ would examine all the ways ‘child-minding’ would examine all the ways in which a society thinks about children, men in which a society thinks about children, men and women – all the myths that surround and women – all the myths that surround issues of child-minding.issues of child-minding.

Power (Foucault)Power (Foucault)

Power is the force in society, the urge Power is the force in society, the urge to say, to decree what is ‘normal’. to say, to decree what is ‘normal’.

Power relations have to do with who is Power relations have to do with who is dominated in society and by whom.dominated in society and by whom.

Power relations between people are Power relations between people are affected by what is considered affected by what is considered ‘normal’ and therefore ‘right’‘normal’ and therefore ‘right’

They are also affected by levels of They are also affected by levels of knowledgeknowledge

Foucault, Michel (1980). Foucault, Michel (1980). Power/Knowledge. Power/Knowledge. Selected Interviews and Other Writings 1972-Selected Interviews and Other Writings 1972-

19771977, , New York: Pantheon BooksNew York: Pantheon Books

‘‘It seems to me that power It seems to me that power isis “always “always already there”, that one is never already there”, that one is never “outside” it, that there are no “margins” “outside” it, that there are no “margins” for those who break with the system to for those who break with the system to gambol in … To say that one can never gambol in … To say that one can never be “outside” power does not mean that be “outside” power does not mean that one is trapped and condemned to defeat one is trapped and condemned to defeat no matter what… there are no relations no matter what… there are no relations of power without resistances …’ of power without resistances …’ (Foucault,1980: 142-3)(Foucault,1980: 142-3)

Social DiscourseSocial Discourse (Foucault’s idea again but in (Foucault’s idea again but in

Buchbinder’s words)Buchbinder’s words) ‘‘Social or cultural discourse … Social or cultural discourse …

determines determines what what can be spoken can be spoken about, and in what terms and with about, and in what terms and with what sorts of values. It also what sorts of values. It also determines determines who who has the authority to has the authority to speak about, and to whom, and who speak about, and to whom, and who can only be spoken to.’ can only be spoken to.’

David Buchbinder (1998). David Buchbinder (1998). Performance Performance Anxieties : re-producing masculinity. Anxieties : re-producing masculinity. St.St. Leonards, N.S.W. : Allen & Unwin, 1998, 11.Leonards, N.S.W. : Allen & Unwin, 1998, 11.

HegemonyHegemony A concept developed by Antonio Gramsci and A concept developed by Antonio Gramsci and

further developed within a particular stage of further developed within a particular stage of Marxist Theory to explain the ways in which Marxist Theory to explain the ways in which people can ‘allow’ themselves to be put at a people can ‘allow’ themselves to be put at a disadvantage – how people accept that it is disadvantage – how people accept that it is ‘normal’, right for them to be dominated by ‘normal’, right for them to be dominated by interests which are not their own. They are the interests which are not their own. They are the processes, reasoning and ideas that people use processes, reasoning and ideas that people use to justify the to justify the status quostatus quo, the way things are, , the way things are, whether or not the situation is to their whether or not the situation is to their advantage or not. These processes are not advantage or not. These processes are not ‘visible’ except through looking at all the ‘visible’ except through looking at all the particular myths and discourses of society.particular myths and discourses of society.

‘‘Hegemony is a form of power based Hegemony is a form of power based on leadership by a group in many on leadership by a group in many fields of activity at once, so that its fields of activity at once, so that its ascendancy commands widespread ascendancy commands widespread consent and appears natural and consent and appears natural and inevitable.’ Hall, 1997, p259inevitable.’ Hall, 1997, p259

It is all about cultural It is all about cultural perspectives…perspectives…

Orlan is a performance artist who uses her own body and the procedures of plastic surgery to make "carnal art". She is transforming her face, but her aim is not to attain a commonly held standard of beauty.

Orlan cont…Orlan cont…

How does Tracey Moffat How does Tracey Moffat play with ideas of play with ideas of

subversion?subversion?