Blog Assignment #1- Interpellation

Interpellation is a form of manipulation intended to interrupt a procedure in order to pose a question. In art, an image is created in order to convey a certain message. An artist could have several different motives behind producing a piece of art. Some artists create a piece of artwork in order to make a political statement, or in order to expose a certain social issue. In the advertisement industry an artist is hired to create an image that can be used to sell a product. Regardless of an artist's specific motive, the purpose behind art is to provoke contemplation. To be interpellated by an image is to realize that a piece of artwork is meant to be understood by those who view it. In simple terms, interpellation refers to how an image captivates a viewer's attention. To fully understand a piece is to take into account the medium the artists chooses to use, the environment in which an image is viewed, and the context of the image. It is implied that, in order to understand these aspects of a piece of artwork, an individual must agree to be an active spectator in that piece of art. Being a spectator involves more than just looking at an image. Being a spectator is a multimodal activity, that ivolves all five of the senses. Also, to be a spectator an individual must understand a piece of art in its full context, as well as understand himself or herself as a human subject. Not only must the spectator rely on his or her five senses, but must also use his or her own knowledge human society, experiences, and memories as a reference. A spectator's most useful tool in interpreting a piece of art is his or her gaze. Gaze, or the field of gaze, in this context, refers to the engagement in the activity of looking. In the field of gaze a spectator considers the social and historical context in which an image is created. Also, in the field of gaze, a spectator considers the notion of power and the idea of institution. The purpose behind art is to convince a viewer to do more than just look at an image. The purpose behind art is to invite an individual to actively participate in an image. By becoming more involved, an individual not only gets a better idea of what the piece of artwork is about, but also gets a better idea of who he or she is as a social human being.
An image that has greatly impacted me is the above promotional poster of the movie Remember the Titans. Naturally, I love the movie that this poster advertises, but the image itself sends an important message, just as the movie does. At a quick glance, this image contains a close-up of one man (the movie's protagonist, Denzel Washington) and a small clip of a running football player to the right side of the poster. The poster is dark and blurred around the edges, putting all attention on the center of the piece. From this, it is clear that the movie is about a football team. However, the clip of the player is set to the side purposely. In the very front of the image is a large close-up shot of one of the protagonist. What this tells me is that the person I should be focusing on, in both in the image and the movie, is that character. Thinking further on that notion, without even watching the movie, it can be assumed that this character is someone important; it could be inferred that this character is has both great potential and the obligation to make something of this potential. Also, the expression on his face supports this theory. The look on his face is disgruntled, implying that this character in faced with a stressful dilemma. However, even though he appears to be under some sort of pressure, there is a strong sense of determination and confidence in his expression. Another aspect to support this theory is the fact that he is not looking directly at the camera, but rather looking past the camera. His stare is directed almost outside of the picture, as if he were looking out on a landscape. This gives insight to his attitude, his sense of character. To me, this suggests a "me against the world" mindset. Only he doesn't seem scared, or swayed at all by this situation. From these signs, it can be inferred that this character is facing a serious issue; it suggests that maybe what this character is up against is something out of the ordinary, something momentous. Going back to the theory of expectations and potential, these hints also suggest that this character is a man of great capability.
The reason this poster holds such meaning to me is the overall meesage it sends. This poster promotes hope and motivation. This image promotes the ideal that individuals can make a difference. This represents ambition, strength, and the belief of positive change. From this picture I get a sense of reassurance; this image supports my own beliefs and my own desire for improvement. It's cheesy, I know. Regardless, this image has completely interpellated me. Through this, I am given a little insight to who I am, or who I would like to become eventually. Idealistic? Yes, very much so. But then again, so am I.