Foreplay: Analysis of an image

We were tasked in groups to analyse an image. We used a feminist analysis.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PICTURE

1. The background is dark and has the writing foreplay as well as the image of a (male?) face on the right-hand side
2. The colours used are black and purple
3. There are seven people depicted, 2 males and 5 females
4. One of the males is white – reflected as higher than the rest of the group
5. The middle male is completely surrounded by females
6. Each person has a different expression
7. Two of the people, the male in the middle and the female to his right, are looking to the left of the picture
8. One hand of each person is visible barring the middle male and the top left female
9. The women on the right and left have tattoos
10. All are dressed in black
11. The word foreplay is written across the bottom of the picture in a cursive script, followed by three dots.

ANALYSIS

1. This looks like the cover of a music album, but a search on google did not reveal a group of this name with this as an album cover.
2. It is more likely to be a poster, perhaps for an organisation such a love life?
3. The use of the colour purple has sexual connotations and has been said to signify sexual frustration
4. Racially, 6 black people and one white man could mirror the South African population.
5. The middle man is completely surrounded by females. He is comfortable in his position.
6. The white man at the top is dominant in the picture. Could this again be a reflection of South African society?
7. The white man and the woman to his left seem to be close. He is holding a protective arm around her and she has a wide smile on her face. He is also holding his arm around the woman on his right. Similarly the man in the middle is holding his arms around the women on either side of him. This indicates the males’ role in society as protectors, yet both have their eyes closed – they are blind to what is going on around them
8. The word foreplay is written prominently at the bottom. This word has a sexual connotation as it describes emotional or physical activity that occurs before intercourse and additionally can refer to two or more people (ie. a group as is depicted here). The fact that both males and females are in the picture, holding each other, in addition to the black and purple background, suggests sexuality
9. The word foreplay is followed by three dots suggesting that the foreplay is followed by something.

FEMINIST APPROACH

1. The use of the colour purple has sexual connotations and has been said to signify sexual frustration. The picture contains 5 females to two males which could lead to a frustrating situation ?
2. Racially, 6 black people and one white man could mirror the South African population.
3. The middle man is completely surrounded by females. He is comfortable in his position.
4. The white man at the top is dominant in the picture. Could this again be a reflection of South African society?
5. The white man and the woman to his left seem to be close. He is holding a protective arm around her and she has a wide smile on her face. He is also holding his arm around the woman on his right. Similarly the man in the middle is holding his arms around the women on either side of him. This indicates the males’ dominant role in society, yet both have their eyes closed – they are blind to what is going on around them
6. The word foreplay is written prominently at the bottom. This word has a sexual connotation as it describes emotional or physical activity that occurs before intercourse and additionally can refer to two or more people (ie. a group as is depicted here). The fact that both males and females are in the picture, holding each other, in addition to the black and purple background, suggests sexuality
7. The word foreplay is followed by three dots suggesting that the foreplay is followed by something.