« An Extremely Frightening Individual | Main | Alan Magee »
October 29, 2005
Karen Finley
The postcard I analyzed is titled "Karen Finley" and was taken in Nyack, New York. The photograph was taken by Annie Leibovitz.
Studium (Denotation):
The focus of my postcard is of a body, sprawled onto a loveseat. The person is lying down on the loveseat, face turned away from the audience. Also, the loveseat is a forrest green color and is covered with a coarse, tweed type of fabric. Although the person's face cannot be seen, the body is obviously a woman. Its obvious with the woman's flowing hair, and womanly curves. If you look close enough, you can see that there is nailpolish on the nails of the woman. Her hands are clenched onto her head and neck, a seemingly unnatural position. The only thing the woman is wearing are teal/sea foam green long socks. Her bright red bathrobe is unraveled, under her body, polarizing the woman's ivory skin. To the left of the woman is a white, ratty looking radiator. The carpet is a ugly shade of brown, the shade that was popular in the seventies. To the right of the woman are piles of books stacked on a wooden coffee table which is also home to a lamp. On the table is a striped drinking glass with nothing in it. There is a window situated behind the loveseat but is covered by off white blinds.
Punctum (Connotation):
It seems like the woman is home alone during the night. The blinds are closed, showing that she is separating herself from the world. The lamp that is probably on the coffee table is on, and the rest of the room looks dark, indicating that night has fallen. Her clothes also show that she is not expecting anyone. The teal/sea foam green socks are the kind you wear when you think nobody is watching. Also, she is naked and turned away from the camera lens as if she's planning on being by herself all night. I think she seems to be thinking, by the way her hands are placed on her head. She is at ease with herself and has no problem being in the nude. The shadows that run though the room seem to portrahy that she is contemplating something troubling.
Posted by lcissearls at October 29, 2005 06:16 PM