Striking a Pose: From Selfies to Self-Expression
Recently I was out taking photos of Katie, our CCO - something that I do with her often. Katie is tall, confident and isn’t shy about taking up space. During the shoot, I made the mistake of asking her to cross her legs, something I’ve never asked her to do before. “I will not take the patriarchal pose!” she said to me. I had never heard this term before, but I immediately knew what she meant. And she was right – this pose wasn’t her.
Did you know that the way we pose for pictures says a lot about our generation and the society we live in? Buckle up, because we're taking a trip through time to see how posing has evolved.
Millennials: The Selfie Pioneers
Alright, picture this: it's the early 2000s, and every girl at the club has a Canon Powershot in her purse (mine was pink!). We turn that camera around to take a picture of how much fun we are all having and squeal with delight when we look at it on the back of the camera. We can’t wait to upload these shots to MySpace so that everyone can see just how much fun we have. This was the invention of the selfie.
Soon, smartphones are starting to pop up everywhere. Enter the millennials, armed with these new gadgets and ready to snap some selfies to now post on Facebook. Among the iconic poses of this generation is the ‘duck face’ – a puckered lip look meant to make the lips look fuller and give a sly expression. It became synonymous with selfies in the late 2000s. The peace sign/kissy face combo also found it’s place in the millennial posing repertoire, symbolizing playful expressions of peace and love.
For millennials, posing wasn't just about looking good – it was about conveying a sense of confidence and self-assuredness, albeit sometimes veering into the realm of exaggerated self-presentation.
Gen Z: Angles and Authenticity
Unlike the carefully curated selfies of millennials, Gen Z tends to prioritize authenticity over perfection. Born between the mid-'90s and early 2010s, these digital natives grew up with social media as their playground. But instead of perfect poses and filtered faces, Gen Z is all about expressing one's true self.
Low angles? Definitely. Blurry photos? Oh yes. It’s less about posing and more about catching a moment. Candid shots, unfiltered – that's where the magic happens. Oh, and the .5 back camera selfie that makes your arm look 10 feet long.
The Patriarchal Pose: Breaking it Down
Beyond generational trends, there exists a pervasive phenomenon that transcends age: the patriarchal pose. This pose isn't just about looking good – it's about conforming to societal expectations of femininity and attractiveness.
You know the drill: head tilted, back arched, legs crossed – all in an effort to please the male gaze. It’s the pose we see consistently on red carpets, like the MET gala that took place recently. However, beneath the surface lies a complex interplay of power dynamics and internalized norms, where women may feel pressured to conform to unrealistic standards of beauty and desirability. *cough* Kim K *cough*…
Strike a Pose, Own Your Story
Whether you're a Millennial, Gen Z, or somewhere in between, posing is all about owning your story. It's about expressing yourself, having fun, and maybe even making a statement along the way.
So the next time you're in front of the camera, don't be afraid to strike a pose – whatever that means to you. Whether you're throwing up a peace sign, capturing a candid moment, or defying societal norms, remember: the most powerful pose is the one that reflects your true self.
