Sensuality vs. Sexuality in Photography
There is a saying that a picture is worth a thousand words. If so the picture of belly dancing can fill the volume to volume. Each generation had their eyes dance that represents the frame of mind and the problems of his time. The photograph can tell us much about our history and show us how far we've come and how far we still have to go. Either way, women have always had the ability to cause a stir when it comes to posing for Photos.
If you look at Mata Hari, she was a woman ahead of her time but also paid the price for his eccentric behavior and bold. Are we still paying the same price until today? If Mata Hari knew that his death would have continued life as usual? Would any of us to change today how it presents to ourselves if we knew the cost of the line? These questions led me to see our image in dance photography and how it affects us the rules of society and ours.
For what purpose do shoot ourselves? Is the empowerment trapped forever in a photo or is a time when we would be women sexy? An image can provoke many emotions in society. The big question is what responsibility we have to society to represent an image that is acceptable and respectable. The belly dance costume throughout history has become a symbol to portray us as the seductive or tempting. Let's look at Salome for example. The possibility of her "belly dance" was thin due to the label of its time and dancing like she's in the movies have ruined their marriage prospects. But history says that the belly danced and called John the Baptist's severed head. Belly Dancing through history became a accessory
Salome, when in fact that his style of dance that have been more acrobatic. My point is that many artists throughout history have painted the famous Salome's dance scene, which ultimately made it a symbol of seduction. As a painting or photograph can be a powerful influence on the minds of the society. This also can lead to inconsistencies in terms of our image. How can we have a respectable image, when it's our legacy tainted?
Cleopatra embodies all the elements that most women to achieve prosperity. His name alone can make the imagination fly. Is not this the same reaction as we that people have when they see our pictures? If you look at websites and magazines you will see a variety of photographs of various dancers in sensual poses. A dancer can convey many messages with body position which can allow the viewer to think that his message is not only sensual but sexual. So the pictures are used to obtaining a particular message through possible audience. So what happens when our message is portrayed in a well thought out picture and the end result is not sensual but sexual? Where does the sensuality and sexuality of the Cross? The definition of sensuality is, the ability to enjoy the pleasures of the senses. The definition of sexuality, the state of being sexual.
What if the two were combined together would mean that we enjoy our way of being sexual. Is this bad? Cleopatra was aware of his sexual influence and as a woman ruler who used to your advantage. In our day and age do not do the same but in a different way?
Isadora Duncan wrote:
"The righteous people are simply those that have not been tempted sufficiently, because they live in a vegetative state, or because their effects are so concentrated in a direction not had time to look around. "
Isadora Duncan was also ahead of its time he had many relationships and was a regrettable drunk in his later years. The only thing I noticed about Isadora Duncan's personal life that never shows in his photos and was a true artist to the end (tragic as it was). So in Isadora Duncan's case, his message was not misunderstood as with Cleopatra. The difference is used their sexuality and the other uses her sensuality. Either way the image of women whether in painting or photographs depict images that invoke women around the world to try to emulate them. What this tells me is that we want a little of both when we create our image photography.
Our individual images in photographs are an important part in the sale of our ability to dance for the masses. How to choose an instructional DVD if you are unfamiliar with the teacher? The cover says a lot about his ability as a dancer and teacher. So when my cameraman working with my instructional DVD first, it was decided to use a photo with me dancing with a color format that appeals to the eye. The art behind the creation of an image is essential to have a picture that the impacts of our target market. So in the end we are selling both our dancing and our image. Both have to appeal to the masses in order to be successful.
Joseph Jaworski states:
"We do not describe the world we see, but we see the world they describe."
How far can drive any belly dancer its image and make it acceptable not only to our community but to the outside world? If sexuality too is shown in a photograph affects the way our community go to the dancer? The reason I ask is because you can not have both hinted at a pose. A seductive look can mean something that crossed the mind of the dancer.
Anyone can take a picture of medium and represent what he wants.
So says a dancer in a photograph is powerful and can affect many people.
William Shakespeare A citation reads:
"There is no language in the eyes, cheeks, lips,
No, her foot speaks, her wanton spirit looks
in every joint and motive of the body. And 1970, the LP is covered very provocative, especially as regards the positions of many of the belly dancers. Some of the costumes had slots to the thigh that shows only the skin and see through skirts and there is even a free lap dancer at all. Do not dress this way today and the costumes of today have an aspect of design for them. It is clear that our sense of fashion has changed over the years, but what about our attitude toward provocative poses and skin? As women in a very unique and ancient dance I think it's important to show in the picture of how we have changed over history. These photographs are "our" descent and show the world and what we are. Perhaps due to problems with self-image and the era of Playboy have meant, "We're different." We need not take our clothes in the photographs to cross that are sensual and sexual women. Moreover I myself love pictures which shows part of a leg or shoulder and back.
As Mae West once said:
"I speak two languages, English and the Council."
So perhaps not knowing that we have taken all our trials and tribulations as the women found the perfect outlet to express our feelings and thoughts about the world around us. Dance expressed through the body shows the poems without words that can communicate only with the emotional and passionate movement.
Photographs capture these emotions through movement, poses and attitudes, to become timeless and a way to make "our" mark on the world.
Agnes de Mille:
"To dance is to be out of yourself, larger, more beautiful, more powerful. This is the power, it is glory on earth and is yours for the taking."
When I'm on stage often feel naked, because all I am is expressed through my dance. So my image on stage is much things, including sexual and sensual. Today I found peace with both so my pictures show the viewer the woman I am and the dance that I represent. Photo shows how I feel good about myself. And we also photographs of criticism for how comfortable or uncomfortable we are with our own body image? It is natural to do so. In the end how we see the photograph says a lot about how we live our lives and feel about ourselves. There is no right or wrong way to see the photograph. And since your body is a representation of their perceptions of the life, photography is what you want to be. One of my favorite quotes reads:
Religion says: The body is a sin.
Science says: The body is a machine.
Advertising says: The body is a business.
The body says: I am a party.
Eduardo Galeano
About the Author
Leyla Najma is a professional belly dancer with 25 years experience teaching and performing as well as writing with articles recently published in “The Chronicles”.