Regard : a research through history, culture, anthropology and artists on the power of the stare : an attempt to challenge the starer in overcoming the awkwardness between the starer and staree

Abstract

The acculturation and education of a society infused with social regulations lends a complex background to this thesis, laying its focus on how a society interacts and stares at a human variation, a novel body. Much of the research found from disability studies was cast-off, as it was neither balanced nor positive, or conducive to challenging change. Looking at artists such as Frida Kahlo and Francesca Woodman, whose works are projected images of themselves, honest and mystifying, thoroughly in control of how they appear to others. To Christine Sun Kim whose take on the etiquette of sound challenges our social regulations she has had to comply with notwithstanding her having been born deaf. Marina Abramovic takes an emphatic perspective to the stare and infuses it with a nurturing energy. Whilst Joel-Peter Witkin manipulates and intrigues our stare, Mary Duffy and Sandie Yi project their prognosis to their audiences switching the doctor-patient role. Regarding the forceful power of the stare throughout the ages from mythology, to medieval witch hunting, to the gentrification of the medical world, providing us with the medical stare we have today.