She - Look 2 Inspiration

I researched original images of patients in mental asylums to inspire my second design as I want to portray the same haunting, depressing emotion of their stories. She's look 2 will reflect Annemarie Randall's heart breaking story of physical and mental abuse to create a thought provoking image, full of distress and depression.

(Bronson, 2016.)

When a photographer visited a mental asylum in Paraguay this patient followed his every move, looking into the camera's lens when ever possible. This disturbing image shows the patient staring intensely into the camera. It looks intimidating as he is so close to the camera but has no expression, making you question his motives for this invasive behaviour. His skin looks blotchy and uneven, possibly showing his poor health or his habit of picking at his face; I can imagine this being a nervous or anxious habit. His eye bags look prominent and extremely puffy, possibly reflecting lack of sleep, alcohol abuse or stress; all very likely situations (Goldstein, 2015). The patients in the background look isolated and bored, just existing in a cold cemented cage. They have been locked away and banished by society, mirroring She's feeling of segregation and social ostracism.

(Bronson, 2016.)

This image was taken in 1946 in the Ohio Insane Asylum showing women with varying mental illnesses in a crowded corridor. The woman tightly hugging her legs look painfully thin and malnourished, with protruding bones and sagging skin. She looks traumatised as she stares at the floor and huddles up in a tight ball. Her clothes look like unwashed rags, showing the lack of hygiene and care given to the patients. Her hair looks thin and greasy, again, highlighting the lack of nutrition and cleanliness. There is possibly balding around the crown, possibly from stress or because of frantic hair pulling. I found this image distressing as these patients look like they've been thrown away and forgotten.

(Smith, 2017.)

This image shows a patient of Wakefield Asylum. She looks as though she has been physically attacked, with the invasive wounds round her wrist and down her face, possibly a sign of self harm or abuse from the asylum staff. It could be interpreted that she lifted her arm to reveal to the camera the extent of her treatment as a sign for help. The skin below her right eye has been pulled downwards, possibly the result of a self inflicted or forced injury, creating distorting scar tissue to hold the skin in place. This lasting effect of abuse mirrors the haunting memories of discrimination that will never leave a victim's mind. Showing this in a physically way will aim to translate this permanent reminder of hatred to the viewer. The eye wound looks painful and it is effective as the viewer instantly asks themselves questions as to why she has that scar, making varied conclusions. The skin on her arm and on parts of her face look like burn wounds, showing the horrific extent of her abuse and, again, showing that discrimination will always make a lasting effect. 

I will incorporate aspects of these patients, as well as Annemarie Randall's story, into She's second design to reflect the true emotions of the patients who were banished by society for being different.



References:
GOLDSTEIN, W., 2015. Puffy Eyes- Causes and Remedies for Swollen Puffy Eyes [viewed 8th February 2017]. Available from: http://www.eyehealthweb.com/puffy-eyes/

BRONSON, B., 2016. These Photos Taken From Inside Ole Asylums Will Haunt Your Dreams [viewed 8th February 2017]. Available from: http://www.sickchirpse.com/these-photos-taken-from-inside-old-insane-asylums-will-haunt-your-dreams/

SMITH, R., 2017. Inmate of Wakefield Asylum [viewed 8th February 2017]. Available from: https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/12877548914030925/