Journal
Article Analysis
Taylor
Alexandria Carroll
Popular
Culture
Professor
Garey
4/28/2016
The expectation that everyone adhere to the same social image
is a very real problem we face in the world today. In the article, "Signs
Taken for Warnings: Body Modification and Visual Pleasure in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" the
social stigma of body modification is discussed. Salander is the main character
of the popular Millennium series, and
the primary focus of this article. Salander is a highly intelligent computer
hacker with a background of abuse. She becomes professionally and sexually
involved with another main character. This propels Salander into the position
of the desirable person in the male protagonist's eyes. Although this
relationship seems to define Salander, it is actually her body that is the
primary focus of the novel. The novels seem to describe Salander in a very
vivid manner, describing her tattoos and piercings in such a manner as to seem
almost erotic. The other characters featured in the novels do not receive the
same manner of description, thus cementing the knowledge that they are trying
to focus most of the attention onto Salander. The author goes on to explain the
history of piercings, and the social stigma attached to them. They go on to
explain the symbolic nature of tattoos and piercings describing the "ritual
significance of the application to the skin". Salander's appearance also
challenges the idea of gender identity.
The main points of the article is the destruction of
stereotypes, social stigmas, gender identities, and some elements of sexual
abuse. The article suggests that the elements of sexual abuse could be a
representation of the fragility of masculinity. During a scene in the trilogy
Salander achieves her revenge against her enemy. Salander rapes her enemy, and through
this frees herself. To further this revenge, Salander proceeds to tattoo the
words "I AM A SADISTIC PIG, A PERVERT, AND A RAPIST" onto his body.
Instead of taking her revenge by castrating him, she instead marks him,
emasculating him for life. The stereotype of an abuser will constantly follow
him through life, ruining his sexual and social prospects.
I do agree with many of the author's main points. The
messages the found in the trilogy are moving, and resonate deeply with me. The
explanations are thorough on why these messages are relevant to today's
society. This make's the author's points easier to understand, thus making the
messages mean more. The current social stigma of body modification is the one
point I found the most powerful as I have been the victim of this social stigma
in my own life.
This article is important because it describes the
effects of social stigma's on humans, the objectification of women, gender
identities, and rape culture. All of these topics are difficult to discuss in conversation
as they are not considered to be a polite subject. Because of this, I believe
the author has done a great justice in bringing these topics to light through
the explanation of a popular book series. This article helped me to see that
not all series are black, and white. Negative aspects in life can be the most
rewarding to read about as they cannot normally be discussed so easily. I
believe the Millennium series could help
some victims of society, and restore their trust in the world.
References
MOLLEGAARD,
K. (2016). Signs Taken for Warnings: Body Modification and Visual Pleasure in
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Journal Of Popular Culture, 49(2), 347-366.
doi:10.1111/jpcu.12406
I have always been drawn to this novel nut never actually read it. Very nice work on your analysis. You gave a detailed description of the main points and I felt your words as I was reading them. I will now have to read this because of your critique. Thank you!
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