America's Next Top Model and the effects of Psychoanalysis

According to Rose, "Psychoanalysis consists of a range of theories that deal most centrally with human subjectivity, sexuality, and the unconscious" (107). The most common element of psychoanalysis is scopophilia, or "pleasure in looking" it is a basic drive that we are all born with (107). The concepts of psychoanalysis can be seen in a multitude of images from America's Next Top Model (ANTM). For example, in an image of Tyra from a recent cycle, she is posed very provocatively with her legs spread open to camera. She is also daring you to look at her through the direct eye contact she is making. She is not ashamed in any way but instead is shown as a powerful feminine character brazenly letting her long locks flow in the wind. Her outfit also signifies her femininity as it is cinched at the waist and the intricate neckline draws attention to her breasts. She is inviting the viewer in with her gaze, however the viewer is also engaged in an act of voyeurism. In voyeurism, the viewer is actively seeing and is placing themselves at a distance from the visual subject another feature is the objectification of the subject.

The following shots are a few case studies of Psychoanalysis from ANTM.