The codes and conventions of this image strongly suggest an art-based focus, we can tell this by the ‘off the wall’, avant guard, spontaneous styling of the photo shoot. Another reason to suggest it is an art-based photo- shoot, is that only heads and torsos in both models are shown, there is no promotion of product or clothing, the image is merely an expression of creativity provoking thought to an audience. So much so, that one of the models only appears to be wearing a mask and the other is fully covered only revealing one eye. The lack of clothing and masking of these representations of female form connotes loss of identity transforming the females from pure beings to sexual objects suggesting vulnerability especially in the image on the right. This brings me to talk about the ‘Hermeneutic Code’ by theorist, Roland Bartes. The ‘Hermeneutic Code’ refers to ‘any element of the story that is not fully explained and hence becomes a mystery to the reader’ (Changing Minds, 2002); this can be depicted in the image in the way that people would interpret the images differently and generate a unique understanding from them. This leads me to explore critical theory such as the ‘Male Gaze Theory’, developed by Laura Mulvey this has been developed to depict the imbalance between men and women. The theory analyses the way women view themselves and other women, and also how men see women. The ‘Male Gaze Theory’ also suggests that women are denied human status; therefore they are looked upon as merely objects. In this instance male gaze theory applies but not only through the sexualisation of the female form but that the women featured are oddly beautiful, and this is an example of how women in society today aspire to be.