The Carver

“The Carver”

Nip Tuck Television Series 2 episode 15- series 3

Delving into the body of The Carver from the television medical drama Nip Tuck provides a complex study of one body with two facades. Through textual analysis body descriptions and aesthetics provide insight into an interpretation of meaning gained from the body. The use of intertextual references to urban myths provides the body with the power to evoke fear amongst the audience. The body gains greater meaning through complexities of sexuality and conflicting inscribed values. Through looking at abjection and cinematic semiotics the body is given greater substance and depth. The Carver is the name given to the masked and suited body in the television series Nip Tuck. In studying this body as a text it is necessary to examine both the costumed facade of The Carver and the body behind the mask.

On a textual level the Carver acts as a catalyst against the world of cosmetic surgery “the vanity business”. His victims are those who are cosmetically enhanced or those who do the surgery or 'fix' the damage that he inscribes on his victim's bodies. Here it is necessary to discuss his message conveyed through his own body. There are conflicts within the Carver's inscribed values, he is a cosmetic surgeon yet he values everything that is against the manufactured beauty of cosmetic surgery. Through the analysis of the body of the Carver, his behavior and physical traits allude to the examination and critique of the values of cosmetic enhancement industry.

The Carver, through literal analysis- is a masked face that presents as an expressionless and emotionless canvas. he wears a black body suit, hiding the body from head to toe yet allowing for the acknowledgement of muscle and body shape which alludes to strength and power. The image of this body portrays detachment from his surroundings and annonymity, yet this is a body in its' own right. The readings discuss the way in which semiotics aid in creating meanings within texts. The mask is a signifier by which meaning is gathered from cultural experiences, it is the form of sign that is attached to an already formed mental concept. Cunningham, Stuart and Turner, Graeme (1997). Masked faces invoke fear of the unknown through already exisitng meanings and connotaions eg. Horror film, Scream. Contrasting this, when examining the mask closer, it is important to note the painted red lips of the mask are a stark contrast against the porcelain white face, an almost seductive image. This is inscribing traditional values of beauty (white skin, red lips) juxtaposed with the series fixation on cosmetic surgery. The scenes in which the Carver is present show through denotation the use visual signifiers such as the knife and mask. The positioning of the dark figure behind the victims, placing him in a position of power, show how the signifiers are there to position the audience to anticipate the impending violence. The black hooded and annonymous figure is an image that connotes fear and submission. It signifies to the viewer that the victims who are beautiful, manicured works of 'art', or the enablers of beauty (surgeons) will suffer for the beauty they are trying to create. Images from the horror