Photography and Fiction

Orwell

• the "directorial mode" of photography: extending the

photographer's control of the image

• self-portraits: in a variety of roles/personae, "undermining the practice of photographic realism"

Cindy Sherman: Untitled FIlm Stills (1977-1980)

• instead of documenting reality, constructing photographs based on (imaginary) film scenes

• imitated the style of production shots used by movie studies to publicize their films

• subjects posed as if caught in a high dramatic moment of some generic black and white B film of the 1950s/1960s

• are evocative of certain character types of genres

Cindy Sherman: Rear Screen Projections (1980)

• working in colour

• continues to use herself as model, transforming her appearance through costumes, wings and make up

• not really her

Cindy Sherman: Centerfolds

• references erotic images commonly found in men’s magazines

• designed to make viewers uncomfortable

• how women are pictured in media

• how we consume images (especially of women)

Jeff Wall

• recreates paintings (A Sudden Gust of Wind after Hokusai 1993)

• only appears random/coincidental, but really controlled and staged

• loss of authenticity

• men waiting; paying day workers to pose as day workers

Carrie Mae Weems

• different scenes from same perspective

• motion blur

• telling a fake/fictional and directed story