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| "To collect photographs is to collect the world"-Susan Sontag |
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
To collect photographs is to collect the world
The Three Musketeers
"In another version of its utility, the camera record justifies. A photograph passes for incontrovertible proof that a given thing happened" -Susan SontagOne thing a camera does is captures a original moment that occurred and doesn't alter it, everything that fits the dimensions of the photo has been frozen in time. Time seems to affect everything, from inanimate objects to living things and the world itself. One thing time cant effect however, is a picture, because the contents of the photo have been captured to sit in a period of time for an indefinite amount of time. In the photo above is myself hanging around the downtown area of Jersey City, this event without a doubt, did happen. This one second of time will be saved forever, the people in this photo including myself, will age and pass on someday, but this irreplaceable moment wont ever age, because it has escaped the mysterious phenomenon of time.
A Given thing (or person) happened
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| "A photograph passes for incontrovertible proof that a given thing happened."-Susan Sontag |
perception
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| "Photographs are really experiences captured and the camera is the ideal arm of consciousness in it's acquisitive mood." -Susan Sontag |
I believen when taking a photograph, you are capturing that moment and keeping it in a pixelated memory form. that moment will come and go in the blink of an eye, but that photograph will always remain to remind you of it. Photographs will always be the number one cause of nostalgia, but only you can choose how you perceive these memories, one can distort them in a hyper-realistic way in order to cope with it, or one can take it for what it really is, in its raw and uncut versions.
Liza Tilakdhari
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| Untitled1982 |
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| Eagerness |
But overtime her ideas seemed to influence and fuel an entire generation of woman in the way they portrayed themselves to the public eye. she made them blossom and through her images told them that it was okay to stand out, it was okay for them to not conform, and it was definitely okay for them to be anyone they wanted to be. Her work influenced women to not value anyone's perception of them, but themselves. This powerful concept was known as the "Cindy Sherman Effect."
For my selfies i took my own spin on the image called "Untitled 1982'', which was captured in a sort of chromogenic filter, but i added black and white to mine. Her image conveys a lot of feelings. More prevalent ones including raging excitement but underlying uncertainty, which in itself embodies our perception of the future before us.
https://www.moma.org/calendar/exhibitions/1154?locale=en
An experience captured
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| "Photographs really are experience captured, and the camera is the ideal arm of consciousness in its acquisitive mood". -Susan Sontag |
Capturing images to me is capturing memories and experiences. The camera is the ideal tool that captures every person's living experiences/actions.To me, a camera is like my diary, a vivid one. Capturing images is a representation of art.Without this image I would have not remembered the atmosphere, the beauty of nature, and also would have not remembered clearly how this day went. When I look at this picture, I get flashbacks. Looking at images can help the brain remember things better.
My World
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| "To collect photographs is to collect the world" -Susan Sontag |
Collecting
pictures is much more than just having pieces of paper in a book, or around
your house. Collecting pictures is to collect memories, collect the world. Why?
Because each picture represents something is this world, something you liked so
much that you wanted to keep to admire. Each still picture is a memory of an
important moment turned into a thin object that can be saved and re-watched. I
collect picture, and my collection is my world, important moments that make my
life a little brighter, and each time I open my collection of pictures, I
smiled, because each of this pictures contain a piece of my life, a piece of my
world. Each of these pictures remind me
of those who are in my life and those who aren’t anymore, because pictures
never change even when the people on it do.
Strange Looking People
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| "Photographs furnish evidence. Something we hear about, but doubt, seems proven when we're shown a photograph of it."
-Susan Sontag
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The quote I chose is pretty self explanatory. Photographs provide proof that something actually happened or exists. People all the time see celebrities, weird accidents, and strange looking people, and the first question we always ask is, did you take a picture? Although we may believe a person when they say they encounter such a thing, we still find a need to ask for the proof.
Exist 2014/2017
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| “The picture may distort; but there is always a presumption that something exists, or did exist, which is like what's in the picture.” -Susan Sontag |
Do you remember what the sky looked like in 2008? How about yesterday? Did you know there are stripes in the river that don't flow the same way?
I am not me from two years ago from three years ago from six years ago. But me from then did exist and it's all in memory whether it is what it is or it is something different.
I think this is what makes photos interesting. It triggers memories and distorts an idea we had about that picture as well as what happened within the picture. You can see the difference in time, existence is still there.
My Manufactured Reality
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| "Although there is a sense in which the camera does indeed capture reality, not just interpret it, photographs are as much an interpretation of the world as paintings and drawings are." -SUSAN SONTAG |
My photo is an image within an image. You can interpret what's going on but I am the only one who knows the reality within my image. It is unique to me just as an other painting, sculpture or writing I compose. What's different about a camera is that the reality sometimes is the illusion. It's very easy for us to distinguish painting from photo but their very much similar in many ways. Even though paintings or drawings are usually meant to be interpreted and photos meant to be taken as proof, they still are interpreted regardless to what you see according to Sontag. A face might look angry and a glass might look empty but its not what's going on.
Memories
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| "Photographed images do not seem to be statements about the world so much as pieces of it, miniatures of reality that anyone can make or acquire". -Susan Sontag |
Not all pictures make a statement, sometimes they are simple expressions. These are images that remain the same for decades and decades at a time and still bring these flashbacks when the image reappears. For me, photos enhance the world and make me see things in many different ways.
Untitled, 2017 VS. Untitled,1982
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| Untitled, 2017 VS. Untitled, 1982 |
This photo of myself is inspired by
Cindy Sherman’s Untitled, 1982, it is my recreation. I decided to add a
different background because I thought it would be cool to change the scenery. I
chose to do a similar pose like her because I liked the way she looked in the
picture and it gave her a seductive look. I caught myself looking at nearby yachts
that were in front of me to create this off guard blank stare. Cindy Sherman
gives off this very seductive look one that I am sure men in 1982 would
consider a sign of intimacy. I chose to give my photo a little more of
saturation and vibrancy so that the photo stands out a little more and gives
the picture a little bit more life. I loved the lighthouse in the back I thought that it would give a different look to the original picture and just a different look to what Cindy Sherman created in 1982.
Sherman examine the history of women’s role;
she leaves a message behind every picture trying to get the public to see that
she is not going to go by what society thinks women should do or dress. She
gives a strong outlook through her work that she began give more grotesque and
mannequins of her “sex pictures” (1992). Sherman started a collection of photos
that became very sexual and pornographic not living by the political view, if
not by her personal beliefs. In the article “On Photography” Susan Sontag says, “This very passivity --
and ubiquity -- of the photographic record is photography's
"message," its aggression”. Sherman gives a message to every picture
she takes especially, the pictures on sex because back in the 90’s talking
about sex or showing off an outfit that showed off a little skin was shamed
upon, as it still is today.
Sherman
gives herself a complete different look utilizing wigs, make-up, and other
accessories to help enhance the image she is trying to create. The Cindy Sherman effect is her way of giving each
picture a complete different look making even herself believe that the person
in the picture isn’t herself. When Sherman
creates these ideas, she makes them so believable and unrecognizable. She portrays
the many images that still today people look down upon, by being so open to these
“sex pictures”. Overall, Cindy Sherman’s photography is amazing and she gives
this image of independence and strong in every photo.
Wednesday, January 25, 2017
Kimberly Vidal- The Dark Side of Fairytales
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[Left side]-"The Dark Side of Fairytales"; [Right side]-Cindy Sherman, Untitled #153 1985
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The selfie I chose to
upload is of myself wearing a black dress while having my hair straighten down
partially covering my face. As shown I was laying on the ground, with a bitten
apple in my hand, while having someone stand right behind me. While I am on the
ground I chose to have a blank stare that was inspired by and similar to Cindy
Sherman’s Untitled #153 photograph in 1985. This blank stare can be interpreted
in many ways, but as for my selfie it gives off a sense of fear, shock, and
death. I chose the picture to be black and white because of how old fashioned
fairy-tales were told in a fearful, gruesome way. Each fairy-tale had a dark side
of the story which so happened to be the original story. People such as myself
could not believe it.
While observing this
image, most people can assume that this image is similar to the fairy-tale of
Snow White where she takes a bite of the poisonous apple, falls to the ground,
and instantly killed by it. Although in fairy-tales, it explains how a kiss awakens
Snow White from her death, this story turned out to be different as well. It
was said that the seven dwarfs enslaved Snow White before and when she was in
the coffin waiting for a “true loves kiss,” the prince never came. This was the
dark side of this story. In this photograph, the person in the back was the
evil witch who handed me the poisonous apple causing the death of Snow White in
which is lying on the ground. This demonstrates the similarity of the fairy tale
being told but through its dark side.
This photograph inspired
me through Cindy Sherman’s interests that included her love for old fashioned
fairy tales that was not “cleaned up for kids” just yet. I found her interest in
old fashioned fairy-tales interesting due to the fact that a couple years ago
when I was growing up with fairy tale stories they had happy endings. From Cindy
Sherman’s work, it shows how modern fairy-tales were changed to become happily ever
after. Before, fairy-tales were gruesome and hideous stories that shouldn’t be
told to kids. This is why Cindy Sherman pointed out how the stories were “cleaned
up” in her documentary video “Cindy Sherman- Nobody’s Here But Me (1994).” For
example, for Sleeping Beauty, it has been said that in the “original” story,
the prince attacked her while she was asleep, raped her, and she awakens by
giving birth. Each fairy-tale had a dark side.
In the Cindy Sherman
Effect, many woman follow and admit to have been inspired by Cindy Sherman’s
work, process and procedure of work, and hidden messages through her
photographs. Many people admit that her work in the early days foreshadow the
photography and imagery that we portray today. The Cindy Sherman Effect was the
change in how people chose to become a different individual each day through
make-up, clothing styles, photographs, and how he or she presents him/herself.
This started with Cindy Sherman’s work as she “shape-shifts” to different
personalities as she has done with all of her artwork. From young, old, tall,
small, weird, non-weird, etc. she covers it all. What makes this even more
fascinating was the fact that she enjoyed becoming a whole different person
each time. She became her own model for all the photographs, which is similar
to what we do today. Most of the pictures we take is of ourselves, and that is
our selfies. This is how Cindy Sherman affected us. Because of her, women now
use make-up and/or dress up to become a different but not so different person
each day.
http://www.artnews.com/2012/02/14/the-cindy-sherman-effect/
https://www.moma.org/interactives/exhibitions/2012/cindysherman/
http://www.artnews.com/2012/02/14/the-cindy-sherman-effect/
https://www.moma.org/interactives/exhibitions/2012/cindysherman/
Tania Khaliq
In almost most of Serman's work she uses facial expressions and lighting effect to create a story. With the use of liberal amounts of makeup, Sherman moved into the realm of the photographs that featured mutilated bodies and reflected such concerns as eating disorders, insanity, and death. Her work became less ambiguous, focusing perhaps more on the results of society’s acceptance of stereotyped roles for women than upon the roles themselves.
Inspired with her way of addressing the concerns that women have been facing throughout the history and still do in this time and age, I created a selfie to tell a story of a woman who is scared inside and being target of the society for different reasons. Though still being strong enough to not give the expression of being afraid and weak. Which relates back to Sherman when she stated in her documentry that how city scares her but she still walks down those roads everyday and not let the fear stop her.
In the documentary, sherman mentioned the incident of walking down the road and making herself look dangerous to scare people away in order to save herself from being harmed from the hand's of same people. It's the illusion that you create, and let other fall for it. Being an artist She created different kind of illusions through her photography to bring up the social and controversial issues. Issues no one talks about, nor they want to. With my selfie I also tried to work on my facial expressions and the lightening effect to create a narrative of being a women of different background and religion in America and how it shaped me throughout my experience.
Michelle Melendez, Not Your Doll
The selfie I took was inspired by Cindy sherman’s ideas and everything I read in the readings the professor gave. I was excited while reading about sherman’s work, especially when she utilizes a wide variety of makeup techniques, masks and prostheses to create a truly stunning and grotesque representation of the body. The collection has been described as moving towards "... the dark side of our collective fantasies, a place where the forces of polymorphous unbridled sexuality and violence are loose between the toys of the imagination." Sherman's collection of frames implies, quite obviously, an imaginary redirection of women in a society governed by men. Ever since photography became a new way of expression, it opens a range of plastic possibilities that makes it a further manifestation of contemporary art.
The art of photography has points of contact with painting and other plastic expressions. Photography uses light as an element of composition and as a dynamizing element of the image; Photography takes care, like painting, angles and axes of vision in his compositions. It plays with expressive elements, which sometimes have to do with the reproduced figure itself and sometimes with the own aesthetic resources of the image. In the series ‘Untitled’ Sherman personifies female stereotypes: the abandoned woman, the college girl, the lost woman, the prostitute, the manipulative, the beaten. In this project, the photographer will show in her series a great example of social image of the woman.
I created mine as the way men se woman in today’s society, as a doll, as a sex toy. Because of the way they dress, or how much makeup they have on. I'm not a doll and much less a collection. I am a girl not a sex toy. The way I look or dress should not define who am I. Men are capable of transforming women into objects just because of the way they look or dress. I decided to be a doll, more like a naked doll to represent the way men view women, when it should not be like that. Creating the makeup was the fun part and finding a way to take the selfie was even better, I was able to put objects together to be able to use the timer on my phone to take the picture. It’s incredible how much you can see in a picture and how much your imagination can run.
The Cindy Sherman effect inspired many people around the world to create their own pictures and use their imagination. The Cindy Sherman effect changed the way people view pictures and to see stories behind every picture. Sherman made pictures look like paintings and even better, her creations looked so realistic.
The Cindy Sherman effect inspired many people around the world to create their own pictures and use their imagination. The Cindy Sherman effect changed the way people view pictures and to see stories behind every picture. Sherman made pictures look like paintings and even better, her creations looked so realistic.
Jon Paszkiewicz (Pineapple Express)
A selfie is a picture of one's self taken by one's self. They reflect who a person is subtly, boldly, or however the person decides to take it. Cindy Sherman loved the idea of a selfie showing her personality and point of views in selfies. This is seen in all her photography. She used them to make political statements showing how she felt about certain subjects.
Cindy Sherman's photograph, Untitled #122, that she took in 1983 is a perfect example of her reflecting her point of view on a subject through her photography. The photograph is Cindy Sherman wearing a platinum blonde wig covering her face, fists clenched, wearing a suit and shoulder pads. The person who bought the photograph said in the documentary that when she saw it, it instantly reminded her of Hollywood and women in Hollywood, head bowed looking up to a superior with their fists clenched.
My selfie is not as dark as Cindy Sherman's, it reflects me not her. I am not a dark person like Cindy Sherman, hence the fantastic shirt. I feel life should not be taken so seriously all of the time, one should have fun and enjoy their self. The ancient Hawaiians used to say, inside every rotten pineapple their may be a pearl. i look at this like though bad times may come, they wont bother me. The idea of looking at the bright side is what I am trying to achieve through my selfie. Cindy Sherman took selfies of her looking at whats wrong in society. I take them with a pineapple in my hand.
https://www.moma.org/calendar/exhibitions/1154?locale=en
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
Arianny Espinal
My
selfie was inspired by Cindy Sherman. Her images reflect her interests and her
personality, which is what I did for my selfie. After watching her documentary,
I instantly knew what my selfie was going to be based on. This selfie personally
describes the kind of person I am. It caught my attention how Cindy based her
images on her personal life. Her images describes how she sees herself and she
expresses herself through them.
Sherman utilizes the camera and the various tools of the everyday cinema, such as makeup, costumes, and stage scenery, to recreate common illusions, or iconic snapshots, that signify various concepts of public celebrity, self confidence, sexual adventure, entertainment, and other socially sanctioned, existential conditions. She used color film and large prints, and focused more on lighting and facial expression.Cindy uses her photography skills to capture the truths behind closed doors.
Sherman utilizes the camera and the various tools of the everyday cinema, such as makeup, costumes, and stage scenery, to recreate common illusions, or iconic snapshots, that signify various concepts of public celebrity, self confidence, sexual adventure, entertainment, and other socially sanctioned, existential conditions. She used color film and large prints, and focused more on lighting and facial expression.Cindy uses her photography skills to capture the truths behind closed doors.
A
person's photo will indicate certain clues as to who they are. A full-length
picture will show what clothes they are wearing. A close-up will show their
make-up, jewelry, and facial expressions. There is a possibility that
underlying facial features may indicate which expressions a person adopts most
often. Humanists will tell you that a picture is only a small slice of someone,
which is true, but in my perspective, there is a lot you can tell about people
from a little bit of information. Everything from the clothes we wear to
what our room looks to what our facial expression is gives away a little bit
about us. It's not everything, but if you are using the right
perspective, you can tell a lot from only a little bit. I
have always been shy and get anxious about meeting new people, but I can
function normally in social situations. I've been told by many friends that
they thought I disliked them or that they found me intimidating. Cindy Sherman
caught my attention because her images are based on her personality. My images do
not reflect who I am, that is why I chose this specific selfie. I wanted to be
myself. I can honestly say that this selfie describes me as a person. I am very
silly, friendly and I actually smile a lot. I can only be myself around people
that I am comfortable with. You can’t judge a book by its cover.
Werid & Funny
The reading “On
Photography” written by Susan Soritag made me think what photograph does to an
individual. I could not believe an image
can being so much mysterious. Someone
could have a personal meaning to what a photo means to them. Some would agree and disagree because people
are using their brain to gather information on the scenery provided. For example, someone can say that I am crazy
for wearing a wig because I am a male.
Other could disagree because they see me being funny and trying to have appositive
life by always having a smile. The photograph
will have a lot of meanings to everyone but the photographer knows but rather
let us figure it out.
Cindy Sherman is one famous
photographer known of her dramatic lighting and strange subject. She had a good
point on how a camera could be a paint brush but no one wants to waste their
time in panting. Nowadays, people carry their phones which provides people to
take selfies or special events that could be saved as a memory. My idea of my selfie was someone using their imaginations
by changing my hair style. I wanted to
show that I am always happy even if I have I have a wig or not. I love how Cindy Sherman did not care what
she was wearing. She just keep dancing
while looking at herself in the mirror and dressed up as a grandmother at a
young age. This made me feel like she
did not care what other had to say on the way she dressed since she had the courage
to go out in public looking as elder.Sherman’s fashion caught my attention because of all the bright color in your photograph. Looking at her pictures of her taking woman in crazy colorful outfit was amazing. I love the idea in how they made woman dressed beautiful but there was a catch. They were photographed standing in weird positions or make a funny faces. I pictured Sherman being so created because she would always have a way to get a viewer of her painting attention. As a result, I took her weird and funny theme and put it on my selfie.
Cindy Sherman effect was a way of how she saw the world and explore everything in the photo. I used in my picture of her effect by using a filter because her images would be bright. Cindy would always make the certain charter to stand out in the shoot. The effect that I used to relate to her was do funny face and smile. That will bring more attention to me by being different. Cindy's images was different that made people think why she would do this.
Untitled Film Still, 1979
What makes Cindy Sherman an extraordinary artist is the creation of her artwork start from Sherman taking photographs of herself on her own. I took the opportunity to create my own "selfie" from a photograph that inspired me to wonder about the world and how a lot of things that are happening all at once. Just like in Sherman's photograph I wanted to capture my curiosity as I look out of a window. The building I captured the photo in is an abandoned warehouse to show the darkness from the inside and also show the light peaking from outside. Basically, my image can symbolize a comparison between sadness and joyfulness mixed with mischief.
In Cindy Sherman's artwork, it may not show her looking out of a window but to me it gave off that type of illusion. The lighting within the photo can be displayed as the sun or a streetlight, which shows how much creativity Cindy Sherman put into her self portraits. Her creativity influenced me to wonder how it would be like to take a picture on my own. The task wasn't much of a hassle but the outcome captured my own masterpiece I can be proud of.
https://sidrastich.wordpress.com/2012/11/30/warhols-influence-on-cindy-sherman/
In Cindy Sherman's artwork, it may not show her looking out of a window but to me it gave off that type of illusion. The lighting within the photo can be displayed as the sun or a streetlight, which shows how much creativity Cindy Sherman put into her self portraits. Her creativity influenced me to wonder how it would be like to take a picture on my own. The task wasn't much of a hassle but the outcome captured my own masterpiece I can be proud of.
https://sidrastich.wordpress.com/2012/11/30/warhols-influence-on-cindy-sherman/
Raquel Mendieta: untitled film still #16
1st Assignment Selfie/Reading
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| "He should be home any minute" |
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| untitled film still #16 1978 |
The first photo at the top is my selfie speaking specifically to one of Cindy Sherman's photographs taken in 1978 as "untitled film still #16" located in Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. As seen in her documentary "Nobody's here but me" you start to take a deep look into Cindy's way of thinking and the thought process that went inside every photograph she's taken. There she also mentions her love for the camera and why their so special from the ordinary way of creating an image. When looking at the photo it gave a story just from looking at it. The women in the photo seems to be waiting for a man to come inside her house from looking at the frame above her that shows that she could be married. The gun in her hand and cigarette in the other hand could be that she plans to kill him. At some point in Sherman's documentary she mentions that most of her inspiration comes from the media since she was born in the age of television. Since women were always being portrayed as the helpless victim she took the challenge of spinning the stereotype.
My photo is a way of taking her same idea of "men" being the victim by placing a knife on the table. The cellphone in my hand is the equivalent to the cigarette and a way of showing the modern day theme of the photo. One of the clear distinctions of my photograph compared to Sherman's would be that the persona of my photo seems more anxious for what is about to occur. I wanted to create a feeling of anxiety for the audience viewing my photograph almost as if they were feeling the same my persona is feeling as well. This same "mirrored" feeling is what Sherman has successfully done in her all her photographs and is why she has become a famous contemporary artist.
Cindy Sherman is known not only for her photographs but her revolutionary contemporaneity. There had been millions of diverse persona's shes taken on the typical "nature of representation." To look more in depth at what photography really is meant for, one must take into account the significance of images including their subconscious and conscious way of influencing the world around us. As Susan Sontag explains in her article on photography she talks about how photographs change our view in class. We know this to be true according to our class discussions when using the pyramids in Egypt as an example. One thing I felt was very important that she mentioned was when she said, "Photographed images do not seem to be statements about the world so much as pieces of it, miniatures of reality that anyone can make or acquire." In other words, the images made through a camera are just a small part of the bigger image that we own and keep to ourselves.
Rosa Garcia (Old Lady & Barbie Doll Selfie)
The selfie I decided to do was inspired by the simple details Cindy Sherman used in her photographs to alter the features of a face. I personally knew of Cindy Sherman as a weird photographer. I first heard of her in 2013, and she had already created different themes with her photos exposing odd ideas and uncomfortable images. After watching her documentary, I was mostly intrigued by the makeup used to change features. Frame to frame, one can see that each angle is slightly different but creates a whole new photo. I found this extraordinary considering it does not take a lot to change a photo. I genuinely find Cindy Sherman’s early works more profound and interesting than her bizarre work but she is so talented in creating stories behind these characters that I enjoy her photos regardless. Each character has it’s own personality and Cindy Sherman doesn’t use much to explain who the character is but we can see it well. I wanted to be able to create characters easily as she did. I wanted to use simple makeup and concentrate on the face. I decided one wasn’t enough so I did two.
As stated in “The Cindy Sherman Effect”, Cindy Sherman was the master of self morphing into so many different people. I may not do it as well as she can but I was able to think of two photos that were easy but different. The first photo is of an old person, inspired mostly by her images of older ladies with jewels and/or nudity. The second photo is more of a modern barbie doll, I specifically went with this due to the generation and media we are currently in. Cindy Sherman’s photos tend to hint of a time period and I wanted to do that as well. Reading articles on Cindy Sherman, I found that the articles concentrated on the persona she creates in each image and using herself as the model rather than getting others. Besides Cindy Sherman opening the boundaries of photography and creating something odd and intriguing to the public I found that Cindy Sherman took photographs to create evidence. This idea came after I read Susan Sontag’s “On Photography”. She states “Photographs furnish evidence. Something we hear about, but doubt, seems proven when we're shown a photograph of it.” and I find this to be true. Both of these photographers use photos to reveal a truth, evidence, an idea. Cindy Sherman brings out things not many would consider appropriate or beautiful. The ugly can be beautiful and the beautiful can be ugly.
As I scrolled through her images the ones I found that attempting at portraits on my own is a bit more difficult due to angles and timing. I aimed to have shoulders and up, a black background as well as bright lighting to achieve a theme throughout the photos. I wanted to be old. I loved the idea of making myself so much older and see almost like a glimpse of my future. I also wanted to look quirky and childish. The make up for the older face took a lot of time. I kept messing up lines and at one point I had to start over. I wanted something subtle but visible. As for the barbie doll photo, I had a colorful wig I had used for a cosplay and realized colored hair is popular and modern for a barbie which fell into the generation we are in. I attempted at making my eyes bright and my cheeks very pink. I finally had a reason to use that pink lipstick I bought but never opened. I was excited to create new characters. Though they didn’t come out exactly as I wanted them to, I felt surprised and relieved to see the results.
Gabriela Ortiz (Drag Queen Selfie Post).
The selfie I took of me was inspired by the ideas I read in the reading, and by Cindy Sherman. After reading and watching the documentary of the artist and her work, it helped me become more creative and inspired me to become any character I want to be, too. Cindy Sherman's work is so astonishing and unique. I love the fact that all of her creations came out of her imagination, horror films, and from true life experiences. Also, I find it extremely cool and intriguing how she manages to take her own portraits by herself and how she has all these outfits and ideas to make these characters in her imagination come to live. Photography has always been a hobby of mine, so when I found out about this artist being a photographer and capturing images of her in different customes, etc, I was pretty excited to capture my very own selfie of me being disguised as someone else, too. In this selfie, I tried my best to disguise myself as a drag queen.
Cindy Sherman does a great job disguising herself in many different characters that I was inspired to disguise myself as a drag queen for my selfie. Cindy does not only do a great job dressing up as other characters, she also does a great job with the makeup she uses to make her looks happen. Her ability to apply makeup on her face the way it corresponds for her looks makes her an even more incredible artist. I like how this artist and I both have the same thing in common when it comes to movies. I am also a horror movie freak, so watching her work be inspired by horror movies really had me hooked. Cindy's characters being weird, horrifying, and different draws more attention to her work. As I was reading Susan Sontag's reading on photography, I was able to compare both artists. Both artists use their photography techniques to not only represent its object, but for it to be part of the object. Both artists both use photography for their knowledge, too. From what I understood from Susan Sontag's reading was that photography is a form of capturing reality. This ties to Cindy Sherman's work of art because Cindy uses her photography skills to capture the truths behind closed doors or what may seem or seemed "taboo". Cindy's socially critical photography has helped us see others' perspectives in life or in a situation or character.
Now, the reason why I chose to be a "drag queen" for my selfie was because it sounded like a fun idea and because I have always wanted to try a drag queen's make up look. Drag queens tend to have an over dramatic make up look and hairstyle. This started back then when gay men wanted to dress up like women. Obviously men did not know how to apply make up as good as a woman could. When they tried applying makeup it would most likely come out pretty messy or over done. Doing a drag queen's makeup wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. It took me time and patience, but it was pretty fun for the most part. My mom also helped me create this look by letting me drag her head down to make it look like I had "blonde-ish" hair (since I did not have a wig). After I was done applying the makeup, styling the hair, and taking the selfies, I went back to them and it was hard for me to believe that was me. It is incredible what photography and your imagination can do to your physical appearance. I felt like a complete different person but it was just a tad interesting to me. This selfie was inspired by Cindy Sherman's characters. Sometimes photography lies even when it is telling the truth and this relevant because it relates to us human beings and the world.
http://www.theartstory.org/artist-sherman-cindy.htm
Tuesday, January 17, 2017
Syllabus
Self I As Image SP 2017
Wednesdays 2:10pm - 5:30pm
Prof. Doris Cacoilo
Course Description
Through the use of photography, computer graphics and mixed media this course will think about the increasingly complex relationship between our hyper-visual world of imagery and how we constantly navigate our own visual identity.
This is a general education course that is paired with the Tier 2 course, I as Body.
Self: I as Image uses core themes of self-identity and imagery to explore, enrich and empower students to understand self and identity within a context of creative approaches to visual communication. Maintaining a positive sense of self and identity requires a continual process of meta-awareness of the role of imagery in self identity, visual communication and the cultural production of values and ideals.
This course uses a multi-faceted approach to understanding imagery that combines visual observation, cultural analysis, creative projects, contemplation and formal knowledge. This course addresses a need to have the language, knowledge, experience and critical tools necessary to explore the role images play in contemporary society and culture.
This course encourages a broader consideration of citizenship by thinking critically about the relationship of identity, images, values and ideals in a highly complex visual world. Conscientious citizenship is also honed by examining cultural representations of people and bodies and the affect these visual representations have on personal, social and cultural values and ideals.
Course Requirements and Grading
Our class time will be split between discussion, lecture, studio time and presentations. While in discussion please be respectful of the opinions of others even if they stand diametrically opposed to your own. You must be in class ON TIME and prepared for class each week. Failure to do so will be reflected in your participation grade. Failure to do so consistently can lead to failure in the course.
READINGS Various weekly reading assignments will be assigned from your required texts and linked on the blog. The full reading schedule will be distributed on the class blog. Readings are due each week. All readings are REQUIRED unless otherwise stated.
CLASS PARTICIPATION Attendance and participation in the class discussion when appropriate and in critique and comments on the blog and twitter is part of your participation grade. For each week’s readings you must select two quotes or passages from the readings and write a brief description of one art project that strikes you from that week’s readings. You must briefly describe the project, the context and the artist/collective/collaboration that created the project or work and why you responded to it. I will often collect these. Please have them written or typed on a sheet of paper you can hand to me with your name on it each week. I will call on students each week during discussion to read and discuss these quotes. You must have these prepared for each reading.
TWITTER You must create a twitter account (if you do not have one already) we will share links and comments with each other using the class hashtag: #activistsofresistance
WRITING ASSIGNMENTS You must consult the class blog weekly (even several times per week) to check for announcements, readings and to post your project updates and writing assignments. The blog is crucial to the course and completion of the requirements. You MUST have access to the blog to complete assignments, readings, post work and comment on students’ posts.
CLASS PRESENTATIONS: Students will each present the work of an artist who works with the self and self portraiture as a recurring theme in their work. Presentations must be between 10-15 minutes and should include a short discussion with the class. Presentations must include a visual presentation of images, video or other materials to help illustrate the work. Students will present once throughout the semester. This schedule will be determined in class on the second week of classes.
SEMESTER PROJECT
Signature Assignment Example: Self-Portrait
This is a two part project that asks students to measure experience over time and contemplate how we value images and the role that plays in navigating our own visual identity.
Part 1: MIDTERM Using processes including collage, assemblage, frottage, drawing and painting each student will compose an image that captures a self-portrait. In both written form and group discussion we will explore the following questions in group critique.
• What is the subject of your image?
• What is the content of your image?
• Why did you make the choices that led to the composition?
• What do you think this image conveys to the viewers?
Part 2: FINAL Choosing any one or combination of processes that you have explored during the semester, compose an image that captures a self-portrait. Through an oral and visual presentation of your works, explain the following to the class:
• What is the subject of your image?
• What is the content of your image?
• Why did you make the choices that led to the composition?
• Explain the process and steps you went through and why you made those decisions.
• How you would categorize your work (ex. collage, graphic print, mixed media, etc).
• What artists or works are appropriate to compare your work to?
• What do you think this image conveys to the audience?
• What are the differences between the first self-portrait and your last self-portrait?
• What influenced these changes?
Grading
Attendance is mandatory and all assignments must be finished and handed in on time to receive a passing grade for this course.
40% semester project
30% 3 blog posts
10% presentation
20% attendance/participation
Attendance
Attendance is, to put it simply, mandatory.
Attendance is taken at the beginning of each class, and will be considered when determining the final course grade. Absences affect your participation grade. More than four (4) unexcused absences will result in an 'F' (failure) for the class. No exceptions. Class begins on time, so you must be punctual. Lateness, leaving early or leaving class unexcused for an extended period of time will also be recorded. Two of these instances will count as one absence. You must bring documentation to class and hand in to me for any absences to be excused.
You are required to make up any and all work that is missed if you are absent. Notify the professor if you will be absent. As work will not be accepted late, please contact the professor to hand in work on time. It is your responsibility to get any missed work or notes from other students in the class and to discuss any problems or questions you have with the professor.
NOTE: BACK-UP your work frequently, even as you are working on your writing assignments and on your projects. Write and edit your posts locally before uploading them to the web. No excuses.
Required Texts
The Art of Self Invention by Joanne Finkelstein, I.B. Tauris, London: 2007
Ways of Seeing by John Berger, British Broadcasting Corporation and Penguin Books: New York 1990
On Blackboard http://blackboard.njcu.edu/ and linked online.
Course Objectives
Cultural/Social analysis
1. Question the relationship of beauty and images.
2. Question the role of photography and images in forming identity.
3. Understand the role of the artist/designer in producing two-dimensional composition within a social and cultural context.
4. Explore the relationship of imagery and visual perception to our sense of self and identity.
5. Adopt a critical posture in the consumption and production of images and photographs.
6. Discover how context provides images’ meaning.
7. Examine the capacity and ease of capturing, producing and sharing images and the role this plays in navigating personal, social and cultural communities.
Composition and Practice
8. Study both the elements (Line, Shape, Value, Texture, Form, Color) and the principals (Unity, Variety, Balance, Emphasis) of two-dimensional design.
9. Learn to analyze, interpret and describe images both orally and written using appropriate terminology.
Creative Production/Experience
10. Experience the creative process in an art studio environment.
11. Be creative in the use of composition, media and material.
12. Experiment in projects that employ the elements of two-dimensional design and produce two-dimensional compositions in various media.
13. Integrate the research of historical and contemporary artists and designers into projects that reflect consideration of composition and visual communication.
14. Communicate thoughts, ideas and/or expression through imagery and considered composition.
15. Compare creative productions and visual experiences with peers, both orally and written.
Health and Safety
You are not to risk the health or safety of yourself or any of the other people in the Art department. To ensure safety strictly follow all safety procedures explained to you as well as the New Jersey City University regulations. If you have any concerns or questions or are ever unclear about proper safety and health procedures, then ask the instructor or appropriate authority.
If you feel you have any special concerns or problems that you would like to address please feel free to bring them to my attention. If there are any health concerns, either physical or psychological, that may affect your ability to fully participate in the class or complete assignments I am available to discuss possible solutions or address any of your concerns. If you have health or disability concerns that you would like to address but do not feel it is appropriate to discuss them with me there are services on campus available to address your concerns; contact Student/Health Services (Vodra Hall, Suite 107, 201-200-3456), the Art Department Office, or feel free to see me for contact info.
Class Schedule
ALL READINGS AND ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE SPECIFIED WEEKLY IN CLASS AND ON THE CLASS BLOG
It is the student’s responsibility to check the blog each week for required readings and assignments. All readings can be found in the required texts, online (linked from the blog) or on Blackboard.
If you ever have questions or concerns about the schedule, due dates, changes or anything else please ask me after class or e-mail me: dcacoilo@njcu.edu
Students are required to read the appropriate readings for each class BEFORE class, complete all assignments on time and post 2 links to twitter each week.
Class Discussion Topic
|
Readings/Assignments due
|
| 1/18 Introduction to Self: I as Image Introduction of the course syllabus, class blog and themes |
Get the books! |
| 1/25 Identity, Self and Media messages | Post 1 Due including Weekly ‘selfie’ in response to the readings Susan Sontag excerpt from On Photography (linked from the blog) and Readings on Cindy Sherman |
| 2/1Autobiography | Finkelstein, Introduction pgs 1-36 Weekly ‘selfie’ in response to the readings Check the blog for additional readings |
| 2/8 Imposter, Disguise | Finkelstein, Chapter 1 pgs 42-72 John Berger Ways of Seeing Ch 1 Check the blog for additional readings The Guerrilla Girls Weekly ‘selfie’ in response to the readings |
| 2/15 The Gaze | John Berger Chapters 2+3, On Blackboard: bell hooks Understanding Patriarchy and The Oppositional Gaze, Weekly ‘selfie’ in response to the readings |
| 2/22 The Gaze |
The Male Gaze Discussion Continued See the blog for readings due. AND Self Portrait Project Part 1 Midterm Presentations in Class |
| 3/3 Behavior: Manners, Norms and Value |
Post 2 Due Finkelstein, Chapter 2 Manners pgs. 75-117 Check the blog for additional readings John Berger Chapters 4+5 Weekly ‘selfie’ in response to the readings |
| SPRING BREAK! | |
| 3/15 Behavior: Manners, Norms and Value | Gallery Visit Assignment Weekly ‘selfie’ in response to the gallery exhibition visit |
| 3/22 Looking Good Industry | Finkelstein, Chapter 3 pgs 121-144 Weekly ‘selfie’ in response to the readings |
| 3/29 Looking Good Industry | Finkelstein, Chapter 4+5 Advertising and Fashion pgs 148-216, John Berger Ch 7 See blog for additional readings. Weekly ‘selfie’ in response to the readings |
| 4/5 The Spectacle, #selfie, celebrity |
Guy Debord Society of the Spectacle online See blog for readings due. |
| 4/12 The Spectacle, #selfie, celebrity | Post 3 Due Weekly ‘selfie’ in response to the readings |
| 4/19 Selfie Culture and Identity | See blog for readings due. Weekly ‘selfie’ in response to the readings (last one) |
| 4/26 Selfie Culture and Identity | No readings due. WORK ON YOUR FINALS! |
| 5/3 PRESENTATIONS OF FINAL PROJECTS |
All FINAL SELF PORTRAIT projects must be documented and posted to the class blog on 5/2 before 11pm. |
| 5/10 TBD FINAL CLASS |
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