DEADLINE: Essay Introduction Draft MUST be handed in Thursday 18 Dec 2024

DEADLINE: Final Essay MUST be handed in Fri 31 Jan 2025

Literary sources: Go to this blog post here: Theory: Literary Sources and copy relevant key texts relating to the subject of your essay and list in alphabetical order in your bibliography. In addition, find your own key texts in relation to artists selected for in-depth analysis in your essay and list these too. These texts could be interviews with the artist, or reviews/ critique’s written by others. See useful online sites/ sources here .

• Research and identify 3-5 literary sources from a variety of media such as books, journal/magazines, internet, Youtube/video that relates to your personal study and artists references .
• Begin to read essay, texts and interviews with your chosen artists as well as commentary from critics, historians and others.
• It’s important that you show evidence of reading and draw upon different pints of view – not only your own.
• Take notes when you’re reading…key words, concepts, passages, page number to be used for in-text referencing etc.

Essay Plan
Make a plan that lists what you are going to write about in each paragraph – essay structure

• Essay question: How is feminism and identity manipulated through the evolution of social media?
• Opening quote
• Introduction (250-500 words): What is your area study? Which artists will you be analysing and why? How will you be responding to their work and essay question?

• Pg 1 (500 words): Historical/ theoretical context within art, photography and visual culture relevant to your area of study. Make links to art movements/ isms and some of the methods employed by critics and historian. 

Feminism waves

• Pg 2 (500 words): Analyse first artist/photographer in relation to your essay question. Present and evaluate your own images and responses.
• Justine Kurland: how she has constructed her images in Girlhood:
• – staging images using models/ runaways based on on her own girlhood experiences
• – consider her own female gaze
• – staging her staging of images taking inspiration from history painting, eg. Manet’s Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe
• – female gaze on the female body

• Pg 3 (500 words): Analyse second artist/photographer in relation to your essay question. Present and evaluate your own images and responses.
  
• Conclusion (250-500 words): Draw parallels, explore differences/ similarities between artists/photographers and that of your own work that you have produced
• Bibliography: List all relevant sources used

Literary sources:

Kotz, L. (1998) ‘”Aesthetics” of Intimacy’ in Bright, D. (1998) The Passionate Camera: Photography and bodies of desire. London: Routledge

van Zoomen, L. (2019). ‘Feminist Theory’ in Dixon, M. Media Theory for A-Level Students. London: Routledge.

Jansen, C. (2017). Girl on Girl: Art and Photography in the Age of the Female Gaze. London: Laurence King Publishing.

Healy, C. M. (2023) Girlhood, London: Tate Enterprises Ltd.

Part 1

Part 2

Sontag, S. (1977) ‘In Plato’s Cave’ in On Photography. London: Penguin Books.

Question: How is feminism and identity manipulated through the evolution of social media?

Introduction:

Feminism and identity is manipulated through the evolution of social media as the media is generally more popular through the younger ages, who are typically vulnerable to online information. I have chosen to focus my personal study around femininity and girlhood, exploring the realism of their lives with the impact of social media- the positives and negatives. I think feminism and identity is manipulated through social media as individuals born between 1997 and 2012 have grown up with this technology and therefore it has been a significant part of their lives. Having grown up with this technology, girls nowadays are becoming more aware of the troubles with social media, like gaining insecurities through unreasonable stereotypes. Younger girls have also grown up with pressure in terms of their appearance and how they present themselves in their own photos on social media. I will be showing the development of the impact on teenage girls through my photoshoots. The artists I shall be using as inspiration is Justine Kurland and Francesca Miller-Hard, as I feel like they explore contrasting ideas around feminism. Justine Kurland explores the fierce side of girls, who are portrayed as runaways and rebellious. Kurland portrays her subjects as masculine and independent, focusing on their lives in the wilderness. Whereas, Miller-Hard explores the realistic side of girls through the display of aesthetic beauty of the girls, the aspect of girlhood and feminine relationships and connections. Miller-Hard bases her photography around her personal experiences, which I would like to continue through my work and show the realistic sides to girlhood.

Paragraph 2:

For years, women have been romanticised and idolised through paintings and different pieces of artwork. Throughout history, paintings symbolise women to be an embodiment of Love, stereotypically for the male gaze. Justine Kurland’s photograph ‘Boy Torture, Love: 1999’ contradicts this historic concept around the male gaze, as in this image the male gaze is being blocked through the use of female power. Paintings of women by men are emphasised to be sexualised, through the male gaze.

Paragraph 3:

Justine Kurland focuses her photography on rebellious runaways in America, who are living independent and nonchalant lives. This can be viewed in many contrasting ideas, but from my view I think that these photographs intend to be seen as taken before social media became a huge part of teenager’s lives. Kurland also constructs her images to be seen as natural and spontaneous, although they are staged. This particular photograph (Boy Torture, Love: 1999) captured my attention as there is a various of factors to the image. Through their indirect eye contact with the camera, the girls keep their gaze on each other, telling us that they are living in their own separate world and uninterested in anything else. I think that these girls are shown as trying to escape the real world, protecting themselves from the violence and the reality of life. Kurland uses staged tableaux photography to create a dramatic effect and make the subjects appear completely unaware of the existence of the viewer. These tableaux photographs create a narrative for viewers, exploring wastelands whilst considering a childhood aspect. From my perspective, I think Kurland’s staged photography had been inspired by a historic piece of artwork: Manet’s painting ‘Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe’, to construct this particular photograph, as there is a variety of similarities between the two. In Manet’s painting, we find that the woman’s naked body is seen as very pale and white, drawing our eyes to her first. Similarly, in Kurland’s photograph, our eyes are also drawn to the girl’s back as it is the main dominant signifier in the image. Also, there is a significant power difference in both of the pieces. For example, in Manet’s painting, the two males are sat intimately around the woman who is naked, presumably not by choice. Whereas, in Kurland’s photograph, the subject is seen as deciding to remove her shirt in front of the group of teenagers, where the boy’s gaze is blocked by a different female. This shows us that in Manet’s painting, the males had the power to make their own decisions, contrasting Kurland’s photograph where the female’s have the power to deny the male gaze and remove their clothing by choice. One piece of writing I have looked at is  Lynne Kotz’s essay, the ‘Aesthetics of Intimacy’, which explores the intricate relationship between photography and intimacy. Kotz examines how photography is used to express the sensual, personal and private aspects of human life, which links to my photoshoots as they explore these connections between younger girls. Overall, Kotz’s essay suggests that intimate photographs are not merely passive reflections of personal relationships, but active sites where power, desire, and identity are constructed.

For this photoshoot, I decided to go to the photography studio and take some staged photos of my subject modelling how girls secretly feel behind their social media.

Evaluation:

For this photoshoot, I went to the studio to take some photos using a mirror as a prop. Here, the subject is reflecting ideas around beauty standards. For example, looking at her body in a negative way and using makeup as a coverup to build self confidence.

Through the use of social media, girls have grown up feeling insecure due to the presentation of fake beauty standards of other girls. On the other hand, social media can also ease many of the insecurities girls feel about their identity and relationships. Through the constant sounds of notifications and text messages, it makes it clear that they are wanted, needed and liked which gives them this feel of happiness from social media. Everything online is easy access, including both the negatives and positives.

For the self-conscious or insecure girl, technology can become a crippling addiction, not just for connection but the elusive promise of being liked by everyone. This leads to the change in personalities, growing up faster than usual, using makeup as a way to present them in a different way, and the internet can sometimes even lead to girls gaining eating disorders due to many other girls posting their bodies and editing them to make them look different to how they are originally.

For younger girls, who are more naïve than older girls, they are more likely to grow up with these values around how to present themselves in a ‘prettier’ way, or how to become more popular.

For this photoshoot, my initial idea was to go to the woods and experiment with different poses to produce a variety of images with contrasting backstories. I then felt like I could relate this photoshoot to how girl’s lives were before social media and the internet through the vibrant colourful clothing, and smiling faces.

Edited images:

I really liked this photoshoot, because I felt it worked really well in the woods as it shows how nature can contrast with social media. I also tried to portray a clear understanding of the difference of girls when they’re on social media, compared to when they’re not. Here we can see that the subjects are wearing bright colours, and seem more natural than they would online. This also shows a clear sense of community between the girls.

Evaluation:

For these photographs, I wanted to convey an idea around life before social media, and show the contrast between my photoshoots and the development of teenage girls as social media grows and becomes an addiction.

In the 1950s, smoking was seen as the epitome of cool and glamour throughout industrialised nations. Cigarettes were originally sold as expensive handmade luxury goods for the urban elite. I wanted to present this idea myself through the subjects smoking, as it shows a clear idea that this photoshoot is supposedly meant to be of time before social media. As social media has grown, smoking has become socially unacceptable and there is now recognition of tobacco use as an addiction and cause of cancer, along with concerns about the ill-effects.

Through the use of social media, this information is easy access and has been spread around the world, therefore the rates of smoking is decreasing.

1. Francesca Miller-Hard

Examples of her work:

Francesca Miller-Hard is a popular, but not famous, photographer who focuses her work around people and fashion. She was born in New Zealand, but bases her work in Melbourne, Australia. Francesca mainly bases her work around girlhood and the reality around beauty standards of women, which is the main reason I wanted to use her work as inspiration for mine. She created a project called ‘A Love Letter To Girls’, which is a collection of images that explore vivid images around girls and their lives. Francesca said that her work is an exploration of her personal experiences and the connection of feminine energy, which is what I would like my photography to focus on.

In Francesca’s collection of work, she has a name for every photograph:

One thing that really stood out to me was when Francesca said “I was inspired by my own teenage experiences to create a visual appreciation for the connections I made with girls that moulded me into the woman I am today“. I would like to photograph me and my friends, and our daily experiences together as girls. Although most of my photographs will be staged, I also want to capture candid interactions and genuine moments between friends.

On top of that, I also want to reflect my photographs onto my own childhood, so there is a personal aspect within my work. This will help to create a nostalgic vibe to my photography.

Angles/lighting:

In most of her images, we find that there is dim lighting, with a yellowish tone to convey a sensual feeling around the images. Most of the angles are seen as an overhead shot or birds eye view, which creates this idea that the images are more personal, almost as if they aren’t staged.

2. Justine Kurland

Examples of her work:

Justine Kurland is an American fine-art photographer who lives in New York City and is best known for photographing subjects in American wilderness landscapes. She has travelled across the United States to create these staged photos, but spent many months traveling through New Zealand as well. Kurland has become famous for her tableaux photography around landscapes dealing with young children, men, and women, often mixing the purity of youth with its unbridled wildness. Her works of feral and unsupervised children running around in a suburban wasteland reveals a clear connection to the theme of her photography.

Kurland’s narrative work is heavily influenced by nineteenth-century English picturesque landscapes and the utopian ideal as well as genre paintings, the photographs of Julia Margaret Cameron and Mathew Brady, and illustrations from fairy tales.

I am going to focus on Kurland’s staged tableaux photography that explores the social landscape of girlhood. Kurland is clearly very in touch with nature and the primal impulses of humanity, which I would also like to reinforce through my photoshoot.

Image analysis:

This image particularly stood out to me as I feel like it was the most creative and interesting one to look into. In this image, there is a group of teenage girls portrayed as rebellious and free as they are alone in the woods. They could be seen as slightly masculine due to the fact that the girls are seen as fearless and they make their own food by hunting animals to eat. This image conveys an idealised and utopian sense of the American wilderness through the subjects appearing to be the very image of self-reliance and individualism. All of Kurland’s photographs are staged in natural settings, such as the wilderness, yet Kurland attempts to make her photographs look realistic. We also see that there is rarely any eye-conact between the subjects and the camera, which reinforces this idea that Kurland attempts to produce photographs that look natural and spontaneous.

I would like to produce photographs that represent the lives of girls nowadays, and how social media and the internet has impacted our lives. I feel like as we have grown up, girls have decided to rather ‘fit in’ than ‘stand out’. To a certain extent, this means changing their personalities. Some examples may be the change from a colourful childhood, to colourless teenage years.

Here, I found a collection of archives from when I was younger. Clearly, there was a lot of vibrant colours, which conveys this idea around happiness, and liveliness. I would like to use these sort of images as a comparison to my life now.

Here are a few examples of the type of photography I will be taking, but also challenging. As you can see, most of the images are colourful and lively, but I would like to challenge this idea by looking into the reality of teenage girls, and not just the fun side of it.

Observe

What is the definition of observe?

To notice or perceive something and register it as being significant.

Synonyms:

Notice, see, discover, detect, examine

Seek

What is the definition of seek?

To attempt to find something.

Synonyms:

Explore, follow, investigate, pursue

Challenge

What is the definition of challenge?

A call to prove or justify something, or participating in a competitive situation or fight to decide who is superior in terms of ability or strength.

Synonyms:

Stand against, opposition, dispute, provocation

Mindmap:

For this mind map, I read an old exam essay for inspiration, and took words and terms from that essay that I thought linked when thinking about the words ‘observe, seek, challenge’. I used these to help think about ideas that I could use for my new personal study. I decided to chose to do girlhood for my personal study as I have loads of ideas I could use to expand people’s knowledge of every day lives of girls nowadays.

My mood board of ideas:

My ideas:

For this topic, I am aiming to produce photos which represent ideas around girlhood, feminism and gender roles. I will include photos from my own childhood, and how I have grown up as a girl. I want to include aspects of stereotypical themes around females, this may include wearing pink, using make-up, perfume, having long hair, having long nails, dressed in dresses, skirts, and heels, being sensitive, and engaging in activities that are traditionally associated with femininity, such as talking about relationships. But I would also like to challenge these ideas and produce photos around unfeminine stereotypical aspects; for example, showing dominance, having short hair, wearing plain coloured clothes and not involving themselves in any beauty activities like makeup.

1. Read two texts above (John Szarkowski’s introduction and review by Jed Pearl) and select 3 quotes form each that is relevant to your essay.
2. Select two images, one that represent a mirror and another that represents a window as examples to use in your essay.
3. Use some of the key words that you listed above to describe what the mirrors and windows suggest.

Essay plan:

Introduction (250 words): Reflect on the origin of photography and describe in your own words the difference between the two photographic processes, Daguerreotype and Calotype. Consider how they could be viewed as either a mirror or a window of the world according to John Szarkowski’s thesis. Choose one quote from Szarkowski’s text and comment if you agree or disagree.

Paragraph 1 (250 words): Choose an image that in your view is a mirror and analyse how it is a subjective expression and staged approach to image-making. Choose one quote from Szarkowski’s thesis and another from Jed Pearl’s review which either supports or opposes Szarkowski’s original point of view. Make sure you comment to advance argumentation in providing a critical perspective.

Paragraph 2 (250 words): Choose an image that in your view is a window and analyse how it is an objective expression rooted in a sense of realism. Choose one quote from Szarkowski’s thesis and another from Jed Pearl’s review and follow similar procedure as above ie. two opposing points of view and commentary to provide a critical perspective.

Conclusion (250 words): Refer back to the essay question and write a conclusion where you summarise Szarkowski’s theory and Pearl’s review of his thesis. Describe differences and similarities between the two images above and their opposing concepts of objectivity and subjectivity, realism and romanticism, factual and fiction, public and private.

Final draft:

The Daguerreotype and Calotype are two photographic processes which were widely used during the 1840s and 1850s. The Daguerreotype was said to be the first ever successful photographic process in the history of photography. It was created in 1839 by the inventor Louis Jacques Mandé Daguerre. A daguerreotype is made on a sheet of silver-plated copper, which is polished to a mirror finish. Then, the sheet is treated with iodine to make them sensitive to light and it is exposed in a camera. Finally, to develop the image, warm mercury vapour is used. The Daguerreotype is very accurate, detailed and sharp. As it is created on a metal plate, it is delicate and needs to be well looked after. Unlike the Calotype which is not as delicate as it is created on a sheet of paper. The Calotype was introduced in 1841 and was created by the inventor William Henry Fox Talbot. Talbot was best known as the British inventor of photography and in 1834 he discovered how to make and fix images through the action of light and chemistry on paper. This led him to the discovery of Calotypes. Calotype is made using paper coated with silver iodine. It produces a monochrome, blue coloured print on a range of supports, often used for art, and for reprography in the form of blueprints. According to John Szarkowski’s thesis, I believe that the Daguerreotype can be seen as mirror photography because it is ‘reflecting a portrait of the artist who made it’- John Szarkowski. In contrast, I think that the Calotype is viewed as window photography because it is showing the external world, and the realism of it.

Mirrors- chosen image:

Cindy Sherman- 1954 “UNTITLED FILM STILL #84”

This particular image, created by Cindy Sherman, is an incredible representation of mirror photography. It clearly portrays the story behind it through the body language and facial expressions of the female model. Cindy Sherman bases her photography around depicting herself in many different contexts and as various imagined characters. She does this by reflecting on stereotypical femininity through a series of black-and-white photographs. The construction of this image shows an idea of the narrative behind this image, but her photographs never actually deliver a specific plot. This keeps viewers engaged and allows them to create their own narrative for the photographs. The clear facial expression of tiredness shows the harsh reality of the lives of women. Also, the bag full of shopping food, which is lying on the kitchen floor, clearly reflects on the stereotypical idea that it is a woman’s job to provide food for the household. Furthermore, I think that this image looks quite natural, although we know as the viewers that it is staged to reflect the artist. I think that this image reflects not only the artist, but all women around late 1950s, to provide a clear understanding of the gender roles around this time, and how women felt as a whole. In John Szarkowski’s thesis, he says that ‘a mirror reflects a portrait of the artist who made it’ (Szarkowski, 1978), which supports my image here as Sherman’s photograph not only reflects herself, but women as a gender. When a photo is resembling a mirror, it is not clear what the message and main theme of the photo is, and viewers must interpret in their own ideas what they believe the story is.  Szarkowski believes that mirror photographs are personal and romanticized, which is portrayed as powerful and meaningful for viewers.  

Szarkowski, J., 1978. Mirrors and windows: American photography since 1960. https://www.moma.org/documents/moma_catalogue_2347_300062558.pdf

Windows- chosen image:

Garry Winogrand, World’s Fair, New York City, 1964

Garry Winogrand was an American street photographer, known for his portrayal of U.S. life and its social issues in the mid-20th century. American photographer and curator, John Szarkowski, called Winogrand the central photographer of his generation. Winogrand was one of the most prolific, and passionate, street photographers of his time; he shot over 5 million photographs in his career. However, Winogrand hated the term “street photographer” and would rather have been known and seen as simply a “photographer”. As he was born and lived in New York, he spent most of his life photographing city streets, recording crowds and individuals and capturing the tension and exuberance of public life. Therefore, it’s clear that this image is an example of window photography as he captures the realism and spontaneity of New York city life. This photograph reflects the chaotic aspect of New York, and it examines humanity and social interaction between, what it looks like, close friends. The photograph looks quite natural and brings a sense of reality as no one is posing, or even making eye contact with the camera, therefore it hasn’t been staged or manipulated. These types of photos make it easy for viewers to understand the outside world and they act as a window into diverse realities, which reflect the importance of other experiences in the real-life world. It’s clear that this photo was taken during the mid-20^th century due to the clear clothing style worn by the women in this photo. John Szarkowski once said, “is it a mirror, reflecting a portrait of the artist who made it, or a window, through which one might better know the world?” (Szarkowski, 1978). This links back to Winogrand’s photograph, as it suggests that we are viewing New York City through Winogrand’s eyes during the 20th century, depicting a story behind it. The fact that the bench of people is mainly made up of females, apart from the two men on either side of them, reinforces an idea of femininity and shows this idea around “second wave feminism”, which focused on feminist activity and gender inequality. I believe that this particular photograph shows the importance of females as a gender, and it was very powerful for viewers around this time.  

Szarkowski, J., 1978. Mirrors and windows: American photography since 1960. https://www.moma.org/momaorg/shared/pdfs/docs/press_archives/5624/releases/MOMA_1978_0060_56.pdf?2010

Conclusion:

In conclusion, both images portray an aspect of the 20th century, and they give us a glimpse into reality around this time. Overall, Szarkowski’s theory is that, in metaphorical terms, mirror photography is seen as a romantic expression of the photographer’s sensibility as it projects itself on things and sights of this world; whereas, window photography is seen as the exterior world being explored in all its presence and reality. Among the “mirrors” photography, there are a few leading practitioners, who are Paul Caponigro, Jerry N. Uelsmann, Robert Heinecken and painter Robert Rauschenberg. Foremost, among the “windows” group is Garry Winogrand who Szarkowski feels will be “the central photographer of his generation”. Sherman’s photograph presents a more personal feeling as there is only one woman in it, whereas, in Winogrand’s image there is a few people, mainly woman, which shows an aspect of publicity and spontaneity. In my opinion, I prefer Winogrand’s photograph because it is natural, and it hasn’t been manipulated into a way that makes it look staged and fake.

Photoshoot 1:

For this photoshoot, I went down to the photography studio and used my friends as actors for the photos. I really like how these images came out, and I think it was more successful than my mirror photography.

I used some props for these photos, e.g. drums and microphones, to give off the idea that I was visiting a band. I was aiming for these photos to look natural, and not staged, so I made sure the models were not giving direct eye contact to the camera.

Edited images:

I loved this photoshoot and how the images came out as I feel like, although it was staged, both of the subjects were unaware of the camera, meaning I could capture the natural aspect. I decided to edit them in black and white as I was inspired by Garry Winogrand, who created his street photography in black and white. I cropped the edited images into squares, so I could make a montage of my final best images.

For this photoshoot, I experimented with a variety of different poses, which I thought somehow reflected me and my emotions in that moment. I don’t like some of the photos I created, as I felt they were a bit rushed and could’ve been improved through the angles and lighting.

I did like this project because I felt like it was different to my other ones, but I think it was quite difficult to successfully produce images which shows a clear story within it.

Edited images:

Cropping:

After experimenting with many different facial expressions, as well as different lighting, I am happy with these final outcomes as I like how there is a variation of different moods. We used soft lighting and a black background to create a dramatic affect, so that all the focus is on the subject.

For this topic, I would like to focus my photographs on identity and feminism. I want the result of my photographs to depict the ins and outs of girlhood, and show the difficulty within the lives of women.

Photoshoot 1: For this photoshoot, I am planning to use the photography studio to take photos for window and mirror photography. I am looking to focus on the story behind the photographs by making them unique and understanding. I will use different lighting and angles to accentuate my ideas.

Photoshoot 2: For my second photoshoot, I will go to the studio again and aim to improve my creative skills within the photography. I will try and use different props, like a microphone for example, to present different narratives. I will also make sure my model is using a range of different body language and facial expressions to exert different moods to do with personal identity and individuality.