Use the template below to help you analyse photos:

1. Research the photographer

About Cindy Sherman:

Answer these questions:

1. What photography movement was Cindy Sherman a key figure of? And what was their purpose?
2. What did she do before she became a photographer?
3. What are the key goals of her photography?
4. How does she achieve this goal (Who does she photograph? What personas are portrayed? What message is she trying to convey through her process?).
5. Does Cindy Sherman consider her photos to be self-portraits?

Key words:

• Pictures Generation
• Critique
• Mass media
• Female roles / personas
• Oppressive portrayal of women
• Self Portraits
• Guises
• Deception
• Stereotypes

 2. Analyse a chosen photo in depth:

Visual:

1. Who is the character that Sherman is adopting and how can you tell this? (what is she wearing etc?)
2. What else can you see in the photo and where does it look like the photograph set? ​
3. How is the subject posed? ​What is the emotion/ mood of the subject?​
4. How is the subject framed? ​What does this add to the photo? Is it cramped? Spacious?
5. What do you think was going on before the photo was taken?
6. What tells you that something might be happening outside the frame?​
7. How does the title contribute to the photo?

Keywords:

• Housewife
• Feminine stereotypes
• Guarded
• Suspense
• Cramped
• Cinematic

Technical

• Aperture – Notice how the foreground objects are blurred… Does this mean it’s a wide or narrow aperture?
• Shutter speed – could be quite a fast shutter speed as the subject is in focus, with a balanced exposure
• Angle – Has it been taken from a slightly lowered angle or high angle? What does this contribute? Does it make you feel like you’re amongst the setting or outside of the setting.
• Is it a full body shot or half body shot? What does this add? Is it more or less intimate?

Contextual

Use the internet to help you unpack more about the history of how women are portrayed in the media

• Historically, how have women been portrayed in the media?
• What were Sherman’s ‘untitled film stills’ intended to resemble?

Concept:

• Knowing that the photo is not a housewife, but in fact Sherman herself who is performing… what do you think the Film Stills are saying about cinema and mass media?
• How could it link to the media today?

Alternative photo analysis:

 

Visual:

1. Who is the character that Sherman is adopting and how can you tell this? (what is she wearing etc?)
2. What else can you see in the photo and where does it look like the photograph set? ​
3. How is the subject posed? ​What is the emotion/ mood of the subject?​
4. How is the subject framed? ​What does this add to the photo?
5. What do you think was going on before the photo was taken?
6. What tells you that something might be happening outside the frame?​
7. How does the title contribute to the photo?

Technical

• Aperture -Things in the background are in focus – Does the photo look like it is a wide or narrow aperture?
• Shutter speed – could be quite a fast shutter speed as the subject is in focus, with a balanced exposure
• Angle – What angle has it been taken from? What does this contribute? Does it make you feel like you’re amongst the setting or outside of the setting.
• Is it a full body shot or half body shot? What does this add? Does it feel safe or exposed?

Contextual

Use the internet to help you unpack more about the history of how women are portrayed in the media

• Historically, how have women been portrayed in the media?
• What were Sherman’s ‘untitled film stills’ intended to resemble?

Concept

• Knowing that the photo is not a housewife, but in fact Sherman herself who is performing… what do you think the Film Stills and Sherman’s approach is saying about cinema and mass media?
• How could it link to the media today?