Photography

Sets, Stories, and Situations

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Questions

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Why might photographers reference film, literature, or other photographs in their work?

Why might photographers stage, reenact, or reconstruct scenes for a photograph?

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Julia Margaret Cameron. Madonna with Children. 1864.

What do you notice in these images?

Julia Margaret Cameron. Venus Chiding Cupid and Removing His Wings. 1872.

What do you notice about the subject of these photographs?

Cindy Sherman. Untitled Film Still #3. 1977.Cindy Sherman. Untitled Film Still #21. 1978.

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Jeff Wall. After “Invisible Man” by Ralph Ellison, the Prologue. 1999–2000, printed 2001

What questions does this photograph raise?

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Let’s compare the approaches of Cindy Sherman and Jeff Wall…

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Cindy Sherman. Untitled Film Still #3. 1977. Jeff Wall. After “Invisible Man” by Ralph Ellison, the Prologue. 1999–2000, printed 2001

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Thomas Demand. Room (Zimmer). 1996

Do you notice anything amiss in this photograph by Thomas Demand?