Cindy Sherman

An artist we need to consider for our ‘Matchbox’ shoot is Cindy Sherman.

Sherman is an American photographer and film director, she is well known for her conceptual portraits where she herself, is always the model. For each photographic project she seems to take on roles of different characters for her work. In 1981, a project named ‘Centerfolds’ questioned the idea of stereotyping women in films, magazines and TV. In discussion about this project, Cindy stated,

"In content I wanted a man opening up the magazine suddenly look at it with an expectation of something lascivious and then feel like the violator that they would be. Looking at this woman who is perhaps a victim. I didn't think of them as victims at the time... But I suppose... Obviously I'm trying to make someone feel bad for having a certain expectation."

In 2006 there was an exhibition, a retrospective for Sherman‘s work: a spokesperson for the exhibition spoke their thoughts on the pieces:

‘What emerges through these images is a subtle analysis of individual identity, both the fantasies that it generates and the forces that shape it. This immersion in the uncertain, conflictual zones where individual identity struggles with the collective imaginary, stereotypes and issues of symbolic power, can be either playful or—when it touches on horror and repulsion, on the decay and dismembering of the body—very dark’.

Sherman’s work seems to question roles and identity, specifically of women, this I think will naturally come through within our images for the matchbox photo shoot. When thinking about mass consumerism, it is usually women that seem to have the want and need to be ‘similar’ in society, yet somehow, women tend to want to be unique in society. Our images are created to question and highlight why we want to be a ‘mass consumer’ society. Not only does Sherman’s work have more complex meaning’s but, when looking at her imagery she commonly looks like a mannequin: her look isn’t heavily natural- this could be good for us to look at for make up ideas for the shoot. Sherman is very ironic and literal in her shoots, I like this.

Following Consumers.

We had our group meeting yesterday to discuss everyones initial ideas and decide on a path to go down for the new project.

Our idea at the minute came from simply the word, 'Match'. Moira had an idea to base a shoot around the idea of consumerism and mass reproduction, which from a stylist view and my personal view I really like, as I like to question the ideas behind brands and peoples behaviour. The definition for the word match includes the idea of 'similarity' and the connotations of a 'unit' of specifics. So with this in mind, and the idea of consumerism, specially at the minute, we have agreed on focusing the shoot on a 'uniform of people', in this case a model, alongside mannequins.

The meeting itself went really well: we work well together and it shows. We each had initial ideas for a shoot, but drew everyones ideas together, as they seem to work well.

This is my list of notes from the meeting;

-match- definition? in terms of fashion- an army of women
-warriors, army, militant (regarding style-the fall collections referenced heavily the military)
-look at fashion shows/designers that have meaning about the portrayal of women (hussein chalayan)
-Jeff Walls picture, Insomnia, colouring of image-photography format
-consumerism and mass reproduction
-using materials to change its purpose -resemble fire-chiffon, hot colours (lucinda chambers)
-army, on the street (early morning-light)
-smoke/mist over images
-cinematic style shots
-research any connections with smoking and the military(rationing of cigarrettes)
-playing with proportions -do one shoot the size of a barbie- use barbie as a model (ideas of mass reproduction/consumerism/similar/the same) and another shoot life size
-when sequencing and editing- have a strong visable narrative (put images in certain order)
-in shoot -model- odd one out, mannequins (they are very similar as they are mass produced, more so than a person) as the consumer society- wanting to look the same
-film stills
-mannequins lit up???
-research barbie- her portrayal/meaning/connotations

People to research-

Fashion:
-Helmut Newton- naked women, lined up
-Hussein Chalayan-how he portrays ideas of consumerism
-Lucinda Chambers (vogue stylist) who uses clothes in a shoot to change its use i.e trousers as a head piece

Photography:
-Glen Luchford-cinematic style
-Miles Aldrige constructive set ups
-Cindy Sherman (portrayal of women)
-Finley Mckay