Amanda and her cousin Amy, Valdese, North Carolina, 1990
All photographs ©Mary Ellen Mark / American Odyssey, Aperture, 1999.
Description: Mary Ellen Mark was documenting American lifestyles in the modern times using Diane Arbus' style of on-camera flash and Dorothea Lange's style of societal documentation from the 1930's depression era who documented the poor conditions of the migrant workers for the F.S.A. (Farm Security Administation).
Intentions: To show the character and attitudes of young women within their 'natural' enivronment.
Good/Bad: The placement of the pool and background objects compliment the subjects to create negative spaces and breaks up the monotony of a soft focused dark background. The characterizations of the girls which are shown tell so much about their personalities, the rebel smoker versus the shy, follower who cautiously won't be sucked into dangerous activities unlike her cousin who will probably try anything once!
Evaluation: I really like the concept and composition of this image. The social idea is shocking to see a young girl smoking, and it seems like she's emmulating her mom's behaviour or that of a women that she greatly admires and wants to become.
2 comments:
Good choice. I really like this photo.
Good review of the photo - but there may be even more in the pose and body language of the girl - She is perhaps emulating Mom but Mary Ellen M is also perhaps looking at a larger cultural phenomena of women and sexual stereotypes...there are profound social implication.
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