|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This exhibit consists of photographic portraits of women representing a variety of body types in an age range from 21 to 86 years. It includes personal narratives reflecting how these women feel about their physical identities. Photographic images possess the agency to change what we believe and how we act on those beliefs. They are used by advertising and media in their aggressive promotion of fear and doubt in order to motivate American women to consume products. Photographs such as these portraits offer new definitions of beauty to the gazers, and will perhaps inspire them to cultivate a more realistic, inclusive and conscious perspective toward the definition of beauty. Inspirations for this project are collections such as The Century Project by Frank Cordelle and The Full Body Project by Leonard Nimoy that were created with the intent of provoking a re-thinking of the cultural definitions of beauty. The Century Project is a series of nude portraits of women ranging in age from birth to 100 years. The portraits are accompanied by personal statements explaining why the subject chose to pose for the project. The impact of the images accompanied by text is emotionally stimulating, holistic and provocative. The Full Body Project features nude images of women classified as obese. Many of the subjects are “fat acceptance” advocates, but they do not offer personal narratives as the intent is to encourage the viewing audience to contemplate the aesthetic qualities of the large body type. Both of these collections are important contributions to the efforts to counter the hegemony of the thin body ideal, but neither focus on the pain of body dissatisfaction, body dysmorphic disorder and low self-esteem experienced by so many women. My portraits are of subjects for whom it is an act of courage to have their bodies photographed and displayed publicly with their personal narratives. You may find that the beauty of these portraits contrasts starkly with the self-image expressed by the subjects. Enter the exhibit here or click on a face to read her story |
Enter the exhibit here or click on a face to read her story download full exhibit book as PDF Final Project for M.A. in Liberal Studies Laura K. Murray
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|