Blog Eight

Robert Mapplethorpe, Lisa Lyon, 1980

http://www.mapplethorpe.org/portfolios/female-nudes/?i=4

Orlan, etude documentaire: le drape le baroque, 1979-80

http://www.orlan.net/works/photo/#

These two images are similar because they both objectify the body.  In both cases the way the body is portrayed suggests that it is intended to be looked at.  Both women have some part of their body covered or hidden.  While parts of it are blatantly exposed.  This places more importance and emphasis on the exposed parts.  It's like the exposed skin is screaming 'look at me!'.  Both of these images could be considered voyeuristic because of the parts of the women that are exposed and meant for the viewer to see.  Orlan's image is different from Mapplethorpe's though because the woman in Orlan's photo is meant to be portraying someone else (the Madonna), while the woman in Mapplethorpe's photo is portraying herself.  Even though the woman in Orlan's photo is supposed to be someone else, the inclusion of her face suggests a stronger sense of identity than the woman in Mapplethorpe's photo who's face and head is hidden so it feels like her body is the only important thing, not her identity.

Images of My Own:

I chose this image because of the motion blur.  It really feels like the photo captured a fleeting moment in time.

I like this image because the advertising is so creative.  This is something unusual that captures the attention of people passing by and causes them to remember this restaurant.

I chose this image because I'm fascinated with photos that represent multiple moments in time.  I like the streaks of the stars and the color of the sky caused by the city lights.