Exercise 3:
For this exercise you will need to review the collection of Cindy
Sherman photographs on reserve in the library as well as the
journal you wrote for exercise one. From this journal, I'd like
you to choose at least 5 ways in which you identify with your
favorite star -- again, you should try to divide your attention
between the negative and the positive. With her photographs,
Sherman stages various cultural stereotypes that hail her. Think
of the points of identification that exist between you and your
star as cultural stereotypes that hail you. Following Sherman's
lead, or using her as a model, how might you stage these
stereotypes in photographs of yourself? For exercise 3, stage 5
of these cultural stereotypes in photographs of yourself.
Remember to pay very close attention to the details you include
in your photographs -- proper use of these details will make or
break this assignment. Take several shots for each stereotype so
that you may choose the best one (the one that most clearly
stages that stereotype) to turn in. Pay close attention to
lighting so that your photographs are clear and discernable.
After you have chosen the 5 photographs that you want to turn in,
write up a detailed analysis of each photo. This analysis should
explain why you made various decisions when making the
photograph: why these details, why this lighting, why this
framing, etc.
Readings:
Sherman's Untitled Film Stills and self-portraits
"A Piece of the Action," Judith Williamson
review Fiske's essay "Madonna"
excerpts from Greil Marcus' Dead Elvis