Photography never lies: or rather it can lie as to the meaning of the thing…never to its existence.”
~Roland Barthes
Camera Lucida
Roland Barthes’ book, The Camera Lucida is considered one of the most philosophical books on photography. The following quotation describes his thoughtful and introspective theory of portraiture.
In front of the lens, I am at the same time: the one I think I am, the one I want others to think I am, the one the photographer thinks I am, and the one he makes use of to exhibit his art. In other words, a strange action: I do not stop imitating myself and because of this, each time I am (or let myself be) photographed, I invariably suffer from a sensation of inauthenticity, sometimes of imposture (comparable to certain nightmares). In terms of image-repertoire, the Photograph (the one I intend) represents that very subtle moment when, to tell the truth, I am neither subject nor object but a subject who feels he is becoming an object: I then experience a micro-version of death (of parenthesis): I am truly becoming a specter.”
Criticizing Photographs, by Terry Barrett (5th Edition), page 168
Criticizing Photoographs is a detailed guide to decoding photography and provides an understanding of photography’s impact on our personal and cultural viewpoints and behaviors.
My thoughts
I just saw the Cindy Sherman show at MOMA and her self-portraits play on these philosophical “what is truth” probings. She constantly toys with herself, molding her image, and grabbing herself out of her bag of costumes. I am a bit haunted by her later, larger-than-life-size portraits of aging women, who on the surface appear elegant. Juxtaposed on digitally imposed bucolic backgrounds, on close exam the aging details crack the heavily powdered foundation and reveal gravity, wrinkles pointing to masked time.
Happy Friday,
Cheryl
