Contemporary Female Artists: Cindy Sherman and Lorna Simpson
Contemporary female artists: Cindy Sherman and Lorna Simpson
Living in contemporary world, there are some issues that we have in the daily life such as postmodernism, post structuralism, feminism or post colonialism. Today, there are various contemporary artists who expose these contemporary issues. What is mostly concerned in contemporary artist is "postmodernity". The term “post-modernity” can be identified in many different ways that refers to the cultural style of movement in art, architecture, and literature (The New Crown Dictionary). According to Art History Professor Douglas Crimp, in his book, The Reading of the Photographic Activity of Postmodernism,
“Postmodernism is about art’s dispersal, its plurality” (91). Crimp was referring to what he called “plurality of copies” occurring through overuse of identical or familiar images displayed in popular media such as TV, magazines, or advertisements. These identical or familiar images used in a mass society are called “simulacra”, identified as “an image or representation of something or someone that is made to looks like something or someone else” used often in postmodern condition. “Pure simulacra” refer to “authentic copies without the original” (Bronfen 15-21). For example, these images below in figure 1 seem familiar to each other and seem to represent a traditionally classy look; they establish pure simulacra in images. It is because these women appear in these photographs are not imitating anyone; they are influenced by overuse of simulacra images through media. Crimp suggests in post-modern condition that nothing is authentic anymore. Especially those who grew up in a mass society of contemporary culture have been strongly influenced; their self-image a reflection of the images and identities created by media. Figure. 14. Natalie Portman BAZAR/ 2006
4. Natalie Portman BAZAR/ 2006
3. Horst P. Horst
American VOGUE / Sept 15, 1949
3. Horst P. Horst
American VOGUE / Sept 15, 1949
2.
Living in contemporary world, there are some issues that we have in the daily life such as postmodernism, post structuralism, feminism or post colonialism. Today, there are various contemporary artists who expose these contemporary issues. What is mostly concerned in contemporary artist is "postmodernity". The term “post-modernity” can be identified in many different ways that refers to the cultural style of movement in art, architecture, and literature (The New Crown Dictionary). According to Art History Professor Douglas Crimp, in his book, The Reading of the Photographic Activity of Postmodernism,
“Postmodernism is about art’s dispersal, its plurality” (91). Crimp was referring to what he called “plurality of copies” occurring through overuse of identical or familiar images displayed in popular media such as TV, magazines, or advertisements. These identical or familiar images used in a mass society are called “simulacra”, identified as “an image or representation of something or someone that is made to looks like something or someone else” used often in postmodern condition. “Pure simulacra” refer to “authentic copies without the original” (Bronfen 15-21). For example, these images below in figure 1 seem familiar to each other and seem to represent a traditionally classy look; they establish pure simulacra in images. It is because these women appear in these photographs are not imitating anyone; they are influenced by overuse of simulacra images through media. Crimp suggests in post-modern condition that nothing is authentic anymore. Especially those who grew up in a mass society of contemporary culture have been strongly influenced; their self-image a reflection of the images and identities created by media. Figure. 14. Natalie Portman BAZAR/ 2006
4. Natalie Portman BAZAR/ 2006
3. Horst P. Horst
American VOGUE / Sept 15, 1949
3. Horst P. Horst
American VOGUE / Sept 15, 1949
2.
Cited: Barrett, Terry. Why Is That Art?: Aesthetics and Criticism of Contemporary Art. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2008. Print. Bronfen, Elisabeth. "The Other Self of the Imagination: Cindy Sherman 's Hysterical Performance." Photographic Work: 1975-1995. By Cindy Sherman, Zdenek Felix, Martin Crane, Diana. Fashion and Its Social Agendas: Class, Gender, and Identity in Clothing. Chicago: University of Chicago, 2000. Print. Crimp, Douglas. "The Photographic Activity of Postmodernism." 15.October (1980): 91-101. JSTOR. Web. 01 July 2010. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/778455>. Du Bois, W. E. B. "Of Our Spiritual Strivings." Hayes, Floyd W. A Turbulent Voyage. San Diego: Collegiate Press, 2000. 298-302. McClintoc, Martha. CINDY SHERMAN. Asahi Shinbun, 1996. Print. Patton, Stacey. "Who 's Afraid Of Black Sexuality?." Chronicle Of Higher Education 59.15 (2012): 3. Academic Search Premier. Web. 20 Dec. 2012. SHEETS, HILARIE M. Using Art to Build Pride. New York Times, 1 June 2005. Web. Sturken, Marita, and Lisa Cartwright. Practices of Looking: an Introduction to Visual Culture. New York: Oxford UP, 2009. Print.