Mini Post: Cindy Sherman

Cindy Sherman is a female artist that has devoted her artwork to women everywhere. Cindy is a photographer and filmmaker, who likes to draw attention to the portrayal of women in everyday life. Today the image of women has been reflected on through the use of social media, television, and through discussion by head figures. Cindy Sherman has decided to join forces with many female artists to show a different inside look on the portrayal of women. Cindy is often known for her look on femininity as a social construct. Cindy herself poses for her images and films to show the stereotypical depiction of women. As Cindy explained, "I like making images that from a distance seem kind of seductive, colorful, luscious and engaging, and then you realize what you're looking at is something totally opposite".  This quote resonated with me as I feel it defines the type of artist Cindy was perfectly. A women who wanted to not only create art and display it, but to really become the art herself. Photography and filmmaking are both styles of art that take images and capture moments that create one larger moment. Being able to represent an entire decade through a short film or use of images to spark the essence of a time. Cindy used her own body to create her art, which truly spoke to me and the audiences she is trying to reach. By using her own body she in a sense is taking back the power the women she portrays lost.

#92 chromogenic color print, Cindy Sherman

I find this image Cindy captured to be the most interesting of some of her work. Referring back to  the quote I mentioned above, this image is displaying the very idea she mentioned. Wanting to have someone look at her work and find a women who appears seductive and engaged. After looking closer at this image I was able to see the fear in her eyes. This image gives off a cold feeling to better enhance the fear and realization we see in the women eyes, body language, and the images dark surroundings. Focusing more on her posture, her hands are flat on the ground and legs tucked under her body, which to me says that this women in this photo is searching for a place to run but is unsure where or if she can escape. The placement of her hands could be at any moment she is going to push herself up but by the hunch in her shoulders indicates that may not be possible. The women is looking at something that frightens her and we can see she is looking towards the side and behind her. Though we don't see a figure or know what threat is surrounding this women, it is still made clear that this women is in some type of distress. Cindy's photography has captured many moments in time also depicting women of different eras and drawing attention back to images of women from the past she feels are still relevant today.