Week 10 Exhibition Analysis

I chose Karen Knorr's Gentlemen.

1. These photographs are taken for those who aren't conservative members of the white male, upper-middle class in England. The point of these photographs, is to put a spotlight on the beliefs and standards of said class. The beliefs are presented in a way that makes it seem as if a member of that class is explaining their values to a young one who they want to be like them; this is of course presented in a tongue-and-cheek manner.

2. This was taken in the 80's so it is difficult for me to label this type of masculinity since I haven't encountered it much. However, the men in this series appear to be representing a time much earlier than the 80's. Sure, they are older in these pictures, but the time period the appear to be dressed for, and the time period represented by the rooms they are in look to me more like the 30's and 40's. Reading the captions reinforces this idea because they are heavily focused on things like honor and pride. These ideas don't hold very strongly amongst men these days.

3. Some of the other series showcased masculinity in ways that I had never associated with masculinity. Almost none of the photos were of men doing manly things. It was as if they were showcasing femininity dressed like a man. For instance, one series used the clothes of the men as the primary way to showcase a person's masculinity. Masculinity has nothing to do with the clothes someone wears, it is the differing perspective that men have that makes it masculinity. Clothes cannot properly represent that.

4.
       i. Rotimi Fani-Kayode

a.  Something that is notable here is that the background is left in focus. I don't know what the meaning behind this picture actually is, but I can tell this focal choice allows the subject to be compared to others in the background, along with making it easier for the viewer to gauge a time-period for the photo.

b.  Based on the content of other photos by the photographer (which include men who don't adhere to norms), I deduct that he is LGBT. Given the masculinity subject of his photographs, I think the overall message might have to do with the fluidity of masculinity, and that you can be masculine while doing unmasculine things and exhibiting unmasculine behaviors.


       ii. Richard Billingham, Ray’s a laugh

a.  This photo was taken with a wide-angle lens, despite one not being necessary to capture the subject. This was done as much as is possible without cutting off part of the subject of the image. The photographer also took the photo on the level of the subject, despite him being on the ground. These two choices frame the subject well. One other think I will note is the use of the colour blue. Every photo had bland colour, except for something being sky blue.

b.  This photo does an amazing job of conveying the disgusting nature of his fathers' alcoholism. He is wearing a suit, and slumping on a broken toilet. The toilet, in my opinion is the dirtiest one I've seen in my life. This shows how bad the situation is in the eyes of the photographer. The other photos in the series were also dirty, but this one was by far the dirtiest.


       iii. Mikhael Subotzky Prisoners sleep in an overcrowded cell

a.  Obviously the biggest choice here was taking the photo from above, as opposed to face-on. This choice allows the photo to highlight the overcrowded nature of the prison while also showcasing each individual as a person, instead of a prisoner. Aside from that there is some use of colour here with the blue clothes of the prisoners.

b.  The photo appears to have be trying to bring attention to prison overcrowding, along with advocating for the decriminalization of crimes that really aren't crimes in order to alleviate this. Additionally it comments on the condition of the prisons, the prisoners appear cold and underdressed here. The photographer might be a former prisoner.