‘Reality and the Photographic Portrait’ is the title of my final essay for my Understanding Visual Culture course (UVC).
This assignment is intended to explore issues surrounding the ‘real’ in contemporary society. I decided to analyse these issues with reference to photographic portraiture. The title of the essay is also the theme I plan to adopt for my final photography course ‘Photography 3: Your Own Portfolio (YOP)’. I took the opportunity to carry out research which will also have value for my photographic work. It has turned out to be a very useful project giving me lots of ideas to pursue.
Richard Brilliant suggests that a portrait’s success ‘depends on [the artist’s] ability to manifest the peculiarities of appearance and character in a manner that is both accessible and satisfactory to the viewer’. He goes on to suggest that the nature of the artist’s response is affected by three questions: ‘What do I (you, he she, we, or they) look like?’, ‘What am I (you, she, he etc.) like?’ and ‘Who am I (you, etc.)?’. (Brilliant, 2013, Loc 197). I used these questions as a means of organising my analysis for this essay and I am also planning to use it for structuring my photographic investigation for YOP.
The essay can be read here:
Reality and the Photographic Portrait
My tutor’s comments, which add much meat to my bones, can also be read here:
So I have now completed UVC, so this leaves me at the moment in a state of being ‘between courses’. It is a very strange feeling to not have deadlines to meet. That said I have been doing a lot of thinking about how and what I will be doing on my final course YOP. I have been taking some of the ideas from my essay and developing concepts for investigating them through my photography….I will be making a few more posts about this over the next few weeks before I formally enrol for YOP.
Brilliant R. (2013) Portraiture (Essays in Art and Culture) [Kindle Edition] London: Reaktion Books
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jsumb
June 13, 2013
Enjoyed both the essay and the response, which had, as you say more ‘meat to your bones’. I think a book could be written regarding the Churchill portrait by Karsh. I like the photographer’s quote that he waited until Churchill had ‘chomped vigorously’ on his cigar before Karsh walked up to him and simple removed it, after uttering ‘Forgive me sir’; and that’s probably how he got the second shot. Could there be another portrait more widely printed in history?
Keith Greenough
June 13, 2013
Thanks John. I wonder if there is another portrait. I have been reading some 1920s material on portraiture and it seems that provoking the subject to induce an in character response was a recommended technique. Avedon used this approach on occasion too. Apparently in the well known double portrait of the Duke of Windsor and Mrs Simpson just before he clicked the shutter he told them that he had run over a dog that morning and hey presto doleful expressions and the impression that they had been sentenced to a life of regret and misery.
jsumb
June 13, 2013
I might try that trick when I do my next self portrait 🙂 You’ve tempted me back to look at Brilliant again, such a good book. Will I see you at TPG on Saturday?
Keith Greenough
June 14, 2013
Yes brilliant’s book is very good and very readable. No won’t be there on Saturday. I was at TPG for the announcement the other night. Got invited because I am an associate member there. Will see you on the 29th.
jsumb
June 14, 2013
I have already been to see the exhibition, a month or so ago and was ‘blown-away’ by the B&C piece – really quite an emotional reaction. I was in London for another exhibition and decided to have a quick look (a couple of hours later I left!). I decided to stay on the study visit list as I want to be part of the discussion, I find them quite stimulating, and as Sharon will probably lead it, I am hopeful it will be as illuminating as ever.
vickimartine
June 14, 2013
Like John, I enjoyed the essay and the depth of the tutor’s response! Still need to get my a-into-g on getting stuff in. I am procrastinating so; and still find more to read, listen to, and watch! Pity we will not see you on Saturday—John, I take it you will be there? See you both on 29th! Do we just have to read Berger—or was there something else, or a question to think about as we read him??
jsumb
June 14, 2013
Yes, Vicki I shall be there and looking forward to it – have you downloaded War Primer 2? It’s available for free from the publisher!
I think we could ask Sharon about the 29th as I’m not quite sure what we are doing, other than it is based on Berger (hopefully not burgers!); which is fine by me as I am inspired by the old Marxist!
Keith Greenough
June 14, 2013
Yes it is a radical approach to documentary and very powerful. Sadly Brecht’s worries about media representation of war are still very relevant today. The image which sticks in my mind is the one of the young smiling boy who is dressed in an arab headress and has a ‘toy’ suicide bomber outfit on…..no wonder the world has problems with this type of racial/religious stereotyping going on…perhaps it was ever thus…the indians were generally the baddies….
vickimartine
June 14, 2013
Thanks John—just found the link—it’s unbelievable that they would grant free download. The essays at the back look fascinating as well! And we ask Sharon tomorrow! Going to post the link to the download on both oca flickr and oca forum—but will credit you with unearthing it!
Keith Greenough
June 14, 2013
Thanks Vicki….I wouldn’t worry too much about the time you are taking – you are getting a lot out of the course. I guess that i decided which parts I wanted to spend the most time on and let some of the other area pass me by (a bit). That said the course teaches you to think critically and gives a great overview of the field. This is where its greatest value is. I think it would take a long time to become expert on all areas. I suspect that not even well known critical thinkers apply themselves to fully to everything.