Diane Arbus

[Bill Mitchell]

I haven't really made up my mind about what I think of Arbis' photographs. Was her motive to incite pity for the subject by the viewer? To reinforce the feeling we all should have at times: "There, but for the grace of God, goes me." After reading "Revolations" (but not the biography) and seeing the contact sheets I know that my initial impressions were wrong (she was not threatening to the little sissy kid with the handgranade, but he was playing around hamming it up). My heart goes out to the young couple with the baby girl and little Down's syndrome boy -- what a hard life they're going to lead instead of the joy of watching their children grow up.
I just don't know what to make of her work. Is it great photography, or just great schlock? Freaks presented in photographs rather than in person in carnival side shows?
I don't know.

 

[Alex Hawley]

... she suffured from depression for many years. Her mother also had this affliction as well as her brother (I think).
If you haven't read her biography, some of her work may appear explotive. But she was an extemely shy person and to approach some of her subjects, she had to really dig deep to get the courage to do so.

Thanks Gene. That fills in a big gap for me.

I just don't know what to make of her work. Is it great photography, or just great schlock? Freaks presented in photographs rather than in person in carnival side shows?
I don't know.

I'm still in the same camp with you Bill. I don't know either. To me, it all depends on the what the motivation of the photographer is. But I also know that too often, its not the photographer who intends the exploitation. Things can easily develop into something no intended. Maybe that was a dilemna she had and couldn't reconcile it?

 

[Jim Chinn]

There is a certain breed of photographer who works on the margins of society or under conditions that few of us would ever dream of approaching. Besides Arbus, Gary Winnogard and Weegee come to mind. But also in this category I would put war photographers such as James Natcheway.

I believe the reason these individuals were (are) able to produce such moving and provocative images is because they share an almost voyeuristic relationship with the subject matter. That is they have an obsession, even a need to view the subject matter. The camera is a tool that helps them indulge in the obsession. I am not saying that it is good or bad, just trying to suggest an explanation for how such bodies of work come about.

The ironic thing is about her work is that she transforms anyone who looks at her work into a voyeur right along with her. I still remember when I first became aware of her work. I thought some of the images were pretty disturbing or at least the product of a disturbed mind. But that did not keep me from going back again and again to look at the images in the same book.

 

[lee]

Jim,

to a certain point I will agree with you. I am thinking she was trying to confront her own demons. By showing us those, she also pointed us to our own demons. Maybe not the same demons but demons just the same. she also may have given a voice to the segment of society that gets shunned and put in the dark recessess of life.

lee\c

 

[craigclu]

Just in case I'm not the last one in the civilized world to discover this.... I heard an interview on PBS regarding her and the people who were acquaintances of hers and the family pronounced her name "Dee-Ann". I realized that I had only read her name and didn't know it was pronounced that way.

 

[Bill Mitchell]

PLAY BALL: last two words of the national anthum.

WRONG! What are you -- some kind of New York City degenerate holdover from the ninteenth century? The last words are "Gentlemen, start your engines."

 

[Alex Hawley]

I am thinking she was trying to confront her own demons. By showing us those, she also pointed us to our own demons. Maybe not the same demons but demons just the same. she also may have given a voice to the segment of society that gets shunned and put in the dark recessess of life.

Hmmm - you might be on to something Lee. According to the current issue B&W article, she once came to the podium for a speaking engagement stark nekkid. Everyone will have an opinion on that and what may have caused it, but suffice it to say, some sort of motivation was driving her.