Bye for now,

Dale

Thanks very much for your comment — a very thoughtful one at that.

It’s always a challenge to use a Sontag quote out of it’s original context, not only because of her writing style but because of the complexity of her thinking. I almost didn’t know where to stop, to keep the meaning I wanted to capture intact without quoting the entire paragraph or chapter, or, heck, the whole book. But that’s what I like about her: it’s very nearly impossible to read anything she wrote without thinking about it, and considering how it relates to the rest of her writing and her thought. I like your observation about its relevance to posts you’ve seen; I can only say: same here.

I’ve thought about your response quite a bit, and probably won’t say more for now, but will definitely work what you said into the second part of the article. How, I don’t yet know … it will be a surprise — for both of us.

Thanks again,

Dale

Your points are very well taken. Men of course are very seldom portrayed as anything but smiling happy and virile.

I graduated from a school of the arts, was admitted there as a matter of fact on a portfolio of make nudes. ( I have published photos in a few magazines in high school and the first two years of college, have yet to ever publish anything taken for purpose of essay or sale on line but one day I may show them to you). My online photographs are personal and often bad. I resisted the digital camera to the point of borrowing ,not purchasing, one for use during my need for one at school making me somewhat of a throwback if not pain in the ass.

I made the decision to venture into a degree in anthropology and all the rig·ma·role that went with applying to another school at my university after finding that for me photography very seldom, despite it’s intention, provokes action of any kind. Emotion which passes, such as the various emotion which this photo essay provoked among a variety of people, will pass and whatever concerns they have regarding it will be dismissed until the next time.

The problem of self indulgence and lack of social responsibility in the world of the arts is expressed well in this quote

“the environment does not effect what I do and it is not affected by what I have done” – Huebler

Photography though often stunning and provocative for a moment, seldom makes a point (but for a few minutes )without words.

So to me the discussions like this will be perpetual as conceptual artists live in their own little word often based on only their need be it to shock or for financial gain.

I do want to address your summary conclusion that “the conclusion that the images glorify rape is a reasonable one, if not a wholly accurate one.” Especially since the crux of your argument is that the women were disheveled, confused, distraught, in pain, etc. It begged me to actually go look at all of the photographs and what I saw was something very different than the picture you presented.

On a second look, the women are most certainly almost always cleaner than the men. They are not – subjectively, granted – disheveled, confused, distraught or in pain. The carefree expressions, laughter and smiles seem to contradict that assertion. That is, I’m not sure I see them as distraught except in the one photograph where I think it was required of the model via photographic direction. Vacuous, yes. Distraught no. Both my interpretation of the psychological and emotional state of the women in the photo layout and yours are subjective.

Rape, on the other hand, is anything but subjective.