READING P

ICTU

RES

KE

Y AN

A T

AF F E

• Internationally Recognized

• American Photographer

• Lexington, Virginia, 1951

• Many Awards: National Endowment for Humanities and Guggenheim Foundation grants

• Wet Plate Collodion, 8x10 bellows camera, Color, Platinum and Bromoil Printing

• Captured her three children all under age 12

• Interested in themes of mortality and landscape of death

WHO IS SALLY MANN?

• Immediate Family Photo Series of 60 images

• Woodland Summer Home in Virginia

• Photos were intimate and revealed Mann’s family eccentricity and distinctiveness

• Photos touch on ideas of self-discovery, self-doubt, role-playing and pain.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

Candy Cigarette1989

Gelatin Silver Print

• Family Portraits started 1987

• Some of her photos are stage-managed scenes

• People felt cheated

• She hoped the viewers understood, forgave and appreciated her artwork anyways

• Her intentions were for the audience to learn about themselves and their fears

• She showcased and revealed her own personal fears regarding her children by showing them in their weakest, bravest, most intimate moments.

INFORMED INTERPRETATION

• NY Times dubbed her collection as “The Disturbing Photography of Sally Mann”

• “The Mann children have endured scrutiny for some time now. Eight years ago, their mother began to chronicle their growing up—the wet beds, insect bites, naptimes, their aspirations toward adulthood and their innocent savagery. And the work that resulted has changed the lives of all involved.”

CULTURAL CONTEXT

• Mann decided to not publish immediate family until 10 years later

• There are tons of nude and very personal images which can make people feel uncomfortable

• Sexualizing her children

• Older, more mature, and not living in the same bodies

• Very angry due to lack of permission

• Self-Awareness

• Camera is eye-level so she’s not vulnerable looking or threatening

• Calm demeanor+ Too Cool + Unimpressed

• Serenity

• Personal Memories/Recollection of Childhood

DENOTATIONS AND CONNOTATIONS

MIGRANT

MOTHER

DOROTH

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READING PICTURES

• Sally Mann is very fascinated by death, violence, innocence and showing images of her children nude.

• Very honest and she exposes her own fears and vulnerability with her openness

• This image is one of her tamer images

• Some of her other photos are very revealing, captivating, and disturbing

• This photo is very calm, peaceful and reveals the blissful innocence and alarming self awareness in children

SOURCES

http://www.nytimes.com/1992/09/27/magazine/the-disturbing-photography-of-sally-mann.html?pagewanted=

all

http://aperture.org/shop/books/sally-mann-immediate-family-book

http://sallymann.com