One artist that stood out to me from today's lecture was Duane Michals. I've seen some of his work before, and I just think his photo narratives are fascinatingly unique and meaningful. I hadn't seen his photo This Photograph is My Proof from 1974 before, but it's so sad and beautiful in its simplicity. We look back at old photographs and struggle to remember exactly how we felt in that specific moment when the camera went off--did we really feel those emotions? Could a relationship once so sweet now be replaced by sour memories? Why do we forget about the good, the bad, or the mediocre times when everything and every feeling is significant to where we are today? This photo is both heart breaking and relatable.
Duane Michals, This Photograph is My Proof, 1974
Even though I've seen it before, I had no idea Chance Meeting had a homosexual subtext. After analyzing each frame in class, the sequence takes on a whole new meaning and embodies the fear, excitement, and bewilderment of finding or meeting a potential partner. I appreciate Kip's lectures because even when he shows us things we've already seen before, he sheds new light on their significance and the implications such works have beyond what's merely on the surface.
Duane Michals, Chance Meeting, 1970
Michals does an excellent job of telling stories through his photographs and provides both amusement and awe. I like that his narratives aren't explicit. You have to read them in depth and pay close attention to get something out of them, which makes them even more powerful.
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