Cynthia "Cindy" Sherman (born January 19, 1954) is an American photographer and film director, best known for her conceptual portraits. Her best known range being the series of untitled portraits. Sherman plays around with “identity” in all her portraits. In Sherman’s works, she photographs herself, deals with identity and is both artist and subject. The cultural frame is largely a part of Sherman’s works and is clearly read even by people new to her works. She uses her past observations of her culture as a woman to explore issues about gender, culture and social class. In her artworks “Untitled Film Still #14” (1978) and “Untitled Film Still #84” (1978) Sherman’s approach is unique. The black/white photographs which direct to a centred young woman immediately shows the audience this artwork is going to be largely based around the idea of women. In both artowrks and especially “Untitled Film Still #14” there are a lot of sharp, squared lines/shapes which are symbols we put hand in hand with the male gender. With both photo’s showing the subject “surrounded” by these other forces it starts to show the audience Sherman is trying to show a message of femininity. The black, white and shades of grey give an airy feeling to the works as well.
Cynthia "Cindy" Sherman (born January 19, 1954) is an American photographer and film director, best known for her conceptual portraits. Her best known range being the series of untitled portraits. Sherman plays around with “identity” in all her portraits. In Sherman’s works, she photographs herself, deals with identity and is both artist and subject. The cultural frame is largely a part of Sherman’s works and is clearly read even by people new to her works. She uses her past observations of her culture as a woman to explore issues about gender, culture and social class. Sherman dramatically changes her appearance in each artwork using make up. Costumes and wigs are largely used that mask personalities. The photographs “Untitled Film Still #14” (1978) and “Untitled Film Still #84” (1978) both show young women centred in the works, looking “spaced out” and slumped down as if they are run down and tired. Both subjects look off to the distance, as though there is someone watching her. The presence of squared,