How does art respond to and extend our understanding of the
showgirl? I have put together some
examples that explore woman-as-object (my interest is in showgirls, but this
list is broader than that). The
idea for putting this together came to me whilst reading Katy Pilcher’s article
‘Performing in a Night-Time Leisure Venue: A Visual Analysis of Erotic Dance’. In the paper, Pilcher uses photographs
to elicit attitudes and opinions from the subjects of the photographs. It reminded me of the approaches taken
by artists: sometimes their works suggest a co-authoring between the subject
and object, sometimes the subject in the work is further objectified, sometimes
the role of the subject is embodied.
I have put this list together to try to show this breadth of
approach. The time period in which
the works are created plays a role and I also noticed gender was a significant factor
in the type of approach take. I
shall start by presenting male artists.
I’m using the term ‘artists’ somewhat loosely, as there are practices
here that belong to a photographic tradition rather than something more
conceptually and critically engaged (that also reflects conversations in
image-making, as the time-period of production also bears on the work made).
I love Walter Bird and I went to see his photographs at the archive in the National Media Museum in
Bradford. His photographs create
an undisputable, enchanting glamour.
Sometimes I find myself wanting to reject all objectifying images made
by men of women, but then, I see Walter Bird’s photographs, that are so
powerful, respectful and glamorous and I cannot maintain that critical
position. Something complex more complex is going on. Of course, in Bird's photographs, Hollywood films of the 1930s and the associated film star portraits, women are constructed as glamorous goddesses in lieu of power either in the narrative or in society (see 'Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema by Laura Mulvey). However, this construction of woman-as-image now is a very different thing - can we create a new context for the images and reject the related powerlessness women represented at the time?
I’m not going to add them to the list,
but the other image-makers that fit into this Walter Bird category of, shall we
say, glamorously subjectifiying women are: Guy Bourdain, Helmet Newton and
Howard Hawks. All very much worth
a Google.
Here's some links to Walter Bird photos:
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