Palmer1

Alannah Palmer
Weigel
ART 3389
2/17/16
Reading Discussion Ch. 2 and 3
2. Why is it significant that the scale of photography changed in the mid 1990s?
I think during the 90s, photography was more available to the people as they connected
with events, such as the Gulf War and bombings in Oklahoma City, through the use of the
computer. The computer was able to connect the pictures taken at different parts of the world and
in the different dangerous situations that people faced and unite the people of the world.
Photography in the 90s dramatically changed how we found out about current events.
3. What is deadpan photography and who are the founding photographers of this movement?
Defend why you think deadpan photography i s or is not an important way of making images.
Deadpan photography is basically placing your subject smack dab in the middle of the
photos composition. Bernd and Hilla Becher, Andreas Gursky, August Sander, Erwin
Blumenfeld, and Albert Renger-Patsch are the founding fathers of the Deadpan movement.
Deadpan photography is a very important form of art because it caputers the raw, realistic society
we all live in. Andreas Gurskys photos of the supermarket filled to the brim chalk full of goods
represents the rise of commercialism and the driving force of materialism that multimillion
companies produce for humanity every day. Deadpan photography shows you the issues nobody
wants to talk about in an abrupt fashion that forces you to look.

Palmer2

Katharina Bosse Classroom

Classroom, on the left, demonstrates the painterly style of photography by the image
quality and focus to detail on the chalkboard and the wood background. At first glance I thought
that the image was a drawing instead of a photo; I enjoy the tromp loeil effect of this
photograph. The highlights and shadows of this composition bring forth the textures in each
element of the piece enhancing its painterly technique. Bosse wanted to capture an imaginary
scene that people use when they daydream about clich sexual fantasies. I think that Bosse
wanted to capture the office in this lighting because she wanted to give this office a mysterious
yet warm and enticing environment. By brightening the images of knowledge, the friendly
relationship between a student and professor is compromised by the enticing, secretiveness of the
other side of the room.
Desiree Dolron Cerca Paseo de Marti
Cerca Paseo de Marti is a historical narrative showcasing an empty lecture room with
evidence of Communistic teachings with Fidel Castros face right next to the board. Dolron
wants the views to think about what the people who just heard the lecture witness and what was
said to them while they sat in those chairs. I believe Dolron captured the essence of a photo and a
painting in the same shot due to the light and texture of the background wall. The coloring of the
photo also makes me think of a painting due to what would be the brush strokes on the wall
above the chalkboard. The attention to detail is remarkable and it makes me want to look at the
photo all day.