Cindy Sherman

Cynthia Morris Sherman known as Cindy Sherman is an American photographer, born on January, 19 1954 in Glen Ridge, New Jersey. Sherman is best known for her images that showcase her disguised self portraits that comment on social- role playing and sexual stereotypes on women. She enrolled and graduated at the State University of New York at Buffalo and majored in painting later switching her major to photography. Sherman’s best known series was her work on Untitled Films which was a series of 8 x 10 inch black and white photographs that represented Sherman in a variety of roles reminiscent to Film Noir and presented viewers with an ambiguous portrayal of woman as sex objects. Sherman continued to be models in her photographs, donning wigs and costumes that evoke images from the realms of advertising, television, film, fashion and that, in turn, challenge the cultural stereotypes supported by the media. During the 1980s Sherman became less ambiguous, and focused more on society’s acceptance of stereotyped roles for women that upon the roles themselves.

I chose Cindy Sherman as my photographer because I was attracted to her images and how they relate to social roles and stereotypes. She uses self portraits of herself and disguises herself as various imagined characters which I found interesting. This was interesting to me because she didn’t only focus on capturing photographs of her surroundings but she used herself as a woman and disguised herself to fit different characteristics. She also modeled in her own photographs. I also admire her growth from starting out with paintings to elaborating into digital photography. Her use of colour films and large prints along with mutilated bodies that reflected societal issues such as eating disorders, sanity and death. A photographer that is able to use her talent and skills to elaborate and emphasize the importance of social issues and sexual orientations is a photographer that fascinates me. Cindy Sherman represented all those aspects and used her skills in her career to reflect real world issues.

"Spruth Magers"

"Pregnant Woman"

"Madonna"

"Untitled, 2004 "

"Lucille Ball"