For

Senior Years Students

Curriculum

VCE Art

Aim

To analyse how Cindy Sherman uses staged photography techniques to expose and explore media stereotypes of women.

Preparation

To do this activity you will need:

• Read the information for Theme Nine – Contemporary Art: Between Public and Private.
• View the work either online or in the exhibition.
• clipboard, notepad and pencil, or other means of making notes while in the Gallery.
• a video player and a copy of the film The Truman Show (1998).

Research Questions

To be done before visiting the exhibition

Gender has been critiqued by many female artists throughout time.

• Research the work of artists such as Artemisia Gentileschi, Annette Bezor and Frida Kahlo as well as Cindy Sherman.
• Describe and analyse the different ways these artists use the female form or their depictions of self to challenge their societies’ views of the role of women.
• Compare Cindy Sherman’s Untitled #112 1982 with one of Gentileschi’s or Kahlo’s artwork. This could take the form of a pre- and post-1970s analysis.
• Research Sherman's Untitled (film stills) series. Summarise this series in point form.

Individual Task

To be done during your visit to the exhibition.

• What approach does Sherman use to create a distinctive style and develop aesthetic qualities?
• Look at Untitled #112 1982 carefully. Describe the way Sherman creates her characters.
• Describe what you think Sherman is trying to communicate about the women in this photograph. Refer to Sherman's Untitled (film stills) series in your response.
• Do you think Sherman combines elements of performance within her photographs? Explain your answer.
• How does Sherman's art challenge our view of depictions of women in the media?

Many artists use appropriated images within their artworks. Appropriation is the use of another artist’s artwork in the production of a new artwork.  It is different from copying or forging an artwork as the artist is using the work to express something new.

Do you think Cindy Sherman uses appropriation? Give reasons for your answer.

Group Task

Classroom activity to be done after visiting the exhibition.

Watch the film The Truman Show, 1998. Then discuss the questions below:

• In what ways are the ideas within this film  (The Truman Show) similar to what Sherman is trying to communicate?
• Can these ideas be equated with the emergence and fascination for reality television such as Big Brother, The Biggest Loser etc.
• Compare what you have seen in the film with what you think Cindy Sherman is trying to do in her work.

Discussion Questions

• How does Sherman's work reference depictions of women in the media? Does she appropriate, mimic or rebel against her sources of inspiration? Discuss.