Selfie: Week 1

 

A Mom

Susan Sontag, "On Photography"

1. "To collect photographs is to collect the world."

This quote stood out to me the most because when we take photos we do it to capture memories or to remember a special milestone or place. With this, we "collect the world" because we are taking pictures of things that exist in this world. No matter what it is that we are capturing, we are capturing a photo of something in this world and that is added into our collection forever.

2. "Photographs furnish evidence."

This quote can be taken quite literally because in the courts, photographs can be used as evidence in a case. Without evidence, there is no proof to defend your stance in a case. And outside of the courts, people usually only believe things that they physically have seen or heard themselves. With photographs though, although it furnishes evidence, it can usually be shown in the photographer's truth meaning photographs can be manipulated.

Jacqui Palumbo, "Revisiting Carrie Mae Weem's Landmark "Kitchen Table Series""

1. "Weems's black-and-white photographs are like mirrors, each reflecting a collective experience..."

This quote shows that whenever someone looks at her series, people will be able to relate to her work that she is showing. It should make people feel like they are looking at themselves in a mirror once they look at her photographs. Her work demonstrates her life, but also women in general and all the roles they have.

2. "It's not just about Black women; it's white women, Asian women."

This quote shows that while Carrie Mae Weems was making photography that represented Black women, which was rare, she also wanted to show the viewpoint of women in the world. Everybody could relate to her photos, regardless of race and sex. Men can look at her work and relate it back to their own mothers, sisters, wives, or friends that can be seen going through roles that Carrie portrays.