Reflection: Richard Avedon Darkness and Light AMD 105
The “Richard Avedon Darkness and Light” film conveyed this artist’s–mentioned in the title–journey through photography. Throughout, he deals with the contradictory nature and theme of human beings which is often portrayed throughout his work while also using this medium in such a way that his own self is reflected and perceived. When I was watching, there was a strong sense of determination and a whole act of really throwing oneself into the thick of it to the point of insanity. Similarly, there was passion and this idea of upheavals and downfalls that couldn’t be concealed. It was a very compelling story and it really took me on a journey. He dived into the very intimate territories of people which reminded me of the street photography documentary that we watched a while back. One of the parts that piqued my interest and held my attention was his decision to portray a more unflattering, darker side of people’s personas. Made clear in the film was the fact that people have multiple personas and traits about them that aren’t necessarily privy to everyone for a myriad of reasons. The complexity and the texture made them so human and interesting as a character which is something that I really enjoyed. Another instance that caught my attention concerned the movement of fabric and the subject within fashion. It was beautiful and compelling. Personally, there is something so appealing about fabrics and how they fold when in motion. It was definitely satisfying and invoked some motivation for studying fabric and how they can contribute to an image’s composition as well as simply how it bends and softens at different points. It’s always been something of interest. They mention that he highlights this idea of “buying this feeling” and I can definitely perceive that intention which compels me to look and observe. I mentioned this a little bit earlier in the brief two-sentence summary, but it’s very interesting that there is this indirect self-portraitist that is displayed in his work. It made me think of how one’s work can be differentiated from others or recognizable between past and future works despite changes in method and medium. Overall, the documentary invoked some thoughts that had slipped my mind or one’s that I haven’t explored too deeply yet. It also motivated me to think about other aspects and delve into art with a more determined attitude which is something that can often get lost when I’m busy with other things. (441 words)
