The Life and Works of Cindy Sherman

Paper Summary:

This paper looks at the work of Cindy Sherman, a famous American photographic artist. It explains that the main focus of her work is herself. By turning the camera on herself, she symbolizes the complexity of being female through images that simultaneously shock and challenge the viewer. The writer points out that, by creating close-up images, she succeeds in creating a sensation of exaggerated nearness, yet dispels any feeling of closeness or intimacy. Her work creates a tension between familiarity and strangeness. The question of female identity is also a central concern that is explored.

From the Paper:

"Sherman rarely grants interviews and seldom allows herself to be photographed out of character. Her work has been exhibited in more than 75 solo and as part of over 150 group exhibitions. Sixty-four museums collect her prints. Today, her prints sell for between $20,000 and $50,000. A print from the Untitled Film Stills series was recently auctioned by Christie's for a record $190,000 - an unprecedented figure for a living artist/photographer. In 1996, New York's Museum of Modern Art paid $US1-million for the complete Untitled Film Stills series."

More papers on The Life and Works of Cindy Sherman:

• Analytical Essay # 213 : " The Life and Works of William Styron"
• Essay # 53644 : "The Life and Works of Michelangelo"
• Analytical Essay # 28602 : "The Life and Works of Elizabeth Bishop"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: