Masters of Photography Diane Arbus Part 3

In 1967, when the Museum of Modern Art in New York City presented New Documents -- a major exhibition of the personal visions of several photographers -- the surprise of the show was the work of Diane Arbus. On her own, against the advice of many friends, she had pursued her documentation of people on the fringes of society, and the astonishing in the commonplace. Suddenly she was famous, with students and imitators. By 1972 her work was everywhere, and was featured at the Venice Biennale, where it became, as New York Times critic Hilton Kramer said, the overwhelming sensation of the American Pavilion. But by then Diane Arbus was dead, by her own hand. "Nothing about her life, her photographs or her death was accidental or ordinary," wrote Richard Avedon. "They were mysterious and decisive and unimaginable except to her. Which is the way it is with genius."

This half-hour documentary was made that same year. It explores her work and ideas, often in her own words as spoken by a close friend. It includes reflections by some of the people who knew her best; daughter Doon, teacher Lisette Model, colleague Marvin Israel, and John Szarkowski, at that time the director of the photography department at the Museum of Modern Art.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• masters of photography

[RaymondMcCarron1]

tremendous 3 parter. so so insightful. your videos provide a real education.

all the best,

Raymond.

[Kazanlives]

Yes, intuition and feeling against thought and preconceived ideas. Diane Arbus was absolutely right no to think about the subject she was going to photograph, because prejudice interferes with the process and gets in the way. Thought belongs to the past. Art depends on intuition, not on composition. England needs a John Szarkowski. The Photographers Gallery in London is so decadent, self-indulgent. It never learned from Paris and New York. Raoul Shade, British photojournalist.

[Mcsimonbitz]

@Kazanlives By only following her initial instincts, this actually visualised her prejudices towards them. Had she thought more deeply, perhaps she would have shown her subjects realities rather than just her opinion. she was rarely true to her subjects and she totally exploited them.

[peckerdecker]

@Kazanlives Arbus KNEW what she was doing when making the images.

Arbus selected and edited.

[allrain]

Can anyone write down what Israel says at about 2:00? "You've become an adventure"? "She was in adventure?"

Please, help me! It's for my major degree ;)

[royceicon]

rather interesting