In "America, Seen Through Photographs, Darkly," Sontag analyzes (and critiques) a retrospective of the photographer Diane Arbus, whose work she compares and contrasts with Edward Steichen. While both Steichen and Arbus present images of individuals outside of any historical or political context, Sontag argues that Steichen focuses on the positive aspects of this human condition whereas Arbus focuses on those grotesque, uncomfortable universal realities.
For this blog post, look at the more recent photographs by Jana Romanova. From your point of view, do these photographs have more in common with Sontag's description of Steichen or Arbus? Why? In your explanation, use a quote from Sontag's essay.
I think the pictures by Jana Romanova have more in common with Sontag’s description of Steichen than Arbus. Romanova’s pictures are of people who are all enduring pregnancy. These people are all different when it comes to physical appearance and background, but they all share a similarity that unifies them. This is similar to how Sontag describes Edward Steichen’s “The Family Man” exhibit. She states, “Steichen’s choice of photographs assumes a human condition or a human nature shared by everybody. By purporting to show that individuals are born, work, laugh, and die everywhere in the same way” (pg 33). Even though what is considered beauty is different among people, Romanova’s pictures depict a sense of beauty rather than discomfort or oddity. This is what makes Romanova’s photographs unlike Arbus’s work. Arbus took photographs of people that she saw as bizarre. She created pictures that seemed to be awkward and bring a sense of discomfort. Even the way Romanova and Arbus took the pictures differs. While Romanova wanted to capture her subjects in a natural state, Arbus wanted her subjects to pose and look straight at the camera. When comparing Steichen and Arbus, Sontag states that they “both render history and politics irrelevant. One does so by universalizing the human condition, into joy; the other by atomizing it, into horror” (pg 33). When analyzing Romnova’s photographs, I do not feel any disgust from the pictures. Although, one might consider people in their natural state without makeup and not being dressed up as unflattering; however, even in that case, these pictures still bring forth the feeling of joy more rather than horror. Therefore, I believe Romanova’s photographs are more like Steichen’s than Arbus’s.
ReplyDeleteBy looking at Jana Romanova's recent photographs, I believe that she has more in common with Steichen. Romanova's photographs of the soon to be- parents while sleeping, captures them in their natural state and allows the viewers to see beauty in something so natural, as sleeping. Sontag states that "Steichen's choice of photographs assumes human condition or a human nature shared by everybody", which everybody sleeps, and most women will have experienced pregnancy(pg. 33). Steichan photographs everyday life in different aspects that we don't still to appreciate. Arbus' work was described as capturing those who are "pathetic, pitiable, as well as repulsive", which does not come close to what Jana Romanova has captured in her photographs(pg. 33). Steichen and Romanova both capture the beauty of simplicity of life.
ReplyDeleteThe photographs by Jana Romanova have more in common with Sontag's description of Steichen, not Arbus. According to Sontag, Steichen's photographs "assumes a human condition or a human nature shared by everybody" (p. 33) and "[makes] it possible for each viewer to identify with a great many of the people depicted" (p. 32). Romanova's photographs capture sleeping parents-to-be, which is a human condition that many may experience in their lifetime. While each couple is sleeping in different positions, beds, and clothing, each couple is sleeping together in a bed and all couples are sound asleep. Sontag states that Arbus' work contained "assorted monsters and borderline cases–most of them ugly; wearing grotesque or unflattering clothing; in dismal or barren surroundings–who have paused to pose and, often, to gaze frankly, confidentially at the viewer" (p. 32). In Romanova's photographs, the couples are not posing or locking eyes with the viewer. While the photographs might not idealize the concept of pregnancy, they do not demonize it either. Rather, Romanova's photographs expose the natural truth of pregnancy. Not every couple cuddles, wears similar clothing, or have the same bed or belongings. Viewers can sympathize with the couples, which is what Steichen was trying to capture in his photographs and what Romanova captures in hers.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Jana Romanova’s pictures have more in common with Sontag’s description of Steichen rather than her description of Arbus. Jana’s pictures depict a sense of vulnerability, innocence, and beauty of un-posed couples sleeping. She captures moments between the couples in their unique natural state. Sontag describes Steichen’s photographs, “ …to prove that humanity is ‘one’ and that human beings, for all their flaws and villainies, are attractive creatures” (pg. 32) and “Steichen’s choice of photographs assumes a human condition or a human nature shared by everybody” (pg. 33). Jana’s pictures show beauty in “sleeping parents-to-be” engaging in the physiological need, sleeping, that is shared with all of humanity.
ReplyDeleteJana Romanova’s photographs relate more to Sontag’s description of Edward Steichen’s photography. Romanova’s photos in her collection “Waiting” include pregnant couples sleeping. This collection is interesting because Romanova captures peaceful moments of men and pregnant women sleeping. The couples were not awakened, nor asked to pose for the photos. Instead, Romanova would sneak into the rooms of the couples and snap the photos before they awakened. Romanova’s photography reveals couples sleeping in diverse ways. The simplicity, diversity, and innocence of the couples sleeping are what make Romanova’s photographs unique. Romanova’s photos are more comparable to those of Steichen’s because “Steichen’s choice of photographs assumes a human condition or a human nature shared by everybody” (page 33). Sleeping is a necessity in order to sustain life; every human must sleep. However, Romanova’s photos indicate that though it is human nature to sleep, there is not a universal way to do it. The photos show that each couple has their own manner of sleeping, therefore, making these photos special and beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThe pictures of Jana Romanova depict of a couple sleeping in the same bed and the woman is pregnant in each picture. The idea of these photographs is looking at the differences of these couples in the picture, but share a common ground. They are all expecting a baby. Romanova’s pictures relate more to the work of Steichen. Sontage states, “Steichen’s choice of photographs assumes a human condition or a human nature shared by everybody”(page 33). This is the exact way that Romanova wanted to depict in these photos of these pregnant women. Steichen admires the human condition. Sontag describes, “Arbus pictures have the subjects looking straight into the camera and wants them to be as fully as conscious as possible”(page 137). This differs from Steichen’s work. Arbus pictures are planned out and posed; Steichan’s are genuine and relaxed. Similar to Steichen, Romanova realizes her friends are getting pregnant, she wanted to see the turn it takes in their lives and took these pictures to symbolize the waiting game.
ReplyDeleteJana Romanova’s pictures reflect Sontag’s description of Steichen rather than Arbus. These photographs depict natural beauty, innocence, and the vulnerability of human nature. In reference to Steichen’s photographs Sontag states, “ …to prove that humanity is ‘one’ and that human beings, for all their flaws and villainies, are attractive creatures” (pg. 32). Conversely, Sontag describes the subject of Arbus' photographs as "assorted monsters and borderline cases–most of them ugly; wearing grotesque or unflattering clothing; in dismal or barren surroundings–who have paused to pose and, often, to gaze frankly, confidentially at the viewer" (p. 32. With this quote it is easy to see that Romanova's photographs are opposite of those captured by Arbus in almost every way. The subjects of Romanova's photographs are natural and not posed, yet still beautiful and delicate.
ReplyDeleteEdward Steichen and Diane Arbus's portrayal of photography differ; Steichen's exhibit "Family of Man" aims to define humanity as "one", and show that human beings are attractive even through their imperfections and differences. In contrast, Arbus's photographs try to illustrate a separation in humanity due to "freakish" and abnormal characteristics of individuals. Though they both depict history and politics, “one does so by universalizing the human condition, into joy; the other by atomizing it, into horror (Sontag, 33).” Jane Romanova’s photographs show a natural beauty which most can identify with. It is only human to reproduce and so is to cherish pregnancy; therefore, Romanova’s photographs resemble Steichen’s notion of “oneness” in humanity. Being able to identify oneself with a photograph does not mean the world has one identity, but it signifies the common thread within the diversity that exists between individuals. Figuratively speaking, America is not a melting pot; people do not blend in, nor society has one identity. Yet, we can see America as a jazz song where everyone plays a different instrument in a solo and still achieve a harmony. Steichen can also be referring to pluralism, where his pictures can aim to end conflict by educating individuals in other people’s culture, or way of life, and find it beautiful.
ReplyDeleteJana Romanova’s photographs have more in common with Sontag’s description of Stiechen. Their work focuses on the positive aspects of humans and our nature. Sontag states, “Steichen’s choice of photographs assumes a human condition or a human nature shared by everybody” (p.33). Capturing couples, who are expecting a baby, in their time of relaxation, gives the viewers a heartwarming feeling because many people share this experience. It is nice to see photographs of people in their natural state rather than posing in positions one would not normally be in.
ReplyDeleteJana Romanova captures photographs of forty beautiful couples who are all expecting a child. This project first started when all of her close friends became pregnant, in order for her to get use to this new change in her life, she started taking photographs of them so that she could grasp this natural change. From my view point this beautiful photographs have more in common with Sontag’s description of Steichen. “Steichen’s choice of photographs assumes a human condition or a human nature shared by everybody. By purporting to show that individuals are born, work, laugh, and die everywhere in the same way (page 33).” To me, this is what Jana Romanova is saying in her pictures. Child birth is a very natural thing, it’s actually expected by many when a couple either married or together for quite some time. Arbus is the exact opposite, instead of showing joy in her photographs she shows the ugliness and horrors of humanity. Humanity can be very ugly, there are some cruel people that live on this earth, but child birth is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Jana Romanova’s photographs depict Sontag’s description of Edward Steichen’s over Arbus. These pictures shed light on the positive, natural, and beautiful aspects of the human condition during pregnancy and as well as the sleep cycle. Sontag describes Steichen’s photography as that which “assumes a human condition or a human nature shared by everybody” (pg. 33). Romanova captured the beauty of several soon-to-be couples in a sleeping state as physiological need, which is shared by all humanity. The photographs also capture the human need of a partner and embrace the reality of an un-posed, un-expecting glimpse into one of the most intimate aspects shared by a couple. Although some may be upset or turned away from these photographs and analyze them as grotesque, the beauty lies in the vulnerability captured in each.
ReplyDeleteAfter looking at Jana Romanova’s series of photographs I think that her work has more in common with Diane Arbus’ point of view on art. While the photographs are beautiful in their own way, Romanova has chosen to capture a decidedly non-beautiful moment in these people’s lives. They are not aware the photographer is taking their picture, they’ve had no chance to make themselves look presentable, or clean up their surroundings. Not to mention the fact that Romanova is photography pregnant women, who I can almost guarantee are not feeling beautiful at that moment. But I think that this is part of the purpose of her series. She is not allowing her subjects to stage any part of their lives and it is her job to capture the ugly, yet beautiful mess that is life.
ReplyDeleteAs Sontag says, “…the American arts-notably photography-now aspired to do the demystifying” (Pg. 27). It is a common theme that is seen throughout social media today, people only displaying their most perfect images. The ones that have been posed, cropped, and filtered. Those pictures aren’t real life. But the images that Romanova presents us are real and they’re not always pretty, but that is what makes them beautiful.
I think that Romanova’s photographs are more similar to Sontag’s description of Edward Steichen’s photographs rather than Diane Arbus’s. When comparing the two photographers, Steichen and Arbus, Sontag says, “One does so by universalizing the human condition, into joy; the other by atomizing it, into horror” (Page 33). Romanova’s photographs of pregnant couples are not at all horrid, rather they are joyful as pregnancy is a beautiful thing. Sontag also describes Steichen’s photographs as optimistic, as he tried to find attractiveness and humanity within all of his work, similarly to Romanova. Another difference between Arbus and Romanova is that Romanova didn’t want the couples to pose so she took the pictures while she was sleeping. Arbus wanted her subjects to pose to make them look more awkward and grotesque. Romanova’s photographs are the complete opposite of Arbus’s.
ReplyDeleteSontag describes Arbus' ultimate purpose as "concentrating on victims, on the unfortunate- but without the compassionate purpose that such a project is expected to serve” (pg. 33) Unlike Arbus, Romanova’s project of sleeping parents-to-be came with purpose. She developed this project in order to relate to her friends that were to become parents. Romanova was able to capture couples in an intimate and vulnerable state which makes these photos even more touching. Although there are many people who may not necessarily see a pregnant woman as beautiful, many can agree that pregnancy in itself is breathtaking. The creation of life leaves many in awe and creates a sort of wonderment. Romanova showed the human condition in a very real sense. Her subjects may not have been glamorous but they were most certainly real.
ReplyDeleteI think that Jana Romanova's photographs are more similar to her description of Steichen rather than Arbus. Sontag states on page 33 "Steichen's choice of photographs assumes a human condition or human nature shared by everybody. By purporting to show that individuals are born, work, laugh, and die everywhere in the same way". I think that this really relates to Romanova's photos because it shows that all of these different couples who are expecting children are all alike. They may be different personality wise, but they are all the same when it comes to expecting children.
ReplyDeleteThe photographs by Jana Romanova have more in common with Sontag's description of Steichen, not Arbus. According to Sontag, Steichen's photographs "assumes a human condition or a human nature shared by everybody" [33]. Though these photographs we clearly see neither of these people hare physical or any type of similarity; however we can clearly see that their only similarity and bond shared is that of the chance of becoming new parents. In these photographs, we see different forms of sleeping patterns that these new parents to be encounter during pregnancy. I believe this is a beautiful thing to see because we can see that many individuals go through the same experiences differently yet have the same expectancy of having similarities and differences. These parents to be all only have parenthood as a similarity yet they all have a different way t=of sleeping trough it.
ReplyDeleteJana Romanova's photographs of the expecting couples sleeping were more associated with Steichen because Steichen's photographs are about a "different idea of the beautiful photograph". I think the photographs captured by Romanova were very unique, pregnancy is a beautiful concept, but many people struggle with finding the beauty, especially the women while they are pregnant. I think these photographs capture the women's vulnerability and shows the reality of being pregnant and how each couple goes through the experience differently. Arbus's photographs were more centered around flaws and ugliness whereas Steichen and Romanova captured beauty.
ReplyDeleteFrom my point of view, these photographs have more in common with Sontag's description of Steichen. The pictures captures the beautiful and romantic part of being a couple. I see everyone is different, but what they see in their partner is the same, a loving caring person. On page 28, in Whitman's words, "each precise object or condition or combination or process exhibits a beauty." A picture can be of a wolf devouring it's prey, which is a beauty of nature and not picture of a poor animal being eating alive. Beauty is what Steichen and Romanova pictures are meant to capture.
ReplyDeleteJane Romanova’s photographs correlate more with that of Sontag’s description of Steichen’s work. His photographs were meant for the audience to feel as “one”, and, as Sontag describes, “that human beings, for all their flaws and villainies, are attractive creatures” (32). In Romanova’s pictures, the couples offer a glimpse into their pregnancy period which is equally a beautiful moment in both the woman and man’s life. Regardless of their appearance, she was able to capture couple’s in such a natural state, which is a peaceful one because the photographs were taken while they were sleeping. Unlike Steichen, Arbus fixated on the “people who are pathetic, pitiable, as well as repulsive, but it does not arouse any compassionate feelings”, which one does not feel when viewing Romanova’s photo’s. There is also a sense of unity as well as diversity as Romanova mentions, because although each photo captures each couple sleeping, what they’re wearing is different, not one couple is in the same sleeping position but there is a harmonious feel one acquires when viewing these pictures because sleeping is an action everyone takes a part of. Steichen’s photos essentially gave the same impression, with the viewers feeling in unison as human beings.
ReplyDeleteJana Romanova's series more closely relates to positive feelings of modern Russian families who are expecting a new addition. I believe Romanova’s style matches most closely to that of Steichen’s photography. Romanova felt challenged by the recent influx of pregnancy her friends experienced. She used her conundrum as a means to create art. Romanova did so by photographing expecting couples in the early morning while they were still asleep. Catching a moment in the early morning where only light and the softest breathing are witnessed brought forth a beautiful series that captured the innocence of a loving family. According to Sontag, “There is probably no subject that cannot be beautified; moreover, there is no way to suppress the tendency inherent in all photographs to accord value to their subject” (p. 28). In cases where I have put sincere effort into my photography, I found that lighting was a key element to convey emotion. Romaova uses light strategically. She took the everyday lives of couples and beautified a common action.
ReplyDeleteJana Romanova’s photography series titled “Waiting” relate more to Sontag’s description of Edward Steichen’s photography. On page 33, Sontag states that “Steichen’s choice of photographs assumes a human condition or a human nature shared by everybody”. Romanova photographs parents-to-be in the comfortable setting of their own bed. Their laying positions are completely natural and they are wearing what they feel most comfortable in. This organic setting is relatable and brings out a comforting, joyful feeling. Sontag goes on to state that Steichen’s photography shows everyone is “born, work, laugh, and die” (33). Ramonova’s photographs of the parents-to-be conveys the same message that Steichen’s photography by proving that humanity is one and human beings in their natural state and beautiful and should be celebrated.
ReplyDeleteJana Romanova photographs have a relates closely with Sontag's description of Steichen. A quote that relates more to Romanova's photography, due to the similarities that families facing important in their everyday living, "...photographs assumes a human condition or a human nature shared by everyone. By purporting to show that individuals are born, work, laugh, and die everywhere in the same way." Everyone has experience birth, happiness, death and an obligation in their lives, regardless of their personality.
ReplyDeleteThe photographs by Jana Romanova embody the concept of beauty. The photographs relate to the description of Steichen provided by Sotang. The photographs show us that at the end we are all just humans with no differences. Steichen's work display one of the many characteristics of humans which include being "born, work, laugh, and die". In this case is the process of reproduction is shown. This is part of "the human nature shared by everybody" (33). Romanova's photographs are powerful since they show us the subjects in the vulnerable moments, however it also shows us they beauty of love in the subject's most natural state. While sleeping there is no expectation of what other people or society might think. These pictures universalize the human condition into joy and renders history and politics irrelevant (33).
ReplyDeleteJana Romanova's photography has more in common with Sotag's description of Edward Steichen. "Steichen's choice of photography assumes a human condition or human nature shared by everybody" (pg.33). Romanova's photography captures sleeping couples who are unaware of the moment of which they are being photographed, which also gives them no time to get ready, pose, or make eye contact. These couples all have something in common; a pregnancy, which is a part of human nature. They are all expecting a soon to be born child, which in my opinion is a beautiful part of human nature. Romanova's photography was very distinct from Sotag's description of Arbus's work because Arbus's "work shows people who are pathetic, pitiable, as well as repulsive, but it does not arouse any compassionate feelings" (pg.33). Also the people who were photographed by Arbus would also look right at the camera which is quite the opposite of Jana Romanova's photography.
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