Was invited to participate in a photo shoot

[Mz Pip]

A young woman taking photography classes asked our group if we would be willing to be subjects for a project she is doing for a photography class. she wants to show "real" women 35 or older in 2 portraits - one with make-up, sort of straightforward, looking nice. Then she wants to have us remove all of our make-up and revisit a time when we were really angry and take that portrait.

My question: Why do we have to be angry to be "real?" Am I vain because I really don't want to be uglied up for the sake of reality?

I'm ambivelent about doing this. I want to help a young artist out, but I am not by nature an angry person, so focusing on some moment in time when I was angry and be photographed that way feels kind of weird.

What would you do?

[Mira]

1. Interesting Dilemma first thing in the morning

I think this young woman would need to explain to me exactly what is her intention, how will she be presenting this (words about the emotion portrayed)
and I would question her about her own belief about women and their strengths.

After that I would evaluate the project based on the answers, and then either give her a good consciousness raising and walk away if necessary, or help her frame the project in such a way that no one would/could perceive it as sexist.

Glad you asked
:rofl:

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

2. why are angry and pretty different?

seems like a hatchet job project to me

[bluedigger]

3. I wouldn't question her artistic vision.

It's her project, not yours, and up to her to make it work. She needs subjects and thinks you would be a good one. If you agree, you should do your best to follow her directions. If you aren't comfortable with doing that, just graciously decline, and save both of you from unnecessary angst.:shrug:

[Mira]

4. AH! It may not be prevention of "Angst" - it may be perpetuation of a "Myth"

Here is the Myth that helps keeps women down.

An angry woman is an ugly woman.

(i.e.
Here is what we are taught:
Don't make a woman angry, because it also makes her ugly.
An ugly woman is not a high prized member of society
A woman who has been made angry will therefore become ugly and less valuable
Women need to hide their anger so they don't become ugly.)


We women cannot to this to each other.
That's where the consciousness raising comes in. When it comes to our self worth and our standing in society women have to teach each other and be models for each other.




the photo of me from last year proves that the many times I have been angry in my long life have not made me ugly, just stronger.
Edited to add:
that ledge is one of the few places I did not take my camera to for fear of getting distracted enough to fall, I left it with my companion who took this photo.

[bluedigger]

5. Again, if Mz Pip is uncomfortable with it, she should decline.

Art is art. Interpretation is in the eye of the beholder. I don't care for a lot of artist's work for various reasons, sometimes including their social commentary. I would not presume to influence or discourage them in their creative process, however, as long as there was no foreseeable imminent danger to themselves or others.

The critique of their finished work, if they choose to share it, is a better time to provide constructive feedback. I understand your concerns in this instance, and generally agree, but don't you think anger can also demonstrate strength? If it were me, I would probably decline, as I would not feel obligated to enable a project to which I was philosophically opposed, but I would leave it at that.

[Mira]

7. Many would not feel free to voice it or even notice a perpetuation

of the "Myth".
Subconscious re-enforcements happens while we are not paying attention.
I can't be cavalier about the job I have to do to do as a woman, which includes to reject a premise of:
Make-up and nice = pretty
No make-up and angry = ugly

I do nevertheless fully understand your words, and in a world with an unwavering premise of equality I would easily be able to just as fully agree.

[alfredo]

8. Determination can look like anger. How the person is posed

will tell the tale.




Write your own myth. Righteous rage can be beautiful. Strength is beautiful.

[Mz Pip]

6. Interesting point.

She asked this artists' group I'm in - mostly women over 50. She's probably in her early 20s.

And you may be right about the "myth" of an angry woman being an ugly woman. Maybe that's a myth that I've bought into for my whole life. It was my initial reaction - no makeup and angry would not make me look very good. Many of the other women seemed skeptical, too.

Interesting thing to think about...

[bluedigger]

9. The artist's desire to contrast is troubling.

The dichotomy between beauty and anger does seem to play into the myth that Mira objects to. But I'm not the artist, or privy to her intent.:shrug:

[madmax]

11. If I were in the group I would have to ask her

to further explain her vision and what she was trying to capture. Then I would decide to participate or not. The anger = ugly vs. happy = pretty, sounds like something put forward by men. Apologies to any guys on this thread :evilgrin:

When I was younger I never left the house without make-up. I'm older now and most times I go without make-up. Who cares. WYSIWYG

[Mz Pip]

12. I am always willing to encourage

and support young artists and would probably dive right in if it were any emotion other than anger. I just kind of cringed, probably due to decades of conditioning about women/anger.

[madmax]

10. Great pic

makes me realize how inconsequential we are in the grand scheme of things. I copied this pic to remind myself that 'I' am not all that important. You know what I mean.

[bluedigger]

13. I wanted to comment on your photo too, Mira.

It's really neat! If you were angry in it though, that doesn't obviously convey, at least to me, although I can see it, if that is what you were. (-1 for awkward sentence construction:) )

I have repelled from helicopters, mountain climbed, etc... and that is some serious exposure!:scared: I'm not sure I would have gone out there without being roped up. Maybe if I was really, really angry.:rofl:

[Mira]

14. My Mom almost died when she saw it!

(but it is hanging in a small frame in her bathroom)

I posted it on a self-serving whim, with a smile, thinking how one can't tell a damn thing from it about pretty/make-up/ugly/angry/scared.
Just "doing".

Sedona
Cathedral Rock
Very tough climb

[madmax]

15. Not traveling with either of you!

I like it here on stable earth where I just put one foot in front of the other. Ok, I'm lazy, too. :rofl:

[bluedigger]

16. but...but...but...

You're madmax!:rofl:

[dixiegrrrrl]

17. down south, when a woamn is being "irritated" by someone or something, they say

" I don't want to sound/ be ugly, BUT........................" ( then voice the complaint.)
Or they will say " I don't want to be ugly about it, but............"

I have never heard a man say that down here.

[postatomic]

18. She should hire models

If she wants staged images.

I think a more interesting project would be a reversal of what this young student wants to do. Show the anger in the one with make-up, looking nice, as you put it.