Cindy Sherman

In this ‘Untitled Film Stills’ series of photographs, Cindy Sherman worked to create her own sequence of still images, shot not to form a linear narrative but instead, each image was created to convey just a hint of the world of a different fictional film, allowing the viewer to create their own personal narrative associated to each individual image.

Untitled Film Still #17, 1978.

The series are comprised of only self-portraits however not auto-biographical Sherman plays out her own ambiguous characters drawn from cinema. Taking inspiration from certain films, directors and actors from the 1950’s through 1970’s.

“Untitled Film Still #63”, 1980.

In creating the series, Sherman allowed for women ‘in film’ to be portrayed by a woman, that was previously very uncommon much of cinema had previously allowed. In an industry dominated by men, much of what was written for women felt inaccurate to her experience as a woman.

By mimicking the character archetypes in film, she poses as female characters written often rather two-dimensionally and inaccurately by men. Taking inspiration from various films, directors and actors from the 1950’s through 1970’s.

Mimicking feminist essentialism. That follows the idea that to be seen as worthy women must adhere to a long list of nonsensical standards (pretty, put together, cook, clean, care for men – unrealistic sexist standards)

Sherman’s work ultimately questions the metaphysics surrounding gender. Basically, why we think the way we do and why we do. The same questions raised by myself as a child questioning gender expectations and expression. I still don’t have any answers to this, aside from the fact we live in a patriarchal world with set systems in place as to protect the way things are.