suecrook513802eyv
Level 1 course for BA Photography Degree
express your vision
open college of the arts
Jo Spence - 'Putting Myself in the Picture'
One of my own images influenced by Jo Spence in the above book.
Jo Spence
Having looked at the images and read through this book, I find Jo's work a powerful statement.
Having done my last assignment on self protraits on whats its like to be a carer, it hadnt dawned on me really how my parents felt about their various illnesses. I can understand why my tutor Wendy encouraged me to look at her work as I felt quite umcomfortable 'putting myself in front of the screen'.
Reviewing one of her self portraits -
Bibliography: (No Date) Available at: http://www.tate.org.uk/art/images/work/P/P80/P80410_9.jpg (Accessed: 17 September 2016). In-line Citation:([CSL STYLE ERROR: reference with no printed form.])
Impact of this image?
Whats does this image of Jo say to me? Even without knowing she has been diagnosed with breast cancer, you have the immediate idea that this is what the image is about.
To do a semi-nude self portrait of yourself is brave in the first place but knowing youre breast is going to be removed is a very powerful statement. Having read her autobiography, at the time of this image she was in the NHS system of getting treatment but objected to being referred to as a condition/illness and not as a person, so I think the way she has written 'Property of Jo Spence' onto her breast is her way of rebelling against all this and shouting out 'I am a woman too'.
Does she wear dark glasses because she is shy? or is there also an element of her trying to feel cool too? If you cant see her eyes you cant see her soul? Its her way of feeling braver about it. Most photographers prefer to be behind the lens rather than in front of it.
The image itself is straight to the point, its not a particularly good image and is maybe slightly over exposed, but this image is going for the 'feel' rather than the technique and it does this fantastically.
I've recently done self portraits for my last assignment and found it quite taxing as I had to put quite a bit of myself into the images - again using 'feelings' as an inspiration, which i normally try to keep hidden away. I cant imagine what Jo went though but her images give you a good idea.
I admire Jo's work immensely and am pleased Wendy introduced me to her.