© from the New York Times
© from the New York Times
Spurred on by articles in the New York Times on the new Bob Dylan movie and the casting for the Biggie Smalls film I have been thinking about celebrity likeness or dislikeness. Our fascination with celebrity never seems to dissipate even if the likeness is not the best. I had mentioned this idea early this summer in talking about Greta Pratt’s piece 19 Lincoln’s. What I find most interesting about this new set of “biopics” is the interest in style over accuracy. This formula sometimes does not make the most interesting film as was the case in Marie Antoinette.
Dianne Weist in Edward Scissorhands, 1990
© Cindy Sherman, Untitled
One of the things I was wondering about in photography is if accuracy matters in the face of being “artsy.” I may be the only one that sees the likeness between Dianne Weist’s character in Edward Scissorhands and this Cindy Sherman picture some years later, or was it somewhat of an inspiration for the Sherman piece.
What I do see in many of the retakes of celebrities of our popular cultural is reverence. But what about cold reverence for a photographer that decontextualizes in the first place. Is Duane Michals mad that Cindy Sherman’s pieces sell for more than his or is he just playing?
© Cindy Sherman, Untitled Film Still #13, 1978
© Duane Michals, Who is Sidney Sherman?, 2000