Planning for Personal Project (Research)

Marilyn Monroe
Cindy Sherman took inspiration from this specific pose from a film still which Marilyn Monroe was in. I think the reason why Cindy chose this image was because it's very feminine and every males dream woman. However, because of her position and facial features it suggests that again woman were seemed as an object rather than a human being. So, personally I think Cindy tried to show how woman were objectified without anyone noticing.

Here, Cindy remade the shots again inspired by Marilyn. Here it shows Monroe posing for pictures in New York (a busy city). It shows here beauty and how she's casually walking through New York as if she's an ordinary person. I think Cindy here was inspired by how casual she is but because back in the 40's woman stars were more about appearance rather than their talent. I believe Sherman is trying to suggest that the appearance of a woman over powers her talent and role.

Cindy Sherman
Within this shot Sherman was inspired by Sophia Loren's famous shower shots. I can tell she was influenced by Sophia because Marilyn tends to look away from the camera whereas Sophia looks directly at it because she's known to be an independent, strong, female character which was quite rare to see back then.

Within these two bottom images she was mostly influenced by Marilyn. I can tell this by the hair style and make up used. Especially the coloured picture. The way she's sat leaning her body forward was exactly how Marilyn was known- her lean forward. She's trying to show that women use their bodies to get attention rather than there voices.

Sophia Loren
Unlike Monroe, Sophia Loren is very independent, strong minded and controls her attention by the looks she gives. I think Loren's green eyes did the bright work for as, she knew how powerful her eyes were within the media and took advantage by staring into the camera. This look makes the viewer draw into the image and makes you feel apart of it. The feeling of these images is that she's very superior within the female category of actresses.


However here, ben though she's looking away, the stance of her body is very straight and prominent as if she's in charge. Also here arms and legs are very tight towards her body, this conveys that she is in charge of who speaks to her and doesn't allow anyone in.

The reason why I think Cindy chose both of these icons is because they're both strong in different ways. Monroe for her body and Loren for her stare, eyes and stance. Cindy chose these to suggests power within the women roles, even though women were shown to be objects and alienated from the world, these women shown independence and superiority. Especially knowing Cindy is a feminist, she was inspired by these women for being strong.
So, within my photography I'm going to use the role of a strong 40's/50's woman in the style of these idols.