C&N Coursework, Context & Narrative Blog, HNC Photography, Part 4: Reading Photographs, Photographers C&N, Project 2: Reading pictures, Research & Reflection C&N
Jeff Wall’s: Insomnia (1994)
Example of how to read an image
The course notes point us to OCA tutors Sharon Boothroyds 500 word interpretation of Jeff Wall’s Insomnia.
This is an inciteful read, as gives a practical demonstration of what we should be looking for in our upcoming assignment. In a concise 500 words, she covers the formal Denotation and personal connotations of the image – even from her point of view being able to add her personal experience of insomnia. Also tying and explaining Shakespeare use of insomnia as a plot devise to explain other mental issues. The 500 words also adds a context to the artist work in the larger art universe.
This is just as effective as the Arbus essay in the previous post and also points that whole books can be written about similar images.
My take away from she is to structure of description in formal manner things back to recognised and referencable sources, just like did for IFC.
References
Boothroyd, S. (2012). Beneath the surface. [online] #weareoca. Available at: https://weareoca.com/subject/photography/beneath-the-surface/ [Accessed 19 Oct. 2018].