Citation

McPherson H. History of Photography 1995; 19(2): 117-120.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1995)

DOI

10.1080/03087298.1995.10442406

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In the spate of publications that has appeared since Diane Arbus's death in 1971. numerous critics have commented upon her freakish subject matter and sought to explicate or neutralize her often disturbing photographs. Moreover, in Arbus's case, her short, intense life and suicide have been fashioned into a potent legend that has tended to obscure rather than illuminate her photographic oeuvre. All too frequently, the work has been 'explained' by constructing Arbus herself as a freak and tragic genius who paid for her art with her life. Viewed from this perspective the 'weirdness' of her photographic subjects, including transvestites, midgets, dwarfs and nudists, is perceived as somehow selfreflexive, while her suicide seemingly attests to her sincerity and compassion. This dubious psycho-biographic take, however, in no way accounts for the extraordinary power and popular appeal of Arbus's photographs, which have been reproduced widely and exhibited all over the world. © 1995 Taylor & Francis Ltd.

Language: en