Desire for the Real in Photography
Abstract/Description/Artist Statement
Corinne Day and Ryan McGinley reveal the impossibility of capturing authenticity in photography due to its constructed nature. As cameras became more accessible in the modern era, people all over the world sought to capture and share realities that were previously unseen. In the 1990s and early 2000s, Day and McGinley emerged as artists a decade and countries apart; separately embarking on this mission to document and illuminate the spontaneous and intimate culture of their respective youths. After an early career that rejected glamour and fantasy in favor of more subtle and natural beauty, Day pivoted to documentary-centered photographs, many of which were published in her 2000 book, Diary. Around this time, 25 year-old McGinley became known in the art scene in downtown Manhattan for his uninhibited photographs of his friends seizing the freedom of their youth with vibrant and cinematic composition. Their different approaches to capturing apparent real life divide critics into those who see sincerity and those who see manipulation. The controversy over their success in capturing reality shows that authenticity in photography is a perpetual but elusive desire, not an inherent quality.
Faculty Advisor/Mentor
Vittorio Colaizzi
Faculty Advisor/Mentor Email
vcolaizz@odu.edu
Faculty Advisor/Mentor Department
Art History
College/School Affiliation
College of Arts & Letters
Student Level Group
Undergraduate
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Desire for the Real in Photography
Corinne Day and Ryan McGinley reveal the impossibility of capturing authenticity in photography due to its constructed nature. As cameras became more accessible in the modern era, people all over the world sought to capture and share realities that were previously unseen. In the 1990s and early 2000s, Day and McGinley emerged as artists a decade and countries apart; separately embarking on this mission to document and illuminate the spontaneous and intimate culture of their respective youths. After an early career that rejected glamour and fantasy in favor of more subtle and natural beauty, Day pivoted to documentary-centered photographs, many of which were published in her 2000 book, Diary. Around this time, 25 year-old McGinley became known in the art scene in downtown Manhattan for his uninhibited photographs of his friends seizing the freedom of their youth with vibrant and cinematic composition. Their different approaches to capturing apparent real life divide critics into those who see sincerity and those who see manipulation. The controversy over their success in capturing reality shows that authenticity in photography is a perpetual but elusive desire, not an inherent quality.