Untitled (Commencement, Mather House, Harvard University) Jun-72

Curator: This black and white photograph by Elsa Dorfman captures a commencement at Mather House, Harvard University. It has an intimate, almost voyeuristic quality, wouldn't you agree? Editor: Yes, the grain and starkness of the image are captivating. The folding chairs and picnic tables suggest a provisional, almost working-class intrusion onto the hallowed grounds. Curator: Indeed, the image challenges the idealized vision of elite academic spaces. The graduation gown cast aside on the chair, the woman with her dark glasses: all suggest the realities behind the pageantry. Editor: Right, and consider the material culture present: The humble folding chairs and can of soda disrupt the expected aristocratic display. It's about the lived experience, the labor behind the pomp. Curator: It's a fascinating look at how social rituals can be reinterpreted by the participants themselves. This photograph makes me think about the democratizing potential of art. Editor: I agree. Dorfman highlights how even in formal settings, the human element persists, and how we shape and are shaped by our material surroundings. Curator: Absolutely, and it makes you wonder, what's left when the gowns are shed, and the folding chairs are put away? Editor: A poignant question that stays with you long after viewing.