Untitled Film Still #11 1977

Editor: Cindy Sherman’s "Untitled Film Still #11" from 1977, a gelatin silver print, captures a seemingly vulnerable moment. The woman, perhaps unconscious, lying on a bed… it’s reminiscent of a scene from an old movie, filled with a strange mix of glamour and unease. What’s your take? What narrative is Sherman crafting here? Curator: Sherman cleverly appropriates the visual language of cinema, specifically film noir and B-movies, to dissect stereotypical female representations in media. Consider the cultural context: this work emerged in the late 1970s, a time of increasing feminist consciousness and critical examination of gender roles. Sherman isn't just replicating a scene; she's using the *structure* of how women are presented. What does the artificiality of the scene say to you? Editor: That it’s constructed? That the vulnerability feels…performative? The way it plays with established tropes is fascinating. Like, we're meant to instantly recognise a character, even though there is no specific film reference? Curator: Precisely! And why is that important? Think about the power structures at play in the art world and film industry. Who traditionally controlled the image of women, and who was denied that agency? Editor: It points to a broader societal issue – how women are often viewed, categorized, and consumed through the male gaze. Sherman subverts that by becoming both the subject and the author of the image, and by highlighting its inherent constructedness. It's like she is exposing the codes. Curator: Exactly. By mimicking and exaggerating those visual codes, Sherman reveals how these cinematic portrayals are never truly ‘natural’ or ‘objective’. They are actively manufactured within specific social and institutional contexts. This, in turn, impacts how women are seen in everyday life. Editor: It's powerful how a single image can hold so much historical weight and challenge existing power structures. I will definitely look at older films with a more critical gaze from now on. Curator: And hopefully be mindful about the contemporary landscape and the current structures that underpin contemporary imaging. Glad you enjoyed Cindy!