Untitled (baton twirler) c. 1952

Editor: This is "Untitled (baton twirler)" by Jack Gould, and its dimensions are quite small, 6 x 6 cm. It appears to be a snapshot of a baton twirler. What do you see in this photograph? Curator: I see a staged performance, but the means of production are far from glamorous. The cheap satin of the dress, the bare stage, the likely amateur photographer—it all points to a specific social context of aspirational entertainment, fueled by accessible materials and local labor. Editor: That's a fascinating perspective. I was focused on the individual performer. Curator: Indeed. But consider how the availability of photographic materials and affordable textiles enabled such performances to be documented and disseminated, shaping cultural ideas of feminine success. Editor: I hadn't thought about it that way. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure!