Allow me the hypothetical here... If Ryan Mcginley's models were Asian, Latino, or Black- would he be:1) Every bit the celebrated wunderkind.
2) Another emerging photographer with potential.
3) Ryan who?
Please Note: This is not solely about Mr. McGinley, whose website continues to resemble a David Duke wet dream. He is obviously free to photograph whatever he wants, whomever he wants.
The question is a much broader one. Why has this hedonistic celebration of young, white, sexuality been so enthusiastically embraced by both artistic and advertising establishments alike? Is it somehow more innocent, more aesthetically appealing, more worthy of visual commemoration? Is non white sexuality more threatening, and less inherently appealing? And how is this all relevant in the age of our first multiracial President?
5 comments:
That's so funny, I just wrote a quick paper last week that hints at these issues, and I'm currently working on a much larger piece investigating the racial undertones.
Since he lives in the most diverse city in the world and casts his models, it's hard to come up with excuses for the apparently idealized white world presented in his work.
I'll email you that rough paper.
Hey Ian! Thanks for stepping up-and would definitely be interested in reading your paper(s). I can't believe this question hasn't even been asked- then again, what was it our new attorney general said about race (and cowardice)...
Every artist is certainly allowed their own particular "vision." But I sure find it "funny" that this blatant 800 lb gorilla hasn't been addressed anywhere, anytime (that I know of). I mean, I'm not accusing anyone of anything- except of not having the actual discussion.
yeah, I've been really surprised as well. I've seen him talked about as if he is a rebel - when his images seem to be a logical extension of the 50s status quo to me - just a little gayer perhaps. I posted the paper up so you can see it
http://www.ianaleksanderadams.com/blog/ryan-mcginleys-endless-summer/
As I said, I'm not making any accusations, but I see the most obvious analogy a bit further back than the 50's- the playful, youthful Aryan gods and goddesses of the 30's pictured in all their natural glory. And I find it (very) hard to believe that those more learned than I who examined and extolled his work, didn't see such obvious parallels...
It's almost as if they knew the public would eat it up (for plenty of wrong, and some right reasons) and so they preemptively sided with art buyers. It's like stimulating the economy by making sure people would feel justified in making extravagant print purchases that fit their own unspoken visual preferences(prejudices?)
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