What's in a Face?

Rationale:

During this lesson, students will explore Cindy Sherman and her use of photography as she constructed various settings/situations for her Untitled Film Stills (1977-1980). We will read passages from Cindy Sherman by Eva Respini to understand her personal aesthertic. Cindy Sherman’s cinematic and cultural references will be addressed. Students will then create their own scenarios for a small series of conceptualized self-portraits that address contemporary issues in a variety of categories. Students will create their images outside of the classroom. 

Objectives:

1. During class discussion, students will assess Cindy Sherman’s Untitled Film Stills (1977-1980) cinematic and cultural references and evaluate why her images reached international fame. (H.3.2)

2. Using camera phones, students will create a series of three self-portraits which address some type of contemporary issue. (H.6.2)

   1. Students will focus on creating compositions that are understandable and aesthetically interesting.