Identity and Cindy Sherman

The question of identity is something often explored in art. As artists we often draw from our life experiences (which are essentially what makes us, us) to create meaning in our work. For me these experiences are always what inspire me to create something new. Obviously there are other reasons and inspirations in creating art, but for me identity is a key base point. Cindy Sherman is an artist who comes to mind when thinking about identity as her work is very much based around an exploration of it, and in particular her Untitled Film Stills (Sherman, 1977 – 80.) collection. As Michael Archer stated:

‘The lie to one’s instinctive grasp of Sherman’s identity in these pictures is given by the next in the series, and the next, which each present her as an entirely different person.’(Archer, 2002, pp. 175.)

Suggesting that her constant change in appearance was not to become the stereotype she was portraying but to erase her own sense of self (Archer, 2002.) This confuses identity rather than clarifying it, but I think this is really interesting, as after all, ones own identity is pretty confusing anyway. Rather than trying to portray to the public her own self, she takes up the role of different women’s’ stereotypes, like the housewife, or the (film noir) damsel in distress. So I would say that she explores the identity of women in her work as she very rarely dresses up in the persona of a man. I think she is trying to show that a woman cannot just be categorised into a stereotype as they so often are, and she is made up of many different experiences that give her different aspects to her identity, in just the same as men are. 

References:

Archer, M. (2002.) Art Since 1960 – new edition. London: Thames & Hudson.

Sherman, C. (1977-1980.) Untitled Film Stills [Photograph.] New York.