EckmanS+1RA

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Eugene Atget (1857-1927); French

2/10/2012

These are the photos of Atget's that caught my eye. All these photos were taken in France. I've seen many similarities in content among Atget's work - stairways, empty streets and trees. There's a certain loneliness and stillness to these photos that I like.


 * Coin de la Rue Valette et Pantheon (1925)**

2/13/2012 Reputation - Atget mostly focused on the old architecture and urban street scenes of Paris, France. He also photographed prostitutes, street merchants, the homeless and shop owners. Many of the buildings and architecture he documented were destroyed shortly after he photographed them. Atget avoided taking photos that represented the increasingly modernized Paris. He preferred the old, rustic, traditional and nostalgic. He wanted to document the way it was before Paris got totally modernized. This puts many of his photos and their subject matter in the proper context. He was a documentary photographer, and he influenced the surrealism movement. He was mostly unrecognized during his lifetime. Ethos: Atget wanted to preserve and document old Paris. He was into the nostalgic and avoided the modern. That's probably why he documented old architecture like the Pantheon. I find it interesting that he didn't just take a picture of the Pantheon up close. He decided to take it from afar, and include the two other buildings and the alleyway. The Pantheon looks ghostly.
 * Rhetor** -


 * Meaning**: The Pantheon might represent old Paris. Maybe Atget is saying that these famous Paris landmarks will disappear and be forgotten once Paris gets modernized. The way the Pantheon is depicted in the photo - faded and distant- might mean that Paris, at this point, has already started to change, and that the old, rustic Paris will soon be gone. The Pantheon won't be torn down, but will look like a relic of its time. And the locale of the photo - with the two buildings and the alleyway- appears to be abandoned and forgotten. There are no people, and the two other buildings show signs of wear on the exterior. Maybe the Pantheon will show wear soon. It'll keep fading and soon surrender to the modernized Paris.
 * Metaphor:** The Pantheon represents the fading old Paris.
 * Identification:** Knowing the context of these photos - that Atget was documenting Paris as it was being modernized- helps one identify with his photos. We could identify with these photos because all around us things are changing, regardless if we want them to. Some try to persevere the past, but sometimes it's no use. Sometimes hints of the past or the good old days remain. But time doesn't stop. Things evolve and change, for better or for worse.

In photo: There are three buildings. The one in the middle looks as if it's fading, or it is distant. The distant building is the Pantheon, a mausoleum in Paris. The building on the left looks run down. There appears to be wear on the exterior. The two buildings might be apartment buildings or warehouses.They look abandoned. The empty alleyway leads the viewer to the Pantheon. Perhaps the Pantheon looks faded due to fog, or due to the sun hitting it. Genre: Documentary Photo.
 * Text** -

-Perhaps the viewer can compare this scene of the Pantheon to a recent scene of it. Atget was about documenting Paris before it became modernized. Maybe the photo would illicit reactions from people who live in Paris now. Perhaps there's differences in the scene now. -I know, at the time, a lot of Atget's photos were used by other artists. Many painters used to paint from photos. -Their reaction: There's a stillness to this scene. There is no one out on the street. It looks deserted. This might seem strange to the audience because of the Pantheon. Even if the viewer didn't know it was the Pantheon, they could gather that the building looks to be an important, distinct building. Why aren't any people near this important building? What functions do the other buildings serve? What time of day was this photo taken? Where are the people? Did Atget just prefer street scenes without people?
 * Audience** -


 * Notre Dame**

2/16/12

Again, I find it interesting that Atget took the picture from where he took it. He could've taken it right in front of Notre Dame, but he chose to take it behind the branches. But it's interesting how the branches make it seem like the photo's been scribbled over. Ethos: Atget wanted to preserve old Paris. He was nostalgic, so that's why he wanted to document old Paris architecture like Notre Dame. Pathos: Knowing Atget wanted to document old architecture, and viewing Notre Dame quiet and covered up by trees, it might make the viewer have some sort of emotional response.
 * Rhetor** -


 * Meaning:** Maybe Atget took the picture behind the branches because he wanted to distort the building. The branches make the photo look like it has been scribbled over. He might be saying that, again, Paris is being distorted. Perhaps the branches somehow represent new Paris, which is distorting and covering up what Paris used to be. Notre Dame, a cathedral, represents old Paris. Also, there are no people around, which gives a sense that this building has been forgotten. From the photo's view point, the branches almost look like they're hiding the building and its surrounding area. And due to the general stillness of the photo, it is as if nothing is bothering this area; nothing wants anything to do with it. Though portions of old Paris remain, it is being eclipsed and forgotten.
 * Metaphor:** Notre Dame represents old Paris. The branches in the foreground represent modernized Paris covering up or eclipsing old Paris.
 * Identification:** Knowing the context of these photos - that Atget was documenting Paris as it was being modernized- helps one identify with his photos. We could identify with these photos because all around us things are changing, regardless if we want them to. Some try to persevere the past, but sometimes it's no use. Sometimes hints of the past or the good old days remain. But time doesn't stop. Things evolve and change, for better or for worse.

The branches distort the building, and the branches make it look like the photo's been scribbled over. The distant building is Notre Dame, a cathedral in Paris. There appears to be a river that separates the trees and the cathedral. The stillness of the building and the water contrast with the shapes and unkempt movement of the branches. Genre: Documentary Photo
 * Text** -

Reaction: Without knowing that this is Notre Dame, the photo gives the audience the impression that this building has been somewhat forgotten; that it's just an old, quiet, lonely building. This is due to the building seeming very far away from the viewer, and due to the branches that are in the viewer's way. There's a sense of distance. The branches distort the building for the viewer. There's a stillness in the building and the river, as well. The river is so still it looks like a street. Though the building and river are still, the branches are not. The branches are the only things that appear to be alive.
 * Audience**: Maybe the audience for this, and most of his other photos, were people who wanted to know what old Paris was like, or to compare past Notre Dame and it's surrounding area to present Notre Dame. Also, being an influence to the surrealists, many other photographers and artists were his audience.


 * Staircase. Hôtel de Jean de Fourcy, 30 rue des Francs-Bourgeois.**

2/16/12 This photo is very interesting. It's just the railing of the staircase with none of the steps being documented. Also, it's interesting how the railing moves, and how it looks like it's all by itself. Also, it's interesting how the wall appear to be warped and distorted, perhaps due to the shadows and the railing's shape. The bottom of the staircase starts as a shadow almost and then gets exposed to more light as it goes up. Pathos: Due to the photo's eeriness, the photo would illicit some sort of response from the viewer. There's something off about the photo, even though it's just a staircase.
 * Rhetor**:


 * Meaning/Metaphor:** I'm not sure what the meaning behind the photo is. Again, it shows architecture, but I'm not sure if it's significant to the photo. I'm having a lot of trouble finding any meaning or metaphor.

Genre: Documentary Photo
 * Text** - The railing appears to be its own entity; it's separate from everything else. It has a ghostly effect. This is likely due to the light and the shadows. The railing gets exposed to more light as it moves along. The walls are bare except for shadows. The first part of the railing even looks like a shadow.


 * Audience** - The audience might ask where does this railing lead to? How does Atget get this "eerie" effect? Where was this photo taken? Even though it's just a staircase, there's something odd about the photo. The railing's shape, the wall and the shadows are all odd.

2/23/12
 * Standards**

Photo 1 - There is no text in the photo, so there is no linguistic message. Nor is there anchorage and relay because there is no text in the photo. But the title of the photo tells you it's the Pantheon. The title is in French, so you assume it's taken in France. Also, just knowing where the Pantheon is located would tell you that. Coded-iconic Message - Knowing the context of the photo - when it was shot and where - it could represent old Paris fading and being abandoned. Non-coded Message - An alleyway that leads to a distant building. There are two buildings that line the alleyway. Signs - The fading Pantheon represents old Paris in the process of being forgotten. The run down building's that line the alleyway could represent an already forgotten Paris. The empty alleyway reinforces these ideas of abandonment.

Photo 2 There is no text in the photo, so there is no linguistic message. Nor is there anchorage and relay. But the title of the photo tells you it's Notre Dame. The title is in French, so one could assume it was taken in France. Also, knowing where Notre Dame is located would indicate that. Coded-iconic Message - Knowing the context of the photo - when and where it was taken - it, again, represents old Paris being forgotten, distorted, left alone or covered up. Non-coded Message - Trees are in the foreground. A building is in the background covered up by the trees. A river is in between the trees and the building. Trees are behind the building. Signs - The trees block one's view of Notre dame. The wild trees might represent new Paris eclipsing or distorting old Paris. Notre Dame, distorted and covered up by the trees, and the quiet and still surroundings represent old Paris. The wild motion of the trees relate to the stillness of everything else.

Photo 3 There is no text, so there is no linguistic message. Nor is there anchorage and relay. But the title tells you the photo was taken inside a hotel. The title is in French, so it's easy to assume it was taken in France. Coded-iconic Message - I'm still trying to apply a deeper meaning to the photo. I might just drop this photo and focus on the other two. Non-coded message - There's a railing to a staircase. The walls and the staircase itself is affected by lights and shadow. There are cracks on the wall. No steps appear.


 * Trends/Central Argument**

Trends that I see through all the photos is architecture of some sort that is located in Paris. Photo 1 is a photo of the Pantheon and photo 2 is a photo of Notre Dame. The third is architecture inside a hotel. The first two images are accessible to audiences because of how well-known the Pantheon and Notre Dame are. And if the audience doesn't know what specific buildings they are, they could probably conclude that these are important buildings due to their stateliness, size and overall appearance. But in both photos there are no people around. This almost gives theses buildings less importance due to how/where/when the photos were taken. As stated above numerous times, both buildings in the first two photos are faded and distorted. The represent old Paris. While there are parts of Old Paris that remain, it is not as prominent. The buildings also look less accessible due to there distance, and unassuming due to the stillness and the appearance of their surrounding areas. The importance of the buildings seem to be gone. Both photos were shot when Paris was becoming modernized. Atget focused mainly on old architecture. This gives the first two photos more meaning and depth. Knowing the context helps the viewer from the idea that the two old buildings represent an old Paris in the process of fading, getting covered up, being abandoned, etc. Atget gives us this impression without showing any of the newness or modernization that Paris was experiencing at the time. This is the context. Atget just shows these buildings distorted, lonely and still. The only real difference in the first two photos are their surrounding areas and how the main buildings look. An empty alleyway leads to The Pantheon. It is surrounded by already run down buildings. Notre Dame is surrounded by a still river and long, wild branches. I'm not sure if I'm going to use photo 3 just yet. But photo 3 is different than the other two because it's an interior shot; it's inside a building. The building is different than the Pantheon and Notre Dame. It's a hotel, not a mausoleum or church. Knowing the purposes of the buildings gives the viewer a context, and gives the buildings more importance. Thus, when these important buildings are made to look abandoned, it's even more poignant. Of course this specific hotel is probably not as highly regarded as the Pantheon or Notre Dame. But perhaps it shows that even ordinary places like hotels are just like the landmarks of old Paris. Though the interiors would probably be different, this hotel's interior could be an indication on what the Pantheon's or Notre Dame's will look like one day. Photo 3 has a "ghostly" effect. The railing is almost like it's own entity, and parts of it are immersed in shadows. It looks like you can't even go up the staircase because steps are not present in the photo. The walls look warped and have cracks. Again, there are no people using the staircase. It's just a staircase. It has the same stillness that the other two photos have, but it's more eerie.The photo looks a little like the way the Pantheon looks in photo 1. Due to photo 3's odd nature, it gives the viewer a lot to think about. My central argument is that the photos reflect old Paris in a time when Paris was being modernized. The context of the photos, and Atget's aims/subject matter help this argument, and help with fully understanding the photos.

2/28

Documentary photography is used chronicle and preserve important historical, political and social events. If done right, the photos should evoke an accurate sense of time and place. Documentary photography is about context; what is occurring and when did this occur. Eugene Atget's understated photographs of Paris transcend the specific time and place they were taken. The emotions conveyed in Atget's photos are universal, thus they easily appeal to the audience's pathos.
 * Thesis**

March 19

PHOTOGRAPHY AUDIENCE PROFILE SHEET

Needed material for their own work. Specific artists interested in Atget's photos were surrealist artists. || Educated, politically conscious, living in urban area, knows about all kinds of art || Interested in documenting their own urban communities || Surrealist artists believed Atget was one of them. Atget did not associate with the Surrealists. || Maybe heard of Atget before. Knows some of his photos/knows the context of the photos. Maybe heard of Atget from other artists or from some of their colleagues. ||
 * Kind of Viewer: ||  Primary || Secondary ||
 * Education: ||  College educated . Art school. || College educated/art school ||
 * Professional Experience: || Painters/sculptors in search of source material || College educated artist ||
 * Job Responsibilities: ||  ||   ||
 * Personal Characteristics: || Artists/sculptors bought Atget's photos for source material.
 * Personal Preferences: || Surrealist artists were probably interested in the odd and surreal. Maybe the sculptors and artist were interested in using photos of buildings and street scenes for sources. Those are usually popular subject matter for paintings. || Knows a lot about art and is open to any kind/form/medium
 * Cultural Characteristics: || Lived in the Paris that Atget lived in. || Living in modern society. Living in urban areas/cities. ||
 * Attitude Toward the Photographer: || Artists and sculptors went to Atget looking for photos.
 * Attitude Toward the Subject: || Artists and sculptors liked the photos. Believed they were good sources for their own work. || Can relate to the sense of loss in the photos. Can relate their urban settings to Atget's Paris. ||
 * Expectations about the Subject: ||  ||   ||
 * Expectations about the Photograph: || The surrealists would be fascinated by the photos. Other artists and sculptors would find the "art" in the photos. They would also view them as good source material. Maybe help them with depicting shadow and light realistically. || Can relate their current situation with Atget's. Maybe the area they are living in is going through changes. Influences artist. ||
 * Reasons for Viewing the Photograph: || To build off of the photos and create their own art. || Maybe saw it in a book/online/in a museum ||
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">*Way of Viewing the Photograph: || They view it carefully, trying to recreate the image for their own art. || They view it in a book, online, in a museum. ||
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Viewing Skill: || Artists are usually trained in seeing things in specific ways. Also, many artists look at things differently than other artists. || Artists are usually trained in seeing things in specific ways. Also, many artists look at things differently than other artists. ||
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Viewer’s Physical Environment: || Paris/ Their studios/work place. || Urban setting/a city. ||