Artist Entry #4: Steven Meisel

Steven Meisel has remarkably maintained a career with Italian Vogue for over ten years. He has created every cover and every lead editorial since he began, which is almost unheard of with the normal fashion world demands of the next newest thing. He stands as one of the most prolific fashion photographers of his time and an innovator. He is one of the first to push the relationship between famous actors and fashion. He has collaborated with Madonna on their book SEX, which came out in 1992. Meisel obsessed over beauty at a young age, constantly drawing women from photos in Harper's Bazaar or Vogue rather than playing with toys. He followed that passion with a degree from Parson's in fashion illustration. He continued by photographing models from local agencies who put his images in their books. These images were discovered and he was asked by Seventeen to photograph for them. Since then, he has found a way to convey his political views and questions through icons of beauty. In July 2008, he photographed solely black models for a Vogue issue to confront the rising issue of racism in fashion magazines, runway shows, and ad campaigns.

Artist Website: http://www.artandcommerce.com/AAC/C.aspx?VP=SlideShow_VPage&IAPA=1&STY=A&L4=2U1XC58OBF39&L5=2U1XC583YX5A&L6=2U1XC583YDU0&XX=Artists

Gallery Website: http://www.icp.org/site/c.dnJGKJNsFqG/b.2079967/k.A4A8/Steven_Meisel.htm

Artist Interview: http://www.interviewmagazine.com/blogs/culture/2009-02-27/steven-meisel-icp-puzzle/

Topic #3: Freud's Psychosexual Development

"Fixation at the phallic stage develops a phallic character, who is reckless, resolute, self-assured, and narcissistic--excessively vain and proud. The failure to resolve the conflict can also cause a person to be afraid or incapable of close love."

According to Freud, the development of our personality is effected by a fixation on a particular erogenous zone during growth. There are five different stages that focus on one singular part of the body at a time. During each phase, the body becomes more sensitive in one particular location. The first stage is the oral phase, which begins at birth and lasts till about the age of two. In this stage, infants focus on the mouth as the erogenous zone because it is where they receive nourishment, such as from nursing. If the mother does not deliver on demand or ends nursing at an early age, the child can develop feelings of pessimism, envy, and suspicion. If the mother does deliver on demand, then the child may develop gullibility, an admiration of others, and optimism. The next stage is known as the anal stage, lasting from approximately two till three. This is the normal time that parents begin to potty train their children and the ego is also developing, giving the child a stronger sense of self. Since the child is being told when to go and how to go, a conflict within the id and the ego ignites. The child will either defy his parents and go when he pleases or withhold expulsion of the feces. This results in an anal expulsive character which is messy, careless, disorganized, and defiant. The other extreme is an anal retentive character, which is clean, organized, stingy, obstinate, and passive-aggressive. The third stage moves focus to the phallus. Interest arises in one's own genitals and the genitals of others. Since development is not complete, this does not manifest in a sexual nature. Howver, this is the stage where children must deal with the Oedipus complex for boys and the Electra complex for girls. After that, a period of latency arises where sexual endeavors are ignored and energy is poured into asexual activities. This lasts about six years until puberty strikes and the interest again shifts to the genitals. The less struggle the child had during the psychosexual development, the more chance the child has of building a healthy relationship with another person.

http://www.victorianweb.org/science/freud/develop.html
David B. Stevenson, 1996 Brown University
"Freud's Psychosexual Stages of Development"

Artist Entry #3:

Steven Klein started his career as a painter, but in the early 1990s, he branched off into photography while in Paris. He then moved to New York where he continues to live and work. He has found success as a fashion photographer through his in depth narratives. His pictures are strong and dramatic, depicting a wide array of subject matter. He has worked editorially for magazines such as W and Vogue. Also, he has headed ad campaigns for companies such as Dolce and Gabbana, D Squared, and Guess. Due to his acclaim as a photographer, he has been able to branch out into video installations and publish a number of books. His imagery has the sophistication and has that regal flair that I am looking for with my project. According to his artist statement, he says that his work has no psychological undertones, that he wants his art to be a result of his time spent with the subjects he works with. He starts with an idea then lets his creativity flow through the connection he feels once they work.

Artist Website: http://www.stevenkleinstudio.com/www/index.html

Gallery Website:http://www.icp.org/site/c.dnJGKJNsFqG/b.4783349/k.9B58/Weird_Beauty.htm

Artist Interview: http://www.stevenkleinstudio.com/www/index.html (go to the Press section)