Sherman And Stereotypes

"Though the photographs suggest a variety of scenarios, they differ from conventional film stills that tend to focus on moments of dramatic action between two of more characters.” (Heartney,2007).

The set looks as if it is from a Hollywood film, due to the perfection of the subject’s hair, make up and clothing, but this could also resemble a real life situation of a woman and this is what Sherman does so well, to allow all forms of audiences to make a connection with the images. Sherman makes you realise that stereotypes in films and media turn into real life as it is pumped into culture at such a vast rate, that women do not realise that the masculine world control women’s identity with stereotypes that have been set for them. This image shows more of a 1950’s/60’s American housewife
style, not surprising as Sherman is American, but the connection to the image with British stereotypes does not seem to read as well as the American housewife, with the fashion and style of the subject.
This shows the strength of the
Hollywood stereotyping across film and the world as the images instantly connect to American stereotyping of a housewife and this can be a point picked up by different audiences across different countries.

Cindy Sherman’s first collection of Untitled Film Stills makes you question every position, facial expression, set, prop and persona as there was never any clue what the narrative was.