15 Film: Diane Arbus

Diane Arbus was an American photographer who helped normalize marginalized groups and highlighted the importance of representation of all people, photographing a wide range of subjects including strippers, carnival performers, nudists, people with dwarfism, children, mothers, couples, elderly people, and middle-class families.

Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus is a 2006 biopic directed by Steven Shainberg and starring Nicole Kidman and Robert Downey Jr. Nicole Kidman stars in this fantasized account of how lonely 1950s housewife Diane Arbus transformed herself into a famous photographer. 2 hours 2 minutes.

Read “A Fresh Look at Diane Arbus”

View some of Diane Arbus’ artwork

Watch Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus

Consider this:

  1. Choose one of Diane Arbus’ photos and discuss what it depicts. What aspects of the photograph do you find yourself gravitating towards?
  2. What mood do you associate with the image you have chosen? Do you think it is the mood that Arbus intended? Why or why not?
  3. What does the image you chose demonstrate about what it means to be human?

 

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