Comments on: Art and its multiple truths. http://literarylens.org/2009/02/art-and-its-multiple-truths/ Thu, 07 Oct 2010 14:08:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Kate http://literarylens.org/2009/02/art-and-its-multiple-truths/comment-page-1/#comment-841 Kate Tue, 10 Feb 2009 04:38:32 +0000 http://looking-in.net/photo/?p=42#comment-841 I think that this is a truly interesting, and very successful image, both technically and in terms of its affect - which, even if the inspiration is the slightly disconcerting Wall image, is very different from its photographic parent. I don't know how much this has to do with gender: there seems to me to be a muted antagonism, or at least unease, between Jeff and Jeff, whereas the relationship between Lauren and Lauren seems more inward, more reflective. Moreover one is definitely the observer (on the right), the other the observed (does that make you feel as though the "real" you is on the right, since she has more agency, or, given that your point is multiple selves, does that not matter?). but with your double portrait, I felt that there was - or was the potential for - affection, coupled with shyness - a reluctance of both halves of the self to engage, even if they'd quite like to - whereas the Two Walls look as though they might head off for a fight, or sex, or just subside into sullen silence. I *do* love this image! - not just aesthetically, but because it makes me think - constructing a narrative between two people who don't actually exist as two - at least, not in the sense of separate material lives. I think that this is a truly interesting, and very successful image, both technically and in terms of its affect – which, even if the inspiration is the slightly disconcerting Wall image, is very different from its photographic parent. I don’t know how much this has to do with gender: there seems to me to be a muted antagonism, or at least unease, between Jeff and Jeff, whereas the relationship between Lauren and Lauren seems more inward, more reflective. Moreover one is definitely the observer (on the right), the other the observed (does that make you feel as though the “real” you is on the right, since she has more agency, or, given that your point is multiple selves, does that not matter?). but with your double portrait, I felt that there was – or was the potential for – affection, coupled with shyness – a reluctance of both halves of the self to engage, even if they’d quite like to – whereas the Two Walls look as though they might head off for a fight, or sex, or just subside into sullen silence.

I *do* love this image! – not just aesthetically, but because it makes me think – constructing a narrative between two people who don’t actually exist as two – at least, not in the sense of separate material lives.

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