Beauty/Culture

In it's final weekend at the Annenberg Space for Photography, the Beauty/Culture exhibit was enjoying a bustling crowd over the Thanksgiving weekend. Always a fan of the Space, I decided to go back and check it out for a second time, as details had faded slightly since my first visit in the opening weekend a few months ago. The overall idea of the current presentation was to reflect and compare images of beauty in culture through the history of photography. It was highly slanted towards a more fashion-photographer-oriented approach than the more environmental or cultural galleries of the past. I found the change of pace to be nice, though I am not sure if the impact was nearly on the same level as those from National Geographic. It was not my favorite exhibit the Annenberg has had for a few different reasons.

The Space was divided into a few main sections to represent a certain thematic element. One, for example, focused on the effects Hollywood has had on modern-day fashion photography whereas another focused on how various minorities have managed to break into the fashion and beauty realm over the past few decades. What I considered the main category was a giant wall of supermodels both past and modern. These different categories were very clear and divided, which I actually felt was a bit of a negative. Past exhibits have been very broad or limited in their photographer pool, allowing visitors to see changes gradually. There had always been a connecting theme between all of these sections. However, in Beauty/Culture, there were so many categories and elements that the display seemed to lack focus. Did it want viewers to see how the fashion industry affected realistic people? Or was it a celebration of the world of fashion photography? There did not seem to be a clear theme throughout the exhibit other than displaying tons of professional photos of female models. In the section regarding model sizes, for example, photos from David LaChapelle and his peers were displayed, losing some of the "realism" that would have made a better impact on viewers. The best photos to showcase the comparison, such as the child pageants or 70-year-old contestants, were minimalized and almost thrown under the rug compared to the photos of Gisele Bündchen and Tyra Banks. Which would have been fine if the exhibit was marketed solely as a place to view photographs from Vogue or Elle over the years, but the marketing seemed very disjointed on what exactly was meant to be shown. For a name like "Beauty/Culture," it seemed to lack a great deal of the latter.

As for the photographs themselves, the Annenberg again chose top-quality prints. Thematic elements aside, most of the photos were absolutely stunning up close and in print. Many of the models and photos are recognizable from countless internet articles and magazines, but to see them in person added a whole new level of impressiveness. However, there were a few that seemed odd to have made the cut, most glaring being a photo of Kate Hudson that was clearly nothing more than a red carpet snapshot. Also, for all the quality of the photos, the layout of the exhibit actually detracted somewhat. I greatly enjoyed the wall of supermodels, but noticed several times that the top row was difficult to see due to the placement of the facility's lights, and I found myself staring more at light glares and reflections than photographs.

However, for all the flaws that the gallery had this time around, many of them were made up for by the wonderful documentary video showcased within the main theater. This was definitely one of the better accompanying videos I had seen so far. It was lengthy, which I found nice since it justifies a trip down from Burbank, and certainly went more in-depth on the themes the gallery was meant to express. People who make fun of "Toddlers in Tiaras" will have a field day with it. I also enjoyed the interviews with the many photographers themselves and felt it was a good peek into the world of fashion photography that many might not be able to see. I've always wanted to get into that field, and the interviews offered some great insights. The secondary video/break room was also well done. Two hands-on displays allow visitors to take their own photos and mess with them in a type of simple post-processing program. Both cases were very busy and seemed to be a good attraction as well as a great way to tie in with the rest of the Space.

Overall, it was worth a trip, but it certainly was not the best the Annenberg has had. I did enjoy seeing some amazing fashion photography, but as a whole exhibit it felt a little out-of-place and confused, especially coming off of the outstanding Extreme Exposure. I would like to see more galleries done with a fashion- and beauty-industry mindset but perhaps something a little more narrowed down so the display doesn't feel the need to cover all the industries' bases at once. That said, I am looking forward to the Digital Darkroom coming up mid-Decemeber. The preview looks great!