Realisme is een veelbesproken begrip dat onderhevig is aan eindeloze filosofische discussies. Ook binnen de mediatheorieën van onder andere film en fotografie is het een onderwerp dat zeer...Show moreRealisme is een veelbesproken begrip dat onderhevig is aan eindeloze filosofische discussies. Ook binnen de mediatheorieën van onder andere film en fotografie is het een onderwerp dat zeer regelmatig aan bod komt. Zo kunnen beide media gezien worden als hulpmiddelen om de ‘onbemiddelde waarheid’ vast te leggen, maar zijn deze ook beide gedreven in het creëren van fictieve taferelen. Vooral in het geval van cinema kan de mogelijkheid tot het creëren van illusies gezien worden als één van de kernpunten voor het daverende succes van het medium. Echter, bij het creëren van nieuwe, imaginaire werelden, ontstaan ook andere (filmische) wetten en regels dan die wij in onze realiteit gewend zijn. Deze afwijkende noties van realiteit hebben onder andere invloed op de manier waarop film en fotografie gebruikt en gezien worden. Zodoende is dit onderzoek erop gericht om erachter te komen hoe de media film en fotografie in films ingezet worden om de grenzen van onze realiteit te overschrijden.Show less
The topic of this thesis is backstage photography. Backstage photography is a genre within photography that contains intimate behind the scenes photos of celebrities. This thesis is focused on...Show moreThe topic of this thesis is backstage photography. Backstage photography is a genre within photography that contains intimate behind the scenes photos of celebrities. This thesis is focused on backstage photography within the music industry and in particular the rock & roll genre. Backstage photography however does not solely entail photos that are literally made ‘back stage’ (e.g. in the wings or dressing room of the artist); they also pertain all the photos that are made when the artist is ‘off stage’; whether that be on the street, at a bar or at home. Backstage photos are more private in comparison to the photos that are made of the artist on stage, but can still be part of a ‘public’ space. The main question of this thesis is what these backstage photos mean and how this relates to the photographic aspects of voyeurism and exhibitionism, journalistic and documentary photography in specific, and their position in portrait photography. The first chapter of this thesis explores the applicability of the concepts of voyeurism and exhibitionism to backstage photography. Particular effects such as absorption and ‘to-be-seennes’ are present in backstage photos, albeit incomplete: the artist is never fully absorbed but the photo also does not fully contain an embedded theatricality. The relationship between the artist and the photographer is of high importance; due to the intimate relationship between the subject and the photographer, the subject lowers its guard and allows the photographer to get closer than ever. As a result, the photos explore and explain the artist’ character in new ways. This in turn leads to exhibitionism and shows how the artist, even behind the scenes, partly remains in his role. The spectator of these photographs has certain expectations that the photographer aims to satisfy. The second chapter of this thesis discusses in which ways photojournalistic and documentary photography fit with the concept of backstage photography. The argument is made that backstage photography can be viewed as a result of two important developments: the rise of the tabloid press where photos were first published in the media and the rampant rise of the music industry that permeated global culture and new methods of production, marketing and distribution were realized. It is important to note that a backstage photo can initially be categorized as photojournalism and become part of documentary photography later. Whereas photo assignments are being done under the pretence of photojournalism, they may eventually ‘evolve’ into products of high artistic value and be considered as documentary photography or even ‘art photography’. The third and final chapter analyses the position of the backstage portrait photo. A backstage portrait differs from any other portrait because of the location, setting and attitude or feeling of the photographed artist. Besides, these portraits are often not published at the time they were made. Therefore, the argument can be made that the backstage portrait is part of the private domain instead of the public. This domain changes once the photo does get published. Interestingly, the backstage photo is made in a more private environment, but the model is a public figure. Backstage photos are intriguing because they give a new, different image of a celebrity. Our fascination with the human face resulted in an ever-growing celebrity culture. We like to see how public characters behave on the stage, but even more so within private environments. Backstage photography embraces these desires.Show less
