Superstitions
"I became fascinated by the diversity of people's experiences when the pieces were placed next to each other."
-Mark Menjivar
-Mark Menjivar
"Superstitions"
Photography
48.26cm x 33.02cm
September 2017
Photography
48.26cm x 33.02cm
September 2017
Using Mark Menjivar's "The Luck Archive", and Greogry Crewdson's "Twilight" series as inspiration, I created a series of 6 images. These all focus on the ideology of Menjivar's work, showing the diversity of beliefs and superstitions. Crewdson's use of simplistic setting combined with harsh lighting was used to demonstrate each superstition in action. This work specifically focuses on my own personal knowledge of superstitions. Everybody has their own beliefs, creating diversity, but finds a way to unite people through the concept of belief itself.
Historical Investigation
Mark Menjivar is an artist who has spent much time developing what he calls, "The Luck Archive". The Luck Archive is a book which explores the superstitions and traditions which people partake in. His work is taken from the stories of real people whom he has interacted with, and went out of his way to meet. This work began with his recognition of the time and the significance of the clock reading 11:11. He has physical objects featured in "The Luck Archive" such as rings, charms, underwear, dolls, and even more peculiar objects. I this photo book is a series of those collections. His work focuses on developing how luck is interpreted by every person, and their own belief system. When collected in the archive, the pieces are all extremely diverse. There's a wide range of cultures which are represented, as well as simple beliefs like walking under ladders, knocking on wood, and using a dandelion to make a wish. All of these photographs whether of the physical object, or of the superstition in action appear unified, in aesthetic as well as theme. Whether the things people do lead to good or bad luck, they show significance to a person. One of the most popular ones is focused on picking a penny up, horseshoes and lucky trinket pigs.
Gregory Crewdson is a photographer who creates images in a domestic setting, with cinematic-like effects. He has several series including; Natural Wonder (1992–97), Hover (1995–97), Twilight (1998–2001) and Beneath the Roses (2004–08). In the Twilight, and Beneath the Roses series, Crewdson began to emphasize an enlarged image, and introduced a color scheme. These two series were the majority influence on my piece, especially those images featured in the Twilight series. These images are largely inspired by Steven Spielber’s films, leading to Crewdson creating a set for every photo. His photography is extremely productional and takes a crew of people to help Crewdson create every image. His works often explore a seemingly simple life, with adding something mystical to every image. Combining the works of Mark Menjivar and Gregory Crewdson in my piece helped to form a series theatrical images which present diversity in beliefs, and superstitions.
Gregory Crewdson is a photographer who creates images in a domestic setting, with cinematic-like effects. He has several series including; Natural Wonder (1992–97), Hover (1995–97), Twilight (1998–2001) and Beneath the Roses (2004–08). In the Twilight, and Beneath the Roses series, Crewdson began to emphasize an enlarged image, and introduced a color scheme. These two series were the majority influence on my piece, especially those images featured in the Twilight series. These images are largely inspired by Steven Spielber’s films, leading to Crewdson creating a set for every photo. His photography is extremely productional and takes a crew of people to help Crewdson create every image. His works often explore a seemingly simple life, with adding something mystical to every image. Combining the works of Mark Menjivar and Gregory Crewdson in my piece helped to form a series theatrical images which present diversity in beliefs, and superstitions.
Sketching and Planning
While planning on how I was going to create this piece, I was largely focused on the first part of the project, and the layout in which I would display the images. I considered doing it horizontally, vertically, and presenting each photo as an individual image. I chose to do sets of three images vertically, to enlarge the image, and because things coming in sets of three is another superstition itself. I drafted ideas in a list which I could chose from different photo opportunities.
Gathering Images/ Experimentation
While gathering images I used an LED external light source to create the more cinematic effect. I also shot at night so that the contrast would be greater, and the external light source would shine more. While in broad daylight the light had little to no effect on the photos, and while they showed Menjivar's ideology with superstitions, they did not show Crewdson's use of lighting and scene setting. Shooting the image with the umbrella indoors was the hardest and required the help of two people (one to hold the umbrella, and the other holding the light. It was hard to get the proper angle which the light would illuminate the umbrella, without casting an extreme shadow. The light is consistently places to side for all of the photos taken, as it was the bet way to demonstrate the light being used with Crewdson's concept. A white light was used to show extreme luminosity, as well as maintain the colors presented in the image. A sense of unity naturally came in the first part of the project, and was edited in the second part.
Process
All six images were set up and shot at night, this process included the deconstruction and destruction of a mirror, arranging placement of penny heads up, finding a crack on the sidewalk, lighting and setting up a cupcake with a candle in it, setting a timer for 11:11 (make a wish), and holding and opening an umbrella indoors. All of these photographs were modeled after Crewdson's use of sets to create his images. He creates an entire production set, and I did that as well, although on a smaller scale. While in Photoshop I focused on making smaller alterations to an image, just making sure that the highlights of the piece reinforced the dramatization of the photograph. I then used bridge to select 3 photos for each photo set, and made a contact sheet in Photoshop. This automatically sized the photos and laid them out for me, making it easier to create the image I wanted.
Reflection and Evaluation
The outcome of my piece is very similar to the works of my inspiration of Menjivar and Crewdson. It combines the photography aspect used by both Menjivar and Crewdson, in a unified sense. Menjivar's "The Luck Archive" is unified in the overarching theme of the works, while Crewdsons unity comes from the photo quality and the color scheme itself. The first part of my project more closely resembles Crewdson's unity through lighting and color scheme due to the use of outdoor harsh white lighting, concrete, and night shooting. The second part of my project more closely resembles the archive created by Menjivar due to the colors being more diverse, but all well-known superstitions. But both parts do focus on more parts of daily life, not so much domestic as Crewdson, but similar in the simplicity of concepts. Menjivar's archive is more a series of scans or images of the things he's collected. I considered attempting to go out and model his collection of objects through interacting with other people about their superstitions, but I focused more on the photo graphical and aesthetically pleasing concepts of Crewdson. I chose to capture the superstitions as they were taking place, rather than focusing on actual objects collected. This was simply due to preference of wanting to photograph. It would have also been a lot harder to incorporate Crewdson as inspiration if majority of the images were scans or just images of things being collected. This is why combining the inspirations was so crucial. Both of the artists focus on humans and their interaction, while Menjivar focuses more on real people and how they think, Crewdson shows a somewhat supernatural side to life, emphasized by the usage of harsh lighting and contrast. Combining the supernatural with real beliefs created a dramatic series of images, which are easy for a viewer to interpret. Without reading anything about it, it is easy to understand what the images are conveying. This does not take away from the meaning, but rather makes the viewer reflect upon their own beliefs and superstitions, and if they have heard of the ones which are presented. The only thing I dislike about the piece is the color scheme of the second part, due to the dissimilarities of colors, it's not as visually appealing as the first one, but there's still that sense of unity through theme which makes the piece consistent and easily interpreted.
Connecting to the ACT
1.) The cause-effect relationship between my inspiration of Crewdson and Menjivar is clear through the use of the theme of superstitions, and the use of the cinematic qualities of Crewdson.
2.) Menjivar is very invested in seeing multiple perspectives and beliefs of people to show how diverse people are, and can be. Crewdson is able to show the simplistic side of humanity in a dramatic way, emphasizing how beautiful humans can be.
3.) While researching I concluded that the diversity of people, whether it be home life, how they were raised, or what they believe, all have a certain beautiful quality about them. Superstitions seem to just be a part of human nature, while wanting to believe in something greater than ourselves prevails and unites people.
4.) While researching the central theme was luck, and how people are able to interpret it in their own ways. The pure human simplicity itself is diverse enough to create a piece based on beliefs.
5.) While conducting research I concluded that there is a strong sense of diversity in what people leave will bring the good or back luck, and that itself can be visually represented. Through visual representation many things can be said about the background of people, and what empowers them to do the things that they do.
2.) Menjivar is very invested in seeing multiple perspectives and beliefs of people to show how diverse people are, and can be. Crewdson is able to show the simplistic side of humanity in a dramatic way, emphasizing how beautiful humans can be.
3.) While researching I concluded that the diversity of people, whether it be home life, how they were raised, or what they believe, all have a certain beautiful quality about them. Superstitions seem to just be a part of human nature, while wanting to believe in something greater than ourselves prevails and unites people.
4.) While researching the central theme was luck, and how people are able to interpret it in their own ways. The pure human simplicity itself is diverse enough to create a piece based on beliefs.
5.) While conducting research I concluded that there is a strong sense of diversity in what people leave will bring the good or back luck, and that itself can be visually represented. Through visual representation many things can be said about the background of people, and what empowers them to do the things that they do.
Menjivar, Mark. Luck Archive Exploring Belief, Superstition, and Tradition. Trinity University Press, 2015.