The document is a project proposal that outlines Sarah Berlingieri's plan to create a photographic essay exploring ideas of identity, representation, power, and authority. The essay will investigate how obtaining and being subject to power influences identity through 6-8 photographs. Research materials on social psychology experiments and examples of power abuse will inform the essay's examination of this topic. The proposal provides an outline stating the essay will argue that while power can benefit identity, historical examples and research show it often corrupts identity. An initial test shot will be part of the final photographic statement on this subject.
2. Research Material
Brief: Produce a photographic essay
consisting of 6 to 8 digital photographs
that represent an individual, group or
location of your choice. Your project
should investigate ideas of
representation and identity, and
consider the importance of cultural,
social or political position. Your chosen
theme must be presented for acceptance
by your tutor.
Stanford Prison Experiment, Zimbardo (1973)
Phillip Zimbardo: The Psychology of Evil
The Milgram Experiment (1961)
“Lacks
ecological/populatio
n validity”- Or does
it?
• WW2
• Police Brutality
• Abu Ghraib
• Jonestown
Power, Authority, Obedience, The Agentic State,
Choice, Conformity, Order, Social Roles, Stereotypes,
Deindividuation, Demand Characteristics
1. Tereza Vlčková- deals with the questions of the "I" and
the psychology of how we perceive ourselves.
2. Bryan Schutmaat- images are not meant to be a pure
documentation, but rather a portrait of what American
identity means to him
3. Diane Arbus- “‘annihilates moral boundaries and social
inhibitions” (Sontag)
4. Outline
My photographic essay will focus on the ways in which
power and authority influence the identity of those who
obtain it, and those who are subject to it. I will create a
counter argument suggesting notions of
ecological/population validity as well as prominent
examples of how power can benefit or even neutralise
one’s identity. However, the final photographic
statement will assert the harsh reality of how social,
political or historical superiority can corrupt identity
within our world.
