Period 6 -- Critical Analysis #12

2/13/2020

Today you will be writing about an image from artist McNair Evans' series Confessions For A Son.

Write 4 paragraphs, 5 sentences minimum per paragraph. Remember, refer to your "How to See" handout for analyzing a photograph--Your analyses will be graded on:

meeting minimum length requirements
depth of organization
evaluation of the content
grammar/punctuation

Read the Project Statement before you write:

Summary
Confessions for a Son juxtaposes photographs I made in 2010 and 2011 concerning the lasting psychological landscape of my fathers legacy with images taken by him roughly 40 years ago to explore a complex relationship between father and son and the disappearance of an American, agrarian way of life.

Statement
There was no man that my father admired more than his father, and no one his father admired more than the man who raised him. With tenderness of heart and warm humor my father met everyone as his equal.

Upon his death in November 2000, I was exposed to our family businesses insolvency. Dad faced a series of devastating fires, bad crops, perpetual over-extension and high-interest loans. Five generations of familial and financial stability fractured. While the economic effects were immediately obvious, the emotional implications lingered beneath the surface for nine years.

In 2010 I returned home to photograph the lasting psychological landscape of Dad’s legacy. Retracing my father’s life, I used photography to comprehend its events. Visiting the farms where we hunted, his college dorm rooms, and his oldest friends, I photographed his family members and businesses while researching his character and actions. I could not equate these.

These photographs narrate my journey between isolation and acceptance. Initially confused and angry, I grew to know him as a teenager, college student, co-worker, life-long friend, and father who lovingly withheld business realities. I witnessed shortcomings and successes and found empathy with a man who faced so much in his life. His sacrifices cost the ultimate price, and accepting that some questions may never be answered, I grew to love him again.

These works share my emotions after his death, my search to learn more abut him in recent years, and a journey of acceptance and forgiveness. These pictures are my way of saying its OK. Everything that happened is done and it’s OK. They are my way of taking ownership of everything that I felt, and all the anger and all the shame, and saying, “Yes, I felt that, and it’s OK to feel that, and I still love you.”

chloe clark

2/13/2020 12:26:47 pm

McNair’s image was taken in one of his father’s old dorm rooms. The objects around the room are exactly what you would expect from a college dorm room; binders, towels, papers, etc. There is a boy standing in the middle of the image. His red shirt stands out not only because of the other bland colors in the image, but partly because the light from the nearby window shines on his shirt. His face is stuck in the shadows.

The light emitted from the window leads my eye to look across the image to what is being shone light on. The dark areas in the image are negative space, considering that you cannot actually see anything in them. You could possibly argue that the rule of thirds is being used in this image, due to the placing of the subject. The subject, which is the boy standing in the middle, does not fill up the frame. However, the extra space is still being taken up by the many objects around the room.

The main idea of this image by McNair was to show the journey he took to find his father’s identity. What I got from this image was McNair using the boy who lived at the dorm when he took this image to represent his father in a way. By putting his face in the shadows, he didn’t reveal who the person in the image actually was. By doing that, he made it clear that it could represent his father when he was in college. This image is interesting in that regard.

I like this image because it represents his effort to make a relationship with his father. Although he never had the clear chance to do that when he was alive, it is interesting how he went through his father’s past and posthumously bonded with him. This image is successful because it ties into Mcnair’s entire collection on “Confessions For a Son.” His relationship with his father was explored and expanded through the photos he took of his father’s past. Through this series, McNair shared his mixed emotions not only about his father’s death, but about his father’s life as well.

Kellen Dukatnik

2/13/2020 12:27:04 pm

The image by Mcnair Evans depicts a college student inside his dorm with no light on his face. It uses a multitude of colors to show how a college dorm may look. The lighting is indoors with only sunlight to light up a part of the room; The image uses lighting to add a cloudy effect to the picture. Objects include those of which you would find in a college dorm room, having lots of different colors due to the number of random objects in the room. In the image, a college kid stands in the middle of a dorm room with only having his torso and legs exposed to the light while his face is in darkness.
The composition is rather sad to look at because of the way the lighting is fixed. The point of view seems to be of someone who is sitting across from a kid standing to look as if he’s ready to go outside. The depth of field is slightly buried, I mainly focus on the kid, but other surrounding items are rather clear. The image is asymmetrical because of the way objects are placed in the dorm. The subject does not fill the frame to display how a college dorm room looks.
Themes surrounding the image suggest that the kid has gone through some emotional trauma; he stands with a sad posture. There seems to be a story that displays the kid is regretful about something he did. The artist made this image to better understand his father. The image reminds me of times I’ve felt apologetic about something, whether it be my words or actions. The image is noteworthy because it shows how well you can create emotion with light.
I enjoyed this image because of the narrative that follows along with it. I empathize with the author because it shows how rough it’s been trying to understand his father. The photograph is relatively successful in the sense that the image makes you feel the emotions he probably felt. The image may not have been successful in the view of the author because his main goal was to try and understand his father. Reflecting upon this makes me feels melancholy for the author that he grew up angry and confused, and I hope he finds what he is looking for.

Mateo

2/13/2020 12:34:43 pm

This image is of a college student in a college dorm. The dorm seems to be a mess and has a lot going on in the background. There is little light and the room is dark. There are dark colors and there is nothing vibrant. The light in the room is provided by a dull sun. The subject of the image is a man standing in the middle of the room. There are towels and jackets hanging from the door and there is a desk with pencils and a shelf with a ball and books, a calendar and a dresser to the right of the man. The subject is posing for the photograph in the messy dorm.

The point of view of the image is taken as if we are another person in the room with the subject. There is a shallow depth of field being used to have the subject in focus and the background be out of focus or blurry. There are horizontal lines on the dresser and on the window directing your eyes to follow them towards the middle of the image where our subject is.The subject doesn’t completely fill the frame and there is extra space to his sides. The edge of the image cuts off the view of the outside from the window and it cuts off the rest of the dresser.

The story behind this image is that the artist, McNair Evans went to his deceased fathers college, businesses, and met with his friends to capture these images and to follow his father's story and to research his character and actions. The artist made these images so he could better understand his father and the sacrifices he made through photography. This image reminds me of a movie because of the setting, the story behind the image and the story of McNair Evans relates to what was happening in the movie.

This image is interesting because of the purpose behind the image. I also thought this image was beautiful because of the calming vibe it gives me from the setting. The setting of a dorm room reminds me of my own room because it is somewhere I can relax and be calm for a while. I think the image was successful because the artist wanted to capture what his father did and what he was and he did. He photographed a college student in his everyday environment and his father was a college student. I liked the image overall because of the colors, lighting used and the setting and theme.

Flint Rose

2/13/2020 12:37:43 pm

This piece is of a college aged student sitting in the middle of his dorm room. The boy's face is obscured by the shadows of the room. He is wearing a very traditional polo shirt tucked in with a belt. The dorm room is stacked with materials from school, including a soccer ball, mugs, books, lamps, and a 2010 macbook. The only light in the room comes from the window.
The piece does not have a shallow or deep depth of field, some items like the cabinet are detailed, things like the towels are not very detailed, and things like the lamp are not detailed at all. The Subject takes up a majority of the frame. The image is very symmetrical and balanced. The piece does not use any rule of thirds because it is a portrait. The piece keeps you looking, it is an interesting piece to look at.
The piece is meant to represent a moment of time in McNair’s dad’s life, and it does this very well. The clothes the subject is wearing makes him look like he is from a different era. The room also is set up very much from the same era, the only give away is the macbook, but most people wont know that exact item at first glance. Based on the striped shirt and tucked in khakis this piece reminds me a lot of my grandpa. The dorm room looks like the kind of place he would have been in when he went to college as well.
I am indifferent to this piece. Normally I like a piece that tells a story, but I don't get this feeling from this piece. This piece isn't trying to tell a story however, it is a tribute to his father. I Understand the emotional significance of the piece to the photographer, however the piece is not speed. It is well made, but I like photographs that tell more than a surface level story.

Ben Barlow

2/19/2020 07:13:57 pm

Confessions for a Son is a photo series done by artist McNair Evans with the intention of helping Evans cope with the loss of his father, while at the same time giving him the strength to accept the negative emotions he felt towards his dad. With his father’s passing in November of 2000, Evans was left distraught with plenty of anger and shame. However at the same time, he also learned of the hardships his father faced growing crops that had been hidden from him. After 10 years of grieving, Evans took ownership of everything he felt and was able to compile his work into all based on what he had learned of his father's life. In this particular photo, Evans is seen as a college student in his father’s dorm room, surrounded by paraphernalia that every undergraduate would need.

Overall, the composition of the photo is not adequate since the photo is underexposed. Although it was intentional, I do not approve of it since the subject’s face is not visible. Not only does this make the image hard to look at, it makes the image hard to critique with little significant details that can be seen. Despite this, the artist has made it quite apparent that they did not bother to focus the image, whether out of laziness or for dramatic effect. In the frame, the only objects clearly visible are those which are exposed from the sunlight through the window. It is clear that the artist did this with the intent of masking the identity of the subject.

The main idea that Evans is trying to express in this picture are the experiences his father went through in college. Talking to family members and his father’s closest friends, Evan learned more than he ever knew about his dad, and exactly what he was going at his own age. Finding empathy for his father, Evans was able to appreciate him for who he was and even look up to him. As he made evident, much of what Evans thought he knew about his father was untrue, and many of the struggles the family faced were hidden from him growing up. Discovering more about what his dad’s life in college was like, Evans is able to step into his shoes to see what his life was like.

Taking all of this into account, I think what the artist got out of the project personally was very valuable and helped him connect deeply with his father. As much as I tried to relate to his works, Confessions for a Son just doesn’t resonate with me or my relationship with my father. At the same time, I feel as if the talent required to produce this low quality image was rather minimal. Without being either aesthetically pleasing or personal to me, I found that appreciating this image was very difficult despite the amount of thought that went into it. As much as I want to respect what Evans has produced, I think the fact that many will find no meaning in it will not make it successful to a general audience.

Isabella Grossman

2/22/2020 06:43:28 am

Critical analysis 12
This image is taken of a boy standing in a room. in the room it is apparent that there are bookshelves, a dresser and many personal artifacts that lay strewn throughout what appears to be a college dorm room. This boys stands in an almost dramatic pose in a beautiful afternoon lighting. We can not see the boys face but it is my guess that this was intentionally and purposefully done by the photographer to create dramatic emphasis. We can infer that this boy is of studying age, either in high school or university maybe, due to the soccer ball, binders, and books.

The lighting in this photograph is interesting and one i’ve rarely seen down before. the lighting is natural coming from a single light spruce: the window. A shadow is cast upon the boy as he poses and his face is intentionally turned to the side to prevent the lighting from hitting his face. The lighting almost makes me question what the expression of the boy is and why the artist chose to conceal his face, mouth, and eyes. Because of this the viewer can’t necessarily tell if this boy is young or if he is an older young adult. I really enjoy the natural lighting which i believe provides warmth to the image and makes the photograph appealing.

To me this image is pleasing to look at and reminds me of a coming of age film. The position the boy is in reminds me of unsure youth in a weird way because of its lack of confidence and the attempt to conceal the face and expression. I see this a lot with kids my age and a bit older. When a person is able to see your eyes and your face it makes you almost a bit more vulnerable and susceptible to pain and suffering. This hour of the day for me signifies personal time and liberation from petiole, school and the day. This image for me really conveys this feeling. This image makes me wonder what the figure is feeling and if he is feeling the same way I feel at that time of day.

I honestly feel that the artist managed very well to convey a certain feeling. Even though I can’t put this feeling into words and explain what it is in a way that would make sense to someone else, I think that the artists has achieved it without having to use words. Through his art I think that this artist has composed a very beautiful series of images that capture youth, loss, and acceptance. The image is dreamy and warm due to the natural lighting and it makes the viewer resonate with the figure in a very personable way. In conclusion I believe that the artist succeeded with his art and I very much enjoy it.

Isaiah Rettig link

2/25/2020 07:31:43 am

The piece shows a person standing in a college dorm room with a shadow covering his face. The photo has very dark shadows below the desk and under the door. Besides that the light from the window shows what's on the shelf and the body of the person. The person doesn’t seem to be looking at anything in particular but just looking away from the window and desk. The most prominent color is the person’s bright red shirt.
The person is centered in the middle of the photo. The point of view could be from the entrance of the dorm or from the other side of the room. The rule of thirds is being used to bring attention to the shelf behind the boy. Anything outside of the window is cut off along with anything past to drawer to signify that they are not important or the focus of the image. The subject does not fill the frame leaving a lot of negative space.
The photo has a feeling of nostalgia. The shadowed face makes you wish you could see the person and knows what they’ve gone through and what this place means to them. It reminds me of how at the end of any summer camp I’ve been to the hardest part is looking at the room one last time. The room also has a warm aura to it making it feel more like a home would. The towels left out and the soccer ball also makes it feel more personalized.
I like the photo because of the memories it gives me. It reminds me of all of the college dorm rooms and cabins I stayed in for a summer camp. The shadowed out face reminds me of the roommates I had. The messy room resembles the average dorm or room I might have. The image succeeds in being visually pleasing.

Abby Muir

3/5/2020 09:08:31 pm

This image was taken in his father’s old dorm room. The stripes on the boy’s shirt are the main focus, with the red standing out against the dark neutral background. However, there is a lot going on in the background that directs the viewer's eyes around the image. The boy’s face is obscured by the shadows. We can’t get a clear view of the boy’s face, which gives it a mysterious feel.
This image is very shadowy, with the corners and underneath the desk almost clipping. The parts where the sunlight hits sharply contrasts the dark areas. The subject, which I think is the boy, definitely doesn’t fill the frame. However, I do think he is being framed by the door, desk, and bureau.
For me, this image is confusing. If I saw this in a museum with no background information on the reason behind the photo, I would be pretty confused. It’s kind of hard to see, you have to squint to be able to see the boy’s face. I also can’t tell if it’s supposed to be scary or sad, or both.
Overall, I am personally not a fan of this photograph. It’s kind of bland in my opinion. No bright colors, interesting subjects, or themes. However, I find the story behind it really interesting. The fact that he spends the time to go find where his father graduated high school, college, finding old family members, etc. is really fascinating.

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Period 6 -- Critical Analysis #12

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