Robert Mapplethorpe

Last week, in one of my seminars while having a group discussion, someone mentioned a photographer called Robert Mapplethorpe. I hadn't heard this name before, but the girl mentioned how he was known for being quite controversial with his photography, and so I thought I'd do a bit of further reading into this Mapplethorpe and find out what he's all about.

Now this guy lived a life and a half and has so much to him, so this blog is going to cover close to nothing of what this man has achieved. However, it will cover the bits I found most interesting.

Robert Mapplethorpe was born November 4th 1946, and died March 9th 1989. Mapplethorpe was an American photographer known for his sensitive yet blunt treatment of controversial subject matters. His work was often displayed on a large scale, was highly stylised and in the black and white medium of photography. His photography covered a large array of subjects such as; celebrity portraits, male and female nudes, self portraits and stills of flowers.

His most controversial work would have to be his work on the underground BDSM scene in the late 1960's and early 70's in New York City. Pushing against the stereotype that all gay's are effeminate, there was a notion that a man could be both gay and virile. For many gay men this was experienced and experimented within the S&M subculture. For Mapplethorpe, being gay and testing his sexual limits went hand in hand. Mapplethorpe was a participant observer for a lot of his more erotic photography, and he often participated in the sexual acts he was photographing.

In 1986, a solo exhibition, "Black Males", and a subsequent book, "The Black Book", sparked great controversy for their depiction of black men. The images, which were erotic depictions of black men, were greatly criticised for being exploitative. A lot of the photos were phallocentric, but also sculptural, focusing on segments of the subjects body. Mapplethorpe said the intention with the photos and the use of black men was to show the pursuit of the platonic ideal. Mapplethorpe's interest in the black male form was inspired by films such as Mandingo and the interrogation scene in Cruising.

Mapplethorpe would refer to some of his own work as pornographic, with the aim to arouse the viewer, but that could also be regarded as high art.

Mapplethorpe died at the age of 42, due to complications from HIV/AIDS. Nearly a year before his death he helped found the Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation, Inc. His main vision for the foundation was that it would protect his work, advance his creative vision and promote the causes he cared about. Since his death not only has the foundation helped to promote his work throughout the world, but it has also raised and donated millions of dollars to fund medical research in the fight against AIDS and HIV infection. Within the year before his death he also selected Patricia Morrisroe to write biography. This biography was based on over 300 interviews with celebrities, critics, lovers and Mapplethorpe himself.

"I went into photography because it seemed like the perfect vehicle for commenting on the madness of today's existence." - Robert Mapplethorpe

I find Mapplethorpe's photography very striking and powerful. He looked at the things that people of the time really didn't want to look at. He made a point with his photography and successfully caused debate and conversation on his subject matter; this then made his subject matter more public and then was less of a shock. He opened a door into gay subculture that hadn't been touched before, and for all it was abstract and controversial, it set the ball rolling for a greater understanding and acceptance.

Ta Ta for now, My Lovelies.

Miss Blue