The Dust Lady of 9/11

Stan Honda’s photograph of the ‘Dust Lady’ It is often the representation of witnesses to traumatic events that the true scale of these events can be determined. If you conduct a image search for 9/11 you will most likely find images of the planes crashing into the World Trade Center. Yet these photographs, as accurate…

Defacing Gaddafi

Al Jazeera’s news coverage of the Libyan Revolution currently unfolding is hugely symbolical: the left hand of the screen depicts jubilant crowds who have gathered in Benghazi following the news that the rebels have taken control of Tripoli, the right hand side of the screen depicts precisely these rebels as they are trampling, kicking, hitting…

The Aesthetics of Artificiality

Julia Roberts smiles for the camera. Her head is slightly tilted. The left hand resting behind her neck is projecting an image of a woman comfortable in her body – a woman comfortable in her skin. The product that Julia Roberts is promoting in the advertisement for Lancôme is called Teint Miracle. And indeed, the…