What does self loathing look like?
March 28th, 2007 by Frank
I found the above image posted randomly on a forum I was aimlessly browsing one night. I instantly decided it was pure genius, but there was no information with the picture to help me identify it.
I tried all kinds of searches, but let’s face it - how do you even begin?
Then, weeks later, I stumbled upon the identity of it’s creator: Check out this Wired Magazine article on Charlie White’s photography.
The weird looking fellow is Joshua.
Charlie White photographs vulnerability.
Using a humanoid puppet he calls “complete fragility manifest in a body,” White presents human frailty through a fictional character, much as a novelist might.
As White tells Jacki Lyden for Weekend All Things Considered, his puppet, called Joshua, helps him to explore the themes of male self-image and self-loathing. White places Joshua in a series of vulnerable situations — at a cocktail party or a lover’s house — and photographs the scene.
The above info and more photos featuring Joshua can be found here.
here’s another of the strongest Joshua images I found - the one at the top of the page is fascinating in it’s energy and that’s-wrong-I’m-sure-of-it-but-I-don’t-even-know-what’s-going-on-ness but the one below hits all the aims outlined in the text above - self loathing, human frailty, vulnerability… it stays with you in a very haunting kind of way.
Entries (RSS)
March 28th, 2007 at 12:08 pm
Joshua is a little diturbing, especially in that first picture.
March 28th, 2007 at 12:37 pm
Only a little?
March 28th, 2007 at 12:55 pm
Holy fuck. That first one creeps up on you.
March 28th, 2007 at 12:59 pm
Tell Joshua there’s still a room available in my place if he’s looking for a new gaff.
March 28th, 2007 at 2:16 pm
Well, I’m telling myself it’s only a little disturbing in the hopes that I’ll be able to stop thinking about it.
March 28th, 2007 at 4:29 pm
I’ve seen Joshua before - there’s a large format hardback book of Charlie White’s Joshua series. I saw it on sale in the National Photography Gallery in Meeting House Square in Dublin. It’s fascinating. It’s also weird as hell.
March 28th, 2007 at 11:01 pm
300 euro a month. Bills extra. Deposit required. Looks like a lad we could get on with Martin.
March 29th, 2007 at 4:09 pm
Yes Brian, I agree. Joshua would certainly make the triangle equilateral.
March 30th, 2007 at 1:03 pm
Brilliant, grotesque and shocking yet weirdly compelling veiwing. I had to look a few times just to figure out whose arms were whose, for example at first glance I thought Joshua had his hand to his mouth in a very theatrical I’m shocked gesture but it’s not , he’s actually being gagged.
Anyway it’s brilliant.