Photo Fight Club: Wall v. Crewdson

[ageorge]

Theatrical Tableaux, Jeff Wall versus Gregory Crewdson

And the winner is......(you decide


Jeff Wall, Insomnia


Gregory Crewdson, Untitled 'Beneath the Roses' (Ophelia)

[ageorge]

I've seen this kind of "contest" on some popular photo blogs. I thought I would see if it would spark some interesting conversation here. Fingers crossed....

[rippo]

Crewdson rocks.

[Barry Trabitz]

HUH? One man's art is another man's WTF?

[ageorge]

HUH? One man's art is another man's WTF?

Thanks for your enlightening contribution. Why did you even bother? WTF, indeed.

[Brian Vuillemenot]

HUH? One man's art is another man's WTF?

Isn't WTF a sign of good art?

[steve barry]

HUH? One man's art is another man's WTF?

art is not subjective.

[ljb0904]

art is not subjective.

Indeed, studies show that WTF is measurable on a decibel scale making art, in fact, quantifiable and much less about the less precise musings of thin bearded, glasses wearing, poetically deficient art connoisseur.

[George Kara]

Both are wonderful. Jeff Walls composition is more daring and interesting. The central subject is a diagonal in the lower third. The crewdson work is a nice photomanip - there are lots of wonderful photomanip on deviantart as well.


George

[ageorge]

I vote Wall.....

Wall's work has this unresolved tension that hangs with me after viewing. Knowing that these are staged versus found stituations, there seem to be many odd choices made and I tend to search for meaning in these choices. For example, why are the cabinet doors open? Why is the salt on the table and the pepper on the stove? And the butter is out? What does all this have to do with insomnia? Probably nothing, but it keeps me thinking about the images long after the initial viewing. The images seem to ask more questions than answer, I like that.

Crewdson's images are similar in experience to a Spielberg movie. They are exciting and forceful entertainment. The implied story or narratives are somewhat predictable but fun. But once you exit the theater, the movies are easily forgotten. Two hours of escape versus an experience that sticks with you. Crewdson's work has the same effect on me.