Here was the real scandal of On Our Backs photography: We…
““Here was the real scandal of On Our Backs photography: We were women shooting other women — our names, faces, and bodies on the line — and we all brought our sexual agenda to the lens. Each pictorial was a memoir. That is quite the opposite of a fashion shoot at Vogue or Playboy, where the talent is a prop… When we began our magazine, female fashion and portrait models — all of them — were shot the same way kittens and puppies are photographed for holiday calendars: in fetching poses, with no intentions of their own.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Women photographers turned the camera onto each other, making personal, political statements rather than commercial fashion images.
In simple terms: Women photographed women for personal, political reasons.
Key Takeaway
Use photography to tell authentic stories.
Themes
feminism
art
identity
politics
Mood
defiant
reflective
Type
analytical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- magazine publishing
- art exhibitions
- activist projects
Key Concepts
visual narrative
agency
gender dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- How does personal perspective change visual storytelling?
- What responsibilities arise when representing marginalized bodies?
A Different Perspective
Limited reach beyond niche audiences.