Family Fantasy and Photography: Jo Spence & the Pollysnappers (From 1 October for 4 weeks in 1981)

Family, Fantasy and Photography

A photographic exhibition by the Pollysnappers (a women’s group at the Polytechnic of Central London). This work makes connections between professional practices in photography (forms of encoding and mediation), and ways in which photographs are viewed (their use), whilst centring upon ways in which ‘the family’ is visually represented within the dominant culture.

Introduction: Decoding: Encoding: Economics: Image Industry: Pros & Cons: Images of Power and Sexuality

It would be very useful to anyone engaged in a critical study of photography or the media.

70 laminated panels 28″ x 20″ in 7 sections which follow on from each other:

FAMILY, FANTASY AND PHOTOGRAPHY

BY: POLYSNAPPERS – A GROUP OF FOUR STUDENTS ON A PHOTO ARTS DEGREE COURSE AT THE POLYTECHNIC OF CENTRAL LONDON AS THEIR THIRD-YEAR PROJECT

DATE: 1981

SIZE: 64 laminated panels 19″ x 26″

SYNOPSIS: We made it because we were interested in passing on what we had learnt from a complicated, inter-disciplinary course, drawing from basic aspects of semiology, structuralism, psychoanalysis, cultural studies, historical materialism, feminism, plus model and set building, dress design and dressmaking, teamaking and aikido – (plus various empirically derived skills).

We have addressed the exhibition to others working at various levels within the broad field of ‘media education^‘. Throughout our work we have endeavoured to speak in plain English, drawing from theory in order to make it accessible.

Working in a group has allowed us to make a shift away from individualistic work and assessment (so rampant within photography) and to share our skills in a non-hierarchical way. It has also allowed us to negotiate apparently insurmountable problems of ‘what to do’ with theory and to combat intellectual terrorism through joint discussion. Solidarity and an open exchange of ideas have been a crucial process within the group throughout the eight months that we have worked together.

AVAILABLE FOR HIRE FROM THE COCKPIT GALLERY