Mel Keiser Explores Self-Image in Her Latest Series
Vasiliki Marapas — December 19, 2014 — Fashion
References: melkeiser & featureshoot
For her latest series, 'Becoming Mel,' Chicago-based photographer Mel Keiser took a series of paired self-portraits. The first photo was taken upon waking, and the second after she'd readied herself to face the public. More than a "Before-and-After" beauty feature, Keiser's series explores the ways in which we conceive of our own identity.
The differences between "private Mel" -- the sleepy-eyed, messy-haired woman who squints into the camera with a sneer on her face -- and "public Mel" -- the cheerful, confident woman who stares back at us with clarity and certainty, are performed in Keiser's daily routine. We recognize this fact because we, too, have a routine in which we "become" ourselves. Keiser says it best when she says, “The second picture is taken after I begin to feel like ‘Mel,’ usually after my physical self begins to reflect what I believe ‘Mel’ looks like.”
The project reveals a sense of anxiety over the fractures in our own identity and the way it is perceived by others.
The differences between "private Mel" -- the sleepy-eyed, messy-haired woman who squints into the camera with a sneer on her face -- and "public Mel" -- the cheerful, confident woman who stares back at us with clarity and certainty, are performed in Keiser's daily routine. We recognize this fact because we, too, have a routine in which we "become" ourselves. Keiser says it best when she says, “The second picture is taken after I begin to feel like ‘Mel,’ usually after my physical self begins to reflect what I believe ‘Mel’ looks like.”
The project reveals a sense of anxiety over the fractures in our own identity and the way it is perceived by others.
Trend Themes
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Self-image Exploration — Exploring the conception of self-identity through photography and daily routine.
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Before-and-after Beauty Narratives — Moving beyond traditional beauty transformations to explore the complexities of identity.
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Identity Anxiety — Highlighting the unease surrounding fractures in one's own identity and its perception by others.
Industry Implications
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Photography — Opportunity for photographers to offer unique perspectives on self-identity through visual storytelling.
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Beauty and Personal Care — Creating products and services that focus on enhancing personal identity beyond superficial appearance.
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Psychology and Mental Health — Developing tools and strategies to address and alleviate anxiety related to self-identity and perception.
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