Sally Mann is one of America’s most notable photographers due to her nostalgic black and white photography. Mann is best known for her Immediate Family collection. She took pictures of her young children in a very unique form where her children were either captured naked or with minimal clothing. Mann’s intentions of her collection were to capture her children’s childhood that included their triumphs and hardships. Her child photography of her children received a lot of negative criticism and controversy that accused Sally Mann of child pornography. There are many subjective and objective influences that support the censorship and non-censorship of her controversial children photography. This essay will highlight the three main arguments that
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Sally Mann’s photography displays child abuse because she is using her children in order to sell her work. Moreover, others believe her work implies or promotes child abuse and incest due to her children being captured nude. For instance, a New York Times article named “The Disturbing Photography of Sally Mann” describes her work as stated: “The pictures dramatize burgeoning sexuality, while implying the more forbidden topics of incest and child abuse. Mann’s laconic captions lend a parental concern, honed with feminist edge. Some of the poses seem causal; others, carefully directed” (Woodward, 2015). In other words, her photography might be viewed obscene and distasteful for viewers due to the amount of child nudity exhibited. Her photography encourages child exploitation and child abuse because many of the photos are posed and not natural compared to traditional child photography. For example, “Photographers shooting children in the nude […] are the usual suspects [for child abuse and child pornography]” (Atkins & Mintcheva, 171). In other words, if the usual suspects for child abuse and child pornography are the one’s taking the photo why does Sally Mann not become a suspect? Is it because she is considered and artist? This issue becomes problematic because it is difficult to really understand and know the artist intentions. Therefore, Sally Mann’s child photography should be censored in order to protect children, stop the child exploitation, and encouragement of child
Sally Mann’s photography displays child abuse because she is using her children in order to sell her work. Moreover, others believe her work implies or promotes child abuse and incest due to her children being captured nude. For instance, a New York Times article named “The Disturbing Photography of Sally Mann” describes her work as stated: “The pictures dramatize burgeoning sexuality, while implying the more forbidden topics of incest and child abuse. Mann’s laconic captions lend a parental concern, honed with feminist edge. Some of the poses seem causal; others, carefully directed” (Woodward, 2015). In other words, her photography might be viewed obscene and distasteful for viewers due to the amount of child nudity exhibited. Her photography encourages child exploitation and child abuse because many of the photos are posed and not natural compared to traditional child photography. For example, “Photographers shooting children in the nude […] are the usual suspects [for child abuse and child pornography]” (Atkins & Mintcheva, 171). In other words, if the usual suspects for child abuse and child pornography are the one’s taking the photo why does Sally Mann not become a suspect? Is it because she is considered and artist? This issue becomes problematic because it is difficult to really understand and know the artist intentions. Therefore, Sally Mann’s child photography should be censored in order to protect children, stop the child exploitation, and encouragement of child