Posted: December 6th, 2022

Seeing Different From An Artistic Point Of View

Topic 1: Seeing Different From An Artistic Point Of View (Attitudes And Prejudices)

1. Photos By Photographer Diane Orboz
A Jewish Giant at Home with His Parents in The Bronx, N.Y. 1970

As one of Arbus’ photographs of people in their homes, this was the image of a ‘Jewish Giant’ with his parents at home (Tate, 2021). The photograph demonstrates the interaction between the two parties that seems humorous but simultaneously sensitive. The sensitive nature is evident in how these parents seem to be looking up to speak to their son, which is not common in parent-child interactions. Notably, a look into the history of this image stipulated that the Jewish giant, or rather the son is Eddie Carmel. Carmel was born a normal baby who grew to average height in his childhood years until he was a teenager. At this age, he started to grow uncontrollably due to acromegaly to be 8’9” or 270 cm. From this image, it is evident, especially from the mother’s facial expression, of a fear that these parents are dealing with, which is taking care of a completely different child in terms of their physique. Carmel’s physique had brought in trauma for these parents, considering that their son looked like a ‘monster’ to them. I cannot fail to wonder how this bizarre life twist subsumed this once-normal family and what Carmel felt when he was just a regular person looking at the world from inside a not-so-typical body.
A Naked Man Being a Woman, N.Y.C. 1968

This is a visually striking photo that has been captured in a manner that can be challenging to establish the individual’s body. The concealed genitalia, protruding breasts, and shaved body pointed to a female figure in the lower part of the body. However, looking through the eyes, it is a male figure (Diane Arbus’ best photographs, 2017). Hence, this photo raises concerns about sexuality, considering that this man has been photographed like nude women painted in classic oil painting. Notably, the direct stare also implied being fearless and the lack of shame related to him being naked, the curtains that are all drawn open make him appear to be something that can be glamorized as if one is stepping on a glamorous stage. One main question that I have is how these individuals regarded themselves in their minds. One could easily deduce this person’s thoughts from their expressions, but the actual ones can only be obtained when the person in the photograph can articulate them.
2. Present A Personal Position On How People With Special Needs Deal With Everyday Reality.
People with special needs have been prompted to live their lives with conditions that they have not prepared for and do not know how to live their new realities. Apart from the internal battles, there is also the external battle of dealing with other people having numerous questions on the person being different. The ‘normal’ society will often hold an inaccurate perspective of these individuals. Diane Arbus focussed on taking photos of the ‘freaks’ or people with special needs. This is because she understood that these individuals undergo a deep sense of trauma that they individually understand. Most of them work hard to ensure they fight the trauma and are free from the fears attached to their special needs. The same sentiments were evident in John Wallach’s song, ‘Jonathan’s, Which is primarily a wounded song of an individual under constant examination from the society that it has become normal (Hayam, 2020). On the one hand, this person is trying to win society’s sympathy and, on the other hand, trying to acknowledge that they are different from others. This is a constant dilemma for people dealing with special needs, and it is evident that society is not trying to make it easier for them. The narrator from “Morning of Fools’ ‘ by Yitzhak Ben-Ner demonstrates a similar attitude especially from society since he was also dealing with a borderline IQ.
3. What do you think influenced the formation of attitudes towards Jonathan and Azai, how is the attitude expressed in the attitude of the environment – the children and the nurse in the health insurance fund.
The environment in which many people grow up influences the attitudes and perceptions they hold towards different things. Therefore, the attitudes held by the children and the nurse in the health insurance fund towards Jonathan and Azai were mainly built from an environmental perspective. People with special needs are typically regarded as different due to their conditions. This leads to the further treatment they receive from other people, primarily negative treatment. The societal environment has been built not to acknowledge that people can be different even in the most bizarre way, but they must still be treated as human beings.

References
Diane Arbus’ best photographs. (2017). Retrieved from https://www.sleek-mag.com/article/diane-arbus-best-photographs/
Hayam, I. (2020, August 16). Jonah Wallach’s songs take shape and color Israel today. Retrieved from https://newsrnd.com/life/2020-08-16-jonah-wallach-s-songs-take-shape-and-color-israel-today.BkmPm9LfP.html
Tate. (2021). Three images by Diane Arbus – Picture essay. Retrieved from https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/diane-arbus-5271/three-images-diane-arbus

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