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The Kitchen Table Series,1990 Analysis Essay: Woman and Friends

Introduction

According to Carrie Mae Weems, a black female photographer in an interview with David Alan Grier, she chooses to focus on issues surrounding relationships, gender, race, and power in her photographic works. Based on her past experiences as a person, she felt the need to use black subjects more. She also has an interest in other themes like relationships, love, and family. For this analysis, it will focus on her work "the kitchen table series, 1990", emphasizing on the tenth picture from left to right: woman and friends. Weems is a protagonist, and she queries ideas surrounding various kinds of relationships. The relationship between women and men, gender roles, and the need to be a participating member of the community (Weems). In the tenth photo, Weems is in the company of friends, and they appear to be consoling her. The photo series highlights the position of a woman in different kinds of relationships. However, in my view, this tenth photo shows the need to question the role friends play in cheering up the mood of a person.

Discussion

The series addresses issues of race, gender roles, and relationships. Fictional and staged characters are used in this series. According to Andrea Kirsh and Susan fisher, it is a conscious response to the criticism aimed at feminist films. By not favoring the male gender, Weems makes herself to be the protagonist of the narrative forcing the viewer to associate with her. This is depicted from the first photo where she gazes at the cameras hence coming eye to eye with the viewer. The series centers on a black woman as the lead character with no help from the white woman. It moves away from past films where black women played only secondary roles. It shows Weems's relationship with a man, perhaps her husband, and also her relations with children and her friends. The scene takes place in a small domestic interior kitchen table. It outlines the various struggles of a woman in a relationship.

The scene is centered on the kitchen table. It can be seen that the two, by the side of Weems, seem to be in laughter. There is a lamp on top of them which is on. In comparison with the prior picture, the lady on the right of Weems seems to be extremely jovial as she is seen nodding her head vigorously. Weems smiles while holding a cigarette on her hands (Weems). Each of the participants in the photo has a glass of alcohol in front of them. The friend on her right reaches out to touch her on her right hand. These two friends seem to be consoling her, and, in the process, they share a couple of laughter lighting Weems spirits despite the previous struggles.

The woman seems to be in a happier mood compared to the prior picture in the triptych. The photo is taken in a dark room with a lamp on it. The darkness in the room is symbolic in that it shows the struggles the woman is going through in her various relationships with the man she is with. It is an indication of the depression and the emptiness in the absence of her usual company. The woman is seen to be smoking and drinking, perhaps to be able to forget what had transpired in her life. She is in a kind of reflection on what is happening to her. The smile shown by her might be of pretense to ease the burden on her friends to make her happy. It is seen by the level of happiness shown by her friends compared to hers. She is not as comfortable as them.

The lamp on her head is a symbol of hope despite the darkness that surrounds her. The presence of other friends is an indication that despite being left, she has other people whom she can count on. Friends are shown to be significant at such times. Their concern is revealed when the two friends reach out to tap her by her hands for her to join in the conversation. It is an indication that they would not want her to be deeply lost in thoughts. Weems is not a happy as her friends in the photo, indicating that she might be lost in thoughts. Friends are essential as they can cheer you up while in depression.

Conclusion

At the beginning of the photo series, Weems looks into the viewer, indicating that something is wrong. It gives room for one to critically think about the position of a black woman in society. In the visual culture, many women have been viewed as objects. Through this series, Carrie Mae Weems wanted to bring to attention an apparent omission of a picture of blacks in media and the inequality that exists. She uses herself as a representation of the ignored voices of the back woman despite the numerous challenges that have been thrown her way. She remains in control, confident, and calm. The picture series is an eye-opener of the need to involve women in community decisions, the importance of friendship, and how delicate relationships are.

Work Cited

Carrie Mae Weems and David Alan Grier: In conversation. Accessed April 12, 2020, from https://youtu.be/6p3IPMr3kO0

Kirsh, Andrea, and Susan fisher sterling. Carrie Mae Weems. Washington. D.C: National museum of women in arts 1993. Accessed April 12, 2020, from https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://faculty.winthrop.edu/stockk/contemporary%2520art/Weems%2520by%2520Kirsh%2520and%2520Fisher%2520Sterling.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjazNbJ2-roAhX4DWMBHQuFAN84ChAWMBJ6BAgCEAE&usg=AOvVaw30PZKacf4Zr0APQ4-EFQZp

Weems, Carrie,1990." Carrie Mae Weems: The kitchen table series,1990". Retrieved from Carriemaeweems.Net, 2020 http://carriemaeweems.net/galleries/kitchen-table.html