Empowered Amateur Posers

Peg Brand Weiser

doi:10.58519/aesthinv.v6i2.17144

Authors

Peg Brand Weiser University of Oregon

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58519/aesthinv.v6i2.17144

Keywords:

self-portraiture, portraiture, modeling, poser, professional model, amateur model, empowerment

Abstract

Aurélie Debaene cites a lack of aesthetics research on the professional art model, concluding that the artistic enterprise of collaboration or 'partnering' between model and artist can lead viewers to under-appreciate their conjoined creativity and skill. I argue for a collaborative model that extends the notion of art model beyond the professional to the amateur art model/poser/performer. On this model, an artist can achieve success in an artwork by: (1) posing their self in a self-portrait and/or (2) inviting viewers to pose in artworks designed to 'partner' together in creating an aesthetic experience of shared creativity, skill, and pleasure.

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