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Photo: Chen Fu 2012

Posted on April 29, 2012 by Chen Fu

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……….Many times I look back to those days and events which have shaped my life most, I see farewells. Born and raised in a very small city in China, I was educated to study hard to struggle my way out of it. So my life was always saying goodbye to those people around me, saying goodbye to my parents, to the girl I love, to my cousin, and to go further and further against the way home.

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Photo: Chen Fu 2012

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The first time was 200 miles from hometown when I was 15. Then 680 miles towards Shanghai, the city never sleeps. Then after 4 years, it was 5000 miles to Romania – where I was even dreaming of becoming a vampire, and finally now here in America, 12000 miles away from home. I heard America is the land of freedom and dreams since I was a little kid. Over the years, I have learned to never look back to those seeing me off when I was walking into the security zones at airports, because I knew anyway I had to leave. All these years I have gotten used to calling home only once a week or month, because I know living with the most important people to me was just not my life. When Google Map told me to kayak across the Pacific Ocean to get back home, I somehow learned that farewells to those I love – had already become a part of my life.

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Photo: Chen Fu

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So recently I decided to walk to University City Station (Penn stop) and take the train to the airport, as many times as I have done with my girlfriend. Those buildings and scenes along the road were always reminders to me – that my time with her was getting shorter and shorter: empty archways; green bicycle lanes; Septa signs, and rusted tracks. What are in those people’s minds? Are they seeing someone off like I did? They are smiling just like I was, but was that also as untrue as mine? I cannot stop wondering.

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Photo: Chen Fu

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What I discovered a bit surprising was that I didn’t see hugs, cries, kisses and tears. Maybe it was just not necessary because they were actually traveling together, or they could be like me, getting used to farewells. I suddenly found that sunshine in the airport was actually quite nice, and I was again standing outside of security. It’s just this time I was all alone.

About The Author: Chen Fu is enrolled in the Master of Architecture program at the University of Pennsylvania. May 2012

Emily

Posted on April 27, 2012 by Avi Chanales

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……….Former Rutgers student Dharun Ravi sat in trial awaiting his sentence regarding his alleged hate crime against his former gay roommate, Tyler Clementi. The resurfacing of this news story almost a year and a half after Tyler’s suicide forced the world to re-confront the harsh reality of gay teen suicides. Tyler’s suicide in October 2011 marked the fifth suicide in just a short three-week period and prompted a nationwide awareness effort regarding the serious danger of gay teen suicide.

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Emily

Three weeks ago, my friend Emily, also sat in a room awaiting her sentence. After 21 years of hiding her identity, Emily courageously came out in a public speech in front of the entire Orthodox Jewish community at Penn. She bravely spoke of her struggles growing up gay in a traditionalist community, but the main portion of her speech focused on her struggles with suicide. For the Orthodox community, gay teen suicide was no longer a news story; it was personal.

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Emily

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Lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth are four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers. The Suicide Prevention Resource Center estimated that between 30 to 40% of LGB youth have attempted suicide. A major factor influencing suicidal ideations is internalized homophobia that leads to self-loathing and deep internal conflicts about their sexual orientation.

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Emily described her constant questioning of her own self-worth. She described days that were so overwhelmed with depression that she could barely find the energy or motivation to do anything. She would just sit, numb and immobilized.

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For many gay youth, it is their religious beliefs that add to their internal conflicts. Emily described times when she simultaneously hated God but also felt like He was the only person she could turn to.

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Emily

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In response to the suicides of teenagers who were bullied because they were gay, author Dan Savage and his husband Terry Miller founded the “Its Gets Better Project”, to inspire hope in teens struggling with their sexual identity. Emily embodies this mission. Her courage, poise, and optimism instills hope not only in those still struggling with their sexual identities, but to everyone she encounters. The faith she instills? That one day we might actually live in a world that sees sexual orientation as irrelevant.

About the Author: Avi Chanales is a Candidate for Bachelor of Arts degree in Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Pennsylvania. Class of 2012

Long Legged Nude

Posted on April 24, 2012 by Tony Wood
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I grew up with the conventions of rebelling. I remember seeing the first Playboys when I was 6. I had 4 older brothers. The ideal bodies, with their standardized and unlikely proportions bore me now. I have great fun creating impossible bodies that defy gravity and biology. I’ve always had a fascination with distortion. Hendrix, Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine, the distorted realities of William Burroughs, Joel Peter Witkins and Terry Gilliam have all been important Art for me. Minor White said there were 2 kinds of photographers, “those who like reality the way it is and those who are dissatisfied with the world as it is”.
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Untitled

The definition of photography has undergone a huge redefinition. With the digitalization of the world we are seeing once separate visual mediums merging and over-lapping in unexpected ways. I took a photography class with Jerry Uelsmann in the 80′s – where he described how he merged multiple images with a 6 enlarger darkroom. Before Photoshop it was rare to find photographers working this way. The digital application has opened up the possibility of controlling everything that makes up an image, much like a synthesizer can effect every component of sound. The photographer decides the color pallet, not Kodak. Images, colors, textures, tones can all be layered, collaged and merged in new ways that were impossible a couple decades ago.
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Untitled

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Untitled

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Two Faced Nude

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Editor’s Note: To learn more about photographer Tony Wood, log on: www.AnthonyWoodPhotography.com. Copyright 2012

Mt. Laurel Cemetery

Posted on April 22, 2012 by Jake Liberatore

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……….Every photograph captures the image of people, places, or things; forever sealing that which could otherwise be heard and not seen in a visible entity. Although photographs may distort what really existed in the brief moment of exposure, rarely do they fail to provide the belief that whatever scene is captured on film truly did exist in some form. As Susan Sontag, legendary writer, On Photography wrote, “whatever the limitations or pretentions of the individual photographer, a photograph — any photograph — seems to have a more innocent, and therefore more accurate, relation to visible reality than do other mimetic objects.” Indeed, there is a prevailing thought that photos capture reality in a unbiased way, but photographers have as much room for interpretation as do conventional visual artists. The ambiguity in every photograph grants it meaning, and therein lies it’s message.

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Mt. Laurel Cemetery

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This pair of photographs taken at Mt. Laurel cemetery in Philadelphia, ostensibly illustrates the slow decay of man’s once beautiful, yet humble tribute to the dead. The faces of the once intricately detailed statues, worn down throughout the decades to almost unrecognizable, half-human forms, project from blurred backgrounds of leafless trees. While a viewer could reasonably interpret the supposed bleakness of the photographs as a projection of malaise upon man’s all too obvious mortality, the intent of the pair was to contrast such mortality with the only thing that is eternal: the afterlife. Without any indication or suggestion of what characterizes an afterlife, the images of the statues represent an omnipresent watchful eye on the living from the dead; a guide through life, which is simultaneously the longest thing we ever experience and yet an insignificant grain in the sands of time.

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Jacob Liberatore: Self-Portrait 2012

Copyright 2012

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About The Author: Jake Liberatore is a sophomore studying Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania. Class of 2014.

Jennie

Posted on April 19, 2012 by Jennie Shapira

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MISPLACEMENT

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……….For me, eroticism tickles the uncomfortable; it’s the delicate play of contrasting themes, acting perversely to make the viewer experience the combative feelings of ease and unease. It’s the product of a dichotomy between overt sexuality and something that both pushes you back and draws you in. What defines erotic as erotic is precisely this interaction. The concept of seeing only enough to force you to fill in the rest plays strongly with my views of eroticism, allowing a not-fully nude image to sometimes be more sexually driven than one where everything is purely raw.

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Jennie

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As a deeper conversation with the viewer, the creation of a scene which beckons for an accompanying narrative causes the interaction to deepen. In the end, it doesn’t matter if the story is the same as the stories imagined by all the others, nor the story imagined by the subject at the time of creation, as long as it is one that spawns a desire to know the character and know how the depicted situation managed to occur.

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Jennie

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In order to embody these themes and appropriately have them relate to the ‘philo’ environment located at UPenn’s College Hall, I imagined one half of the dynamic play to involve the concept of purity and intellectual soundness. The Philomathean Halls are gilded with knowledge, so a fair counter would be one that’s slightly disturbing and somewhat scandalous, which would eject itself from the ‘ivy-bubble’ as much as possible. To show eroticism, I plan to pose myself in an uncomfortable, tied-up fashion, as if just left in this building, for non-specific torture to ensue. Such would invoke much internal conversation, a discomfort with the image, and a great contrast with the neat, orderly, olden feel of the library.

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Jennie

To Be Continued………..

Jennifer Cole

Posted on April 18, 2012 by Jennifer Cole

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This recent shoot truly symbolizes this time period of my life where many “epiphany” moments seem to just keep on occurring. A more polished, sleek, mature look coupled with “edgier” fashion in these photos accurately depicts my new found self-confidence and Leo pride! The energy and aura captured in these images truly expresses my charisma, and refreshed appetite for life.

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Jennifer Cole

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Below is a list I came up with which through my experience, has shown me the ways I see myself maturing into the kind of woman I want to maintain:

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What it is to really “Grow up”.
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1. Taking better care of my physical self.
2. Dealing with my emotions and fears directly instead of numbing the pain.
3. Accepting failure & defeat as a means of forming new learning opportunities, thus becoming wiser, and stronger.
4. Walking through life with a strong confidence in my step.
5. Letting go of what I can’t control.

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Copyright 2012
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Editor’s Note: To see more pictures of Jennifer Cole, go to the search bar at the top of the page: enter name and click green icon.

Desert Beauty

Posted on April 16, 2012 by Madeleine Shiff

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……….Why is a distorted lone tree in the desert beautiful? Why are the simplest things often the most beautiful? With this assignment I chose to explore the complexities and contradictions of the Arizona landscape. I became particularly interested in the juxtaposition of twisted, grotesque trees, and the majestic Catalina mountains. The exploration of the concept of ‘what is a photograph’ is particularly interesting to me. As Susan Sontag states in On Photography, “ although there is a sense in which the camera does indeed capture reality, not just interpret it, photographs are as much an interpretation of the world as painting and drawings are”. What do we really see when we view a photograph? To me, a photograph is compelling when it does not just depict reality. A photograph is compelling because its composition evokes a deep visceral reaction in the viewer.

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Catalina Mountains

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The Arizona landscape is harsh and savage. Few plants or animals can survive in this landscape. From far away the spikes of a cactus appear vicious and hostile, yet up close the spikes appear delicate and beautiful. This photograph lends itself to the idea that objects in a photograph can appear completely different than they do in reality. Furthermore, objects can appear ‘ugly’ in reality yet beautiful in a photograph because of its composition.

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Cactus

Sontag also examines the tension between beauty and ‘ugliness’. I believe that remarkable photographic opportunities lie within this tension between beauty and ugliness. This is a concept that I examined with my photographs in Arizona. A bare tree without leaves can appear lonely in the desert landscape; however, it can also appear proud and dignified in its bareness. Photographs do not merely capture reality; they capture the desires and motivations of the photographer as well. Through this series of pictures, I sought to capture both traditional objects of beauty such as the Catalina Mountains, as well as unorthodox objects of beauty such as an old, lifeless tree.

About The Author: Madeleine Shiff is enrolled in the College of the University of Pennsylvania, Class of 2013.

Photo: Errol Christian

Posted on April 14, 2012 by Errol Christian

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Many times, the most popular photos in sports are the photos taken directly after winning “the big game.” For example, one of the most popular photos in basketball is the shot of Michael Jordan laying on the floor and hugging his newly won championship trophy, while crying as he mourns the recent death of his father. In the Olympics, U.S. citizens will never forget the photo of Michael Phelps sporting around his neck the eight gold medals he won in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

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Photo: Errol Christian

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These photos of achievement are what capture the eyes of the masses. However, what often gets overlooked is the hard work and dedication these glorified athletes endured in order to get to the ultimate stage. In his book Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell states that true success requires at least 10,000 hours of practice. How many shots do you think Michael Jordan had put up in an empty gym before he became the greatest player of all-time? How many laps do you think Michael Phelps has swum by himself before he became one of the greatest Olympians in history?

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Photo: Errol Christian

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Susan Sontag states “The history of photography could be recapitulated as the struggle between two different imperatives: beautification, which comes from the fine arts, and truth-telling…” Through photography, audiences are able to appreciate the beauty of Michael Jordan’s celebration and Michael Phelp’s eight gold medals. However, also through photography, it was my aim to capture the truth. The truth through repetitious practice in isolation – with no cheering fans, with no cameras, with no glory.

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Errol Christian: Self-Portrait 2012

About The Author: Errol Christian is enrolled in the MBA program: Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania.

Artwork by Mikel Elam

Posted on April 13, 2012 by A. H. Scott

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……….Even though most of us won’t admit it so easily, we sometimes may judge others by appearance or perception. Yet, as the old adage goes, never judge a book by it’s cover. Leather bound books seem ever so strong. While a dog-eared paperback seems flimsy and easily broken. Just look beneath the cover and find something with a bit of magic inside. Some packaging may be shimmering. And, others may seem rusted. Alas, it is what is inside of that book that truly attracts. What may seem a cactus from afar, can actually be a soft blanket that caresses your flesh and soul.

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ABLAZE

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His fingers were like candles, lighting my flesh with every touch
Virility mixed with sweat and fervency, takes me to places too savage to mention out loud
Tiny hairs on my neck were the wicks those fingers ignited in a tender touch
Heat me up with your body thrusting like gladiator in the arena of lust
No doubt any woman in your midst is always left a humble miss
Sonnet of the bard or philosopher from ancient Rome are recounted with authority from your lips
Behind the grunt, you are a charming chap
No wonder why I ended up in your lap
Strands of my hair cascade over the mattress, as your tempting tide overtakes me
From afar, you seemed like a hard nut to crack
Yet, after a while of knocking on the castle walls, your resistance crumbled to my kisses
The fire is real within me now
Whispered words from you to me are the gift the angels have allowed
Pores are opened and drenched with delight
Ablaze with volcanic encounters with you in the night..

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Editor’s Note: To read more of A.H. Scott’s poetry, go to the search bar at the top of the page: enter name and click green icon. To see more artwork by Mikel Elam, do the same.

Jennifer Cole

Posted on April 11, 2012 by Jennifer Cole

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……….In the past several months, I’ve arrived at many conclusions about my behavior, and how it has affected others, as well as myself. I realized I have a problem facing reality and tend to act out in extreme ways to distract myself from it. I’ve become so skilled at stifling and numbing my hurt feelings, fears, anxieties, and my inner anger, that anticipating a drink every single evening seemed like normative behavior. Then it became apparent to me that feelings are just feelings… no matter how uncomfortable they are, sometimes you just have to sit with them, go to sleep, and wake up with a better, rested, and fresh outlook.

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I started to reteach myself how to think and live. My ambitions of being an event planner and starting my own business came to the forefront of my goals once again, after being buried somewhere back in college. Entering this type of business has been anything but easy…coupled with my “partying” tendencies: I have realized this business will never happen – unless I properly fuel the fire that needs to ignite it; me.

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Jennifer Cole

Copyright 2012

To Be Continued………..
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Editor’s Note: To see more pictures of Jennifer Cole, go to the search bar at the top of the page: enter name and click green icon.