Martin Parr British New Wave Colour Photography Jodie

Martin Parr & British New Wave Colour Photography Jodie, Rebecca, Lewis, Kotryna

Martin Parr

Who is Martin Parr? • Born 24 May 1952, Parr is a British documentary photographer, photojournalist and filmmaker. • Studied photography at Manchester Polytechnic and began pursuing it professionally from the 1970 s. • He is known for projects that critique aspects of everyday modern life, particularly suburban, provincial life in England. • He is a member of Magnum photos, an exclusive collective of the most revered photographers in the world.

Martin Parr’s Work • Started out in black and white photography in the mid-1970 s, he switched to colour in 1984, the first notable result was ‘Last Resort: Photographs of New Brighton’. • His work is often described as intimate, anthropological and satirical and is heavily inspired by the photographer Weegee. • He often places his subjects under the microscope, exposing their lives and values in ways often involve inadvertent humour. (See: Sign of the Times: A Portrait of the Nation’s Tastes ’ 92).

Martin Parr, New Brighton (1986)

Implications OF HIS WORK • Parr addresses themes of consumerism, mass tourism and globalisation with a distinctive wit and sense of irony. • The gaudy and sometimes grotesque imagery of these works seemed to reflect the spirit of Thatcher’s Britain, while echoing the tradition of tacky seaside postcards. • In ‘Common Sense’ (‘ 95), he uses bright colours and exaggerated close-ups to explore the excesses of contemporary capitalism. • Motifs such as hats, hands , food and dogs are repeated throughout, creating a snatched catalogue or our all too familiar shortcomings.

Martin Parr, Liverpool (1983)

Anna Fox • Part of British New Wave Photography that appeared in the 1980 s • Like Parr she observed the bizarre in the everyday • The Village-she tried to expose the reality behind the ‘picture perfect’ rural Britain • Her photos are at many times grotesque and unflattering with a satirical feeling (such as Hampshire Pram Race 2006) ‘Fox's work…also has an oblique, gothic sensibility that reveals the darkness in apparently ordinary situations. ’ – Tina Jackson (Metro)

Hampshire Pram Race 2006

Hampshire Pram Race 2006 • Photo resembles Diane Arbus’ ‘Identicle Twins’ 1967 in the reading ‘How do we read a photograph’ which implies the concern with identity and differencehowever the colour used by fox is vivid to emphasize the abnormality in the so- called normal situations. • Parr differs in this way as his work takes on a humorous and mocking tone but remains lighthearted in his mocking yet appreciation of British culture

'Colour is so immediate…It's more aggressive. It's like, it's today, and not romantic or nostalgic – Anna Fox • London offices in Work Stations (1986/88)

Paul Graham From ‘New Europe’ (1986)

• From ‘Beyond Caring’ (1984 -85)

Conclusion • These photographers all used colour documentary to successfully highlight either humour and abnormality in supposedly mundane situations in British life • Do you think that colour lessens the critique of British culture so as to remain satirical rather than merely accusatory? • Do their intentions come across in their work?