Access and Excess: Exploring Theater of Manner and The Europeans by Tina Barney and Ricas y famosas by Daniela Rossell

Grace Tighe

Advisor: Dr. George Flaherty

Abstract

The depiction of extreme wealth in photography usually comes from a critical point of view, exposing the indulgent lives of the privileged classes. This is because the photographers are approaching these individuals as outsiders. However, contemporary photographers, Tina Barney and Daniela Rossell attempt to photograph these elites neutrally so as to let the wealth of their sitters not be the sole focus. Rossell and Barney approach photographing elites from a new angle as they themselves are members of the social circles they capture. Their backgrounds allow them to be readily accepted into the homes of these elite people to unveil intimate aspects of their lives. Through my thesis, I am interested in taking a deeper look into their photography, their intentions, and the public’s criticism of their work. By understanding the relationships between the photographer, the sitter, and their setting and by examining how these elites choose to be represented, I will be able to explore how these works depict wealth to see if they are actually able to neutrally capture these extreme lives.