Jennifer Garza-Cuen Guest Lecture Review

Jennifer Garza-Cuen is more than just a photographer. In order to capture an image, Garza-Cuen explains that she must immerse herself in one place, experience the culture, and get personal with the people she meets. She works with concept art as well. She showed one of her works of old mug shots that were abandoned in a building due to a fire. It is hard to distinguish the faces in these mugshots which Garza-Cuen explains is important in understanding how over-mocked and permanent mugshots are today thanks to the internet.

Garza-Cuen's photography was very powerful. She explained in her lecture how photography is illusionary, and that there is a falsity behind the truth. She also stated how each photograph is a "self-portrait" because it is one person's perception of the world at a given point in time. Her work demonstrates this association with photography very well. She has traveled to different states, backtracking her family roots and history, finding something new and exciting along the way. It evokes a sense of adventure, but the subjects in her photography translate a sense of fragility. Garza-Cuen mentions how when a subject looks directly at the camera, it is a bit off-putting for the viewer, but adds emotional strength. Many of her photos are of subjects looking directly at the lens, with a straight face. I thought it was interesting that she chose to do this. It makes her photography more poignant.

Overall, I enjoyed Jennifer's work and her ability to share her experiences through her photos. She has a skill with both photography and the cultural aspects behind it. Her ability to capture her subjects in their surroundings is very telling of her skill with a camera, and I can definitely admire that. It was a great lecture to attend and I recommend everyone to view her work.