The untitled image I chose from Steven Meisel’s series “law & order” is part of fashion spread that places styled models in prison situations. In the image I chose, the scene is set as a conversation between a prisoner and her visitor. The woman in the foreground is staring with a starkly expressionless face that renders her lifeless and not relatable to the viewer. The woman behind the glass is portrayed similarly, with only the faintest expression of sadness and disappointment on her face.
I seem to know right away that the blonde girl was the one incarcerated, and the other the visitor although upon further examination there is nothing obvious to indicate this. The conclusion about her role can be drawn by considering the large black space and lack of information that exist behind the blonde girl. This space allows the viewer to create their own narrative about the situation, using the clues given to assume the worst. Also working to show the girl behind the glass as the inmate is the highlighting on her with the window light, which surprisingly makes her appear more enclosed than the woman who is not light. This may be due to the way her eye is directly affected by its beam, leading me to think that the next shot in this moment is her glancing longingly out at the free world.
It is intentional that both subjects are women, and are placed in a setting you would not normally see beautiful women complete with makeup, bangle bracelets and clutches. Obviously this concept is used as a tactic to highlight the glamour of the clothes and the beauty of the women. The way the “prisoner” is light along with her youthful face and radiant blonde hair render her more as an angel or symbol of innocence than a criminal. This likewise is used to highlight the contrast of the models with the drabness of their environment.
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