Monsters

by Charlie White (Photographer), Sally O'Reilly (Introduction), Benjamin Weissman (Contributor)

Over the last decade, internationally recognized artist Charlie White has created some of the most arresting and trenchant images in contemporary photography. Through an extensive process that entails casting actors, creating characters, and building sets to construct scenes both disturbing and familiar, White dissects the violence, desires, and social anxieties that trouble the American collective unconscious.

In series such as In a Matter of Days (1999) and Understanding Joshua (2001), White created monsters that stand as surrogates for human fragility and the internal demons that haunt our experiences of self and other. In And Jeopardize the Integrity of the Hull (2003) White's work began to critique photography's role in popular culture by mimicking and heightening the veneer of the commercial image to reveal the tension below the gloss. White's most recent series, Everything is American (2006), reveals the violence-tinged eroticism of the American psyche through portraits of both historical and mythic figures.

From assaulting scenes to meditative studies, White's powerful, disturbing, and revelatory photographs create fiction to understand reality and reconsider history to critique the present-all in a delicious, candy-coated shell.

Genres: Photography

96 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2007

About the author

Charlie White (born 1972, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is a Los Angeles-based artist. White received his BFA in 1994 from the School of Visual Arts, New York, and received his MFA from Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA, in 1998. He is the Director of the MFA program at the Roski School of Fine Arts, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA.

Reviews

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Freakin' fanstastic coffee table book. Charlie White's photos have that normal yet oddly disturbing quality to them that offer no explanation and leave you to interpret your own story. Everyone that's come over to my house has picked it up and had some sort of reaction to it.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I was in a band I'd want Charlie White to direct my video. Here's more deranged photographic beauty/beasts.

[brian tanabe · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading Kevin Sampsell's review of this book I was reminded of Chris Cunningham's work (which includes music videos). Perhaps the comparison is a stretch, but I think the "hairy monster" series in White's work translates well to some of Cunningham's stuff. Both awesome artists.

[Marion · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a can't miss book; buy it now. And, yes, that's Sadie and the other killers!!! Or, is it?

[Edan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually just want to announce that I know Charlie White personally. Isn't that cool?

[Petalbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Weird images derived from waking nightmares. Excellent technique - I jut don't like the subject matter.

[Frank · Rating 2 out of 5]

Photography