Geoff Dyer's See/Saw Examines Photography Through Personal Canon and Historical References
Published by Canongate in April 2021, Geoff Dyer's See/Saw is a compilation of essays focused on photography from the last ten years, acting as a follow-up to his 2006 title, The Ongoing Moment. The work examines images from 50 photographers, featuring just eight women, and includes essays sourced from artist catalogues and publications such as Aperture. It is structured into three sections: 'Encounters,' 'Exposures,' and 'Writers,' referencing notable figures like Susan Sontag and Roland Barthes. The absence of key figures like Diane Arbus and Walker Evans is often highlighted. Dyer's prose, shaped by Barthes's Camera Lucida (1980), underscores the historical aspects of photography. The hardcover edition retails for £25 and was first featured in ArtReview's April 2021 issue.
Key facts
- See/Saw is a book by Geoff Dyer published in April 2021
- It is a sequel to The Ongoing Moment (2006)
- The book analyzes works by 50 photographers, with eight women included
- Essays were previously published in Aperture, artist catalogues, and newspapers
- It is divided into three chapters: Encounters, Exposures, and Writers
- Key omissions include Walker Evans and Diane Arbus, though frequently mentioned
- Influences include Roland Barthes's Camera Lucida (1980)
- Published by Canongate at £25 hardcover
Entities
Artists
- Geoff Dyer
- Walker Evans
- Diane Arbus
- Lee Friedlander
- Zoe Strauss
- William Eggleston
- Nan Goldin
- Alvin Langdon Coburn
- Gary Knight
- Eugène Atget
- Roland Barthes
- Michael Fried
- John Berger
- Susan Sontag
Institutions
- Canongate
- ArtReview
- Aperture
- The New Republic
Locations
- Charlottesville
- United States
- Philadelphia
- Iraq
- Dyala Bridge