Hilton Als Presents Unpublished Essay on Diane Arbus at New Museum's Visionaries Series

Hilton Als delivered a reading of his unpublished essay 'Diane Arbus in Manhattan' at the New Museum on September 15 as part of the Stuart Regen Visionaries Series. Throughout his presentation, a 1949 photograph of Arbus taken by her husband Allan was projected onscreen. Als constructed a portrait of the photographer as open, inquisitive, and embracing—the quintessential New Yorker who lived her entire life moving between uptown and downtown Manhattan. He argued Arbus did not fear difference, viewing her subjects—often labeled 'freaks' in mid-20th century terms, including drag queens, dwarves, and interracial couples—as neighbors deserving compassion. This perspective served as a direct counter to Susan Sontag's 1973 critique 'Freak Show,' which accused Arbus of exploitation. Als described her work as an emotional documentary born from social exchange, where the camera's click created a metaphysical alchemy. A longtime New Yorker contributor since 1989 and its Chief Theater Critic for 13 years, Als has authored books like 'The Women' (1996) and 'White Girls' (2013) that explore marginalized figures. He framed his essay as a textual photograph of Arbus, shaping metaphors from reality rather than pursuing empirical truth. The event was recorded and made available online for those who missed it.