Blog Lecture: Five Girls Analysis

Five Girls 2014 by David Stewart, winner of the Taylor Wessing photographic portrait prize 2015. Photograph: David Stewart

Analyzing the photograph, at first it can be seen as simply five girls together after eating a meal. Diving deeper into what the concept of the photo could be, the viewer can see how structured the entirety of it is, from the outfits, the facial expressions, and the layout of the table. The whole photo has an uncomfortable feeling due to its level of structure. It can be perceived that they are mimicking the last supper by how they are sitting on one side of the table and the light shines above them. Directly in front of the girls, is their smart phones on the table practically waiting to be used. This shows the impact of what a smart phone has on current society, though we are together, our phones take us away, distracting us. Behind their phones is paper cups of what can assumably be coffee and empty plastic food containers. With this, I collect that what the artist is trying to portray is the priorities to the five girls. Smart phones are almost a necessity for people our age, which is why it is closer to the subjects than anything else. With this, the paper cups and plastic containers further push the concept of youth culture, and the standards held with it. Though this is a photo from 2014, it is still relevant today because I can relate to it myself. Being in university, the convenience of take out food, smart phones, and coffee is almost a daily thing for myself and many others I know for a fact. Though style has changed for sure, I still see a modern version of this photo today.