Dead or Alive: The use and relevance of the Deadpan aesthetic in contemporary photographic portraiture.

In recent years there has been a growing popularity within photographic portraiture (especially that within the fine art realm) that subscribes to an ever more blank and confusing mode of photographic approach. The Deadpan aesthetic that has become so prevalent and 'valued' in this area of practice has been the source of much debate, and at times, frustration. In order to understand this approach better, this piece of writing briefly outlines the use of the Deadpan aesthetic in contemporary photography within this area. It attempts to roughly define this aesthetic and assess its relevance within this genre of photographic practice by investigating its use, and analyzing its effect in important artworks from its origins to the present day. It makes indirect comparisons between these works, using key theorists and theories to evaluate its place within modern day image making.