Terry Richardson has recently posted photos that he took of the actor Ben Stiller dressed up and in character as Terry Richardson in a shoot that was staged in the office of Terry Richardson’s therapist.
Freud would have a field day with this shit.
Let’s take a look at the photos first and then we’ll discuss:
Richardson has been hit hard in the press over the last few weeks after allegations of his inappropriate behaviour toward the models in his notoriously clothing-free and sexually graphic photo shoots came to light following Danish model Rie Rasmussen’s public claims – which were quickly followed by similar allegations of “abuse” from other parties, as well as several statements defending Richardson and his work, including one from Australian model Abbey Lee Kershaw who has regularly appeared in the photographers work.
Perhaps the Stiller shoot has been a response to the current media storm Richardson is experiencing – an attempt to have a bit of a chuckle at his own expense with the assistance of the man who first took the piss out of the fashion world with “Blue Steel” and Hansel in Zoolander.
But then, the whole thing is a bit strange and narcissistic isn’t it?
Going back to Freud for a sec, Histrionic Personality Disorder (HPD) is a disorder characterised by pervasive attention-seeking behavior including inappropriate sexual seductiveness and shallow or exaggerated emotions. Associated features may include egocentrism, self-indulgence, continuous longing for appreciation, feelings that are easily hurt, and persistent manipulative behavior to achieve their own needs.
If you subscribe to the school of thought that Terry Richardson is a perverted pornographer-disguised-as-an-artist taking advantage of his female subjects, perhaps that might be one theory worth looking into – assuming that you don’t think psychoanalysis is complete bullshit (as many people do).
On the other hand, you might think that Richardson is a genius – an entirely original photographer who has successfully blurred the lines between provocative high fashion and porn, who has simply pushed the artistic boundaries a little further than most are willing and, as luck would have it, has gotten to have sex with some of the world’s most amazing looking women.
Anyway, here is some footage taken of the Stiller-Richardson shoot and regardless of your personal opinion toward Terry and his work and the recent shit storm that he’s in the centre of, I think it wouldn’t be out of line to suggest that this is crazy awkward:
Stiller is generally pretty awkward though:
Images courtesy of Terry Richardson via Terrys Diary
Via The Cut
For more information on both sides of the Richardson debate, check out the links below:
