Arbus's Freaks

Sontag claims Diane Arbus, unlike other photographers, depicts people one would not normally try to associate with. These depictions suggest our world shelters even those who are freakish and eccentric. Arbus' characters are odd. Their oddness encourages people to stare at them not because they are aesthetically pleasing but because the viewer is somewhat appalled at their appearance. Some of them are massively tattooed, strangely tall, dress unatractive, look scary, or are simply just odd.

The picture shown titled "The Day" depicts two children. Each is very different and to some extent odd as well. The girl is holding something close to her chest, and it seems as if she is letting out a devilish laugh or an expression of victory. The boy is shorter than she is, darker, and has a big head. His short shirt and high pants add to his innocent character. It looks like if he is acceeding or concuring to the action of the girl but in a less open manner. It is the image of them together that make this still funny and enjoyable to disect. This is the major reason I chose this picture.

The viewer would definitely not try to associate with the children. Instead he or she would look at the contrasting characteristics of each and realize as Sontag states, "Humanity is not one." Everyone is different or odd at some point. This is probably the reason why Arbus had the capability according to Sontag to "insinuate anguish, kinkiness, [or] mental illness with any subject-" due to the fact that these are real people, not members of a runway who are asked to pose in a certain way that makes them look artistic by an aesthetic standard. This concept is stricking and prompts the photography audiences to think, "I wonder if others have ever perceived me as odd or as a freak. I mean I look normal..."