I found Laird's works quite similar to those of Judy Dater. Their finished products aren't too similar for the most part, but their reasons for the pictures they take are nearly identical. Laird's series "investigates the ways in which we define ourselves through social roles, dress and physical markers, both natural and applied." This sounds very much like what Dater wishes to convey in her self-portrait sequence "in which she dressed and posed herself as stereotypes of certain kinds of women." Both women take special pains to use themselves as models (not an easy feat, I know from experience!). Not only that, they change costumes and props in every picture to convey the character they are becoming. In a sense, they are actresses, and each picture is a separate role for them. How well the

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Laird's "Kitchen" and Dater's "Ms. Clingfree" were two pictures I thought were similar. If you laid the two side by side, you would see nothing in them that was remotely similar. One is of a young attractive housewife sitting on the kitchen counter, cheerily showing off the fruit bowl. The other is of an older housewife, perhaps one who has been married many years and is starting to feel the stress taking its toll on her. In that sense, the pictures are of the same person (a housewife) as she goes through the years. Laird shows her when she is happily married and everything is sunny and bright. Dater shows the woman after the years have taken their toll and she is tired of it all. I think their ages influence the work. Laird is quite young, 23 I believe, so it is only natural she would show a young happy housewife. Dater, however, is 58 years old. She has seen much in her life, and no doubt was to some degree the unhappy housewife with too many chores and too littl!

et. She seems to be quite confident and in control of her life. Perhaps with her age she has accumulated security, and knows she has firm control of her future. Dater seems far more confident in her stature in this picture than Laird does in hers.

sual picture, one of my favorites by her. In this case, "Parasol Tattoo" and "Nehemiah" have similar subject matter, and the same sensuality oozes from them because they are so intimate. They give me chills to look at them, I love them lov

Some common words found in the essay are:
Judy Dater, Ms Clingfree, Tattoo Nehemiah, Marionette Laird, Parasol Tattoo, Dater's Nehemiah, Magician Dater, Kirstie Laird, Orange Girl, Dater's Magician, parasol tattoo, sense pictures, control life, love love, pictures similar, dater's nehemiah, orange girl,
Approximate Word count = 1043
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)