Sipos Lilla Ilona
Photography MA
supervisor
Szombat Éva
masterwork opponent
Kocsi Olga
thesis consultant
Povedák István
thesis opponent
Povedák Kinga
masterwork
Female saints
Talking about the abuse and murder of women can be particularly important today, as it is a common and serious problem worldwide. Discussing the issue can raise awareness in society and if we talk openly about abuse, it can also help victims to access appropriate help and reduce the stigma associated with it. My series was triggered by a personal story of a friend of our family, a young girl who was brutally murdered by her boyfriend at the time. Even though the tragedy happened many years ago, we still talk about it. Similar tragic stories, of girls and women innocently murdered, are often in the daily news. The work process was preceded by a research project on Catholic women saints, which also inspired my series. Although the main reason for their deaths was their faith, there are several stories of men who found it unacceptable that a woman did not want to marry, so they tortured them cruelly and then killed them. The figures and still lifes in the pictures do not tell the story of one person, but of all the women who were abused and murdered.
thesis
The aesthetics of religious kitsch in contemporary photography
The aesthetics of kitsch is a controversial topic, as it is a subjective experience, and people and artists think differently about it. While some are attracted to this kind of exaggeration, others prefer a simpler, more understated style. Many religious works can be seen as kitschy, which may lead to a division based on cultural, religious and personal differences. Many artists are interested in religious topics today, and all have their distinctive approach. Many photographers use the tools of kitsch to make their point. The aim of the thesis is to explore the connections between religious kitsch and the aesthetics of contemporary photography. During my research, I intend to analyse how religious elements are integrated into photography, including how iconic religious images and motives are reinterpreted and placed in a modern context in a way that is attractive to the contemporary audience. The short description of the aesthetics of kitsch and religious kitsch is followed by an analysis of the works of various photographers. I examine how they approach religious topics and how they incorporate the tools of kitsch, and I also explore what impact this has on the audience.
