For my fourth pentathlon, I decided to watch the film "Finding Vivian Maier."
Vivian Maier was a street photographer who took over 100,000 photographs in her life. She was never recognized during her life for her work, however.
After her death, John Maloof, buys a box of negatives at an auction house, searching for source material for a history book he was writing. These negatives were taken by Maier. Maloof saw an artistic quality in the work and decide to attempt to display it at galleries. Her work has garnered a posthumous recognition as one of the most accomplished street photographers of her time.
What was most interesting was how she lived her life. She worked as a nanny her entire life. She was a very secretive person. No one even knew that she took photographs seriously, they just thought that she carried around a camera and took photographs because of her eccentric nature. She never asked for recognition for her photographs, keeping them all secret.
She made art for her love of it, not for recognition because she was good at it. I feel like sharing the art is such a huge part of the process that she completely forwent.
The storyline about Maloof is extremely impactful as well. He dedicated himself to getting recognition for art that he didn't make, he just thought that the world should see it.
The unselfish aspect of both of these characters, being driven solely by their love for art really changed my perception of the arts. That art is an end within itself, not just a vehicle for success.
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