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Mass Media, Fame and the Rise of Celebrity Culture (and Donald Trump)
David Lavine
Professional Photographer, Lecturer, BES Member

This platform will be delivered in hybrid format, which means you can attend the platform via Zoom or in person at the Impact Hub Baltimore. Masks are optional.

Please note: During the summer season, often our members give informal Platforms on subjects that interest them. Topics can be serious or humorous, ranging from anything to everything. They can be off topic from our typical Sunday Platforms. They are always educational. And we thank our members who volunteer to share with us their time and talents. Enjoy!

Topic:
We will explore how photography (both still and film) has influenced fame and celebrity in entertainment and politics. And how they have informed each other. Abraham Lincoln ascribed some of his 1860 election victory to the Matthew Brady portrait of him that made him well known. Actors became celebrated through the Hollywood star system’s use of glamour photography. Then movie actors started to have influence beyond entertainment into politics and commerce. Actor Ronald Reagan became well known enough to be featured in cigarette advertising and then run for political office. Actress Jane Fonda’s opposition to the Vietnam War carried weight for many Americans because she was famous. In 1960, John F Kennedy’s camera-ready youthful looks, beautiful wife and family helped carry him into the presidency. Then we have reality TV star Donald Trump winning the presidency twice.

We will look at some of these celebrated figures and at the photographers – such as Annie Leibovitz, Karsh of Ottawa, and Arnold Newman – who helped them along on their path to fame.

Biography:
David Lavine is a Baltimore photographer. He is a 1967 graduate of the University of Delaware, where he majored in history. After service in the U.S. Navy, he completed a master’s degree in photography at the Maryland Institute College of Art. For many years he was an adjunct photography lecturer at Anne Arundel Community College. His work has been shown in area galleries and will be included in a show of Baltimore photography at the Baltimore Museum of Art in the fall.

Physical Location:
Impact Hub Baltimore
10 E. North Ave
Baltimore, MD 21202

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