Abstract
In this essay Catherine Opie's social documentary photographic work is interpreted as a persuasive visual commentary on the mutual and constituting relationships between subjects and their context. Opie became particularly well known for her exploration of gender, sexuality, and queer identities. However, a midcareer survey of her work at the Guggenheim New York made clear that her work expands much beyond. Whether in her portraits of gay families across America, performance S&M artists, surfers, or modern highway complexes, Opie unsettles and demands that we question what we think we know. Considering her body of work as a whole reveals the relevance and importance of identity politics.
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