The retrospective 'Weegee: Society of the Spectacle' examines the drastic evolution of photographer Arthur Fellig's work from hard-hitting crime scenes in New York during the 1930s and 40s to more commercialized, stylized portraits of Hollywood celebrities in the later years of his life. Curator Clement Cheroux argues that both phases of Weegee's career reflect an engagement with the 'spectacle' of urban life, a concept articulated by Guy Debord. While the exhibition seeks to validate Weegee's Hollywood output, critics remain divided on its artistic merit, paralleling historical judgments of other artists' late works.
The exhibition argues that Weegee, both in his celebrated New York years and his later Hollywood work, depicted urban spectacle through his photography.
Curator Clement Cheroux suggests Weegee's evolution to Hollywood portraits reflects the social spectacle in consumer-driven society, aligning with Guy Debord's theories.
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