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Hold Still by Sally Mann6/1/2023 She describes herself as being a rebellious teenager, always having a boyfriend and always staying out late. This upbringing influenced her photography, as she was able to spend so much time alone in nature. She writes, “I grew up into the person I am today, for better or worse, on those lifeless summer afternoons having doggy adventures that took me far from home, where no one had looked for me or missed me in the least” (19). The beginning of the memoir places us in Mann’s hometown of Lexington, Virginia. The book is split into four sections categorized in the following order: 1) stories of her childhood in rural Virginia, 2) memories of her mother, 3) her observations of racial injustice in the South and 4) memories of her father. Themes include the artistic process, rebellion, fame, family and controversy. The stories are written with such emotional depth, and the photographs in the memoir contribute to this emotional intensity. The writing is poignant and beautiful, and reminds me very much of my experiences in the South. Mann’s ability to write her memoir with such honesty surrounding the connections between her past, present, and future is certainly admirable. Hold Still by Sally Mann tells the story of a famous and controversial photographer’s personal history whilst digging into the sleepy culture of the American South. Hold Still: A Memoir with Photographs by Sally Mann
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