This photo from Mary Ellen Mark’s Ward 81 series is one that I always in interesting when looking at her works. I was particularly inspired by this series when studying Mary Ellen Mark for my photographer project. Mark was constantly forming true relationships with her subjects and once that is understood, the interpretation of her works becomes even more powerful. Mark went into Ward 81 with the intention of giving an authentic and raw look into the experiences of mental illness. The woman in this picture is photographed several times throughout this series and here she seems to be struggling. In other photos, she appears to be happy, or giddy, and curious. All of these emotions are telling of the various feelings and struggles there are to be mentally ill. I feel strongly that the photos in this series are meant to be shown together so that viewers can understand the power and message behind them.
I agree, seeing the series of images of this woman provides context and insight to the photographs that portray her as grinning and “giddy.”