John Coplans  was a British artist, art writer, curator, and museum director. A veteran of World War II and a photographer, he emigrated to the United States in 1960 and had many exhibitions in Europe and North America.He was on the founding editorial staff of Artforum from 1962 to 1971, and was Editor-in-Chief from 1972 to 1977.

  

    

John Coplans thought of the body as being able to express a language. He photographed his body parts with a poloroid film camera. He photographed his body because he thought that old was was a taboo in America and that they worshiped beauty and youth, and that old bodies must be hidden from view. This motivated John to show America and all societies that “ageing” and being old is nothing to hide and is a part of life.

The way John crops and photographs specific body parts is very interesting because of the fact that it isolates them and the audience is just focused on to that chosen part of the body. Unlike if he photographed his whole body the viewers gaze wouldn’t be focused on a specific part, so he photographed the body parts to keep the viewers gaze on the chosen body part.

The photograph of johns body I find my attention drawn to the most. This is because of many factors, one being that it shows the age of the human body and just like another photographer I researched Jen, he shows that all men aren’t what you see on TV or magazines. He is showing a more “normal” side of the male figure. This photographs also shows a scar just above his right hip, which indicates that it’s a appendix scar. The fact that he isn’t self conscious about his scars and Is willing to show people his wounds, unlike in today’s society that people are made to feel that scar and imperfections are to be adhered of and hidden away.

With his photographs I don’t believe it’s about the shadows or highlights or even exposure, I belive that is was about delivering a message and showing society the natural ageing and boldness of the human body and not to be ashemmed of your own body.

From researching John Coplans Ive been very inspired by his work and the message he is telling the audience. I’m going to take this into my own work and try and show people different body figures and imperfections.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Coplans