Carol Joyce Jerrems (1949-1980)

Workshop 1

Carol Joyce Jerrems (1949-1980)

Interesting some of the terms used to describe her in the beginning of the DVD by her and friends/associates such as: “Fearless”, “go to the edge”, Be true” and ‘Brave”.

Throughout the film it was obvious that these descriptors well described Jerrems. I found it an interesting insight into her life through her photographs and her narrated words. I’m always inspired when I see bodies of work that include what I’d call “snapshot” because it brings home the realisation that not every photo has to worthy to be hung on the gallery wall. God knows, I’ve got thousands of “snapshots” that were envisioned to be something far more than that.

It seemed clear in the film that Carol was constantly taking photos, except during her periods of depression, of friends, flatmates, lovers, the school gang and herself. It is inspiring that someone can be that focused over a long period. As illustrated in the film she focused on the gang and was willing to do or go along with everything they wanted to capture the images. Some might say she may have lost her moral and ethical compass but as a member of her generation such things were not an imperative. Living life was for the moment without regard for the future or the consequence.

I’m not sure I would say that I found her work compelling in the sense of “Evoking interest, attention, or admiration in a powerfully irresistible way.” Her photographs are interesting, got my attention and admiration but not to the extent they were irresistible. Her work is iconic for the time in Australia and documenting the counter-culture of the 70s. The Australian Dictionary of Biography Online refers to “one critic regarding her as uneven–‘she took a casual approach’ “ something I can relate to. Her work is inspirational in that she stuck to and documented her topic.