Hasta La Ideas

Tim Blackwell and Kelly Hayden. Austin, TX, 2008

The American high school prom has acquired a particular worldwide resonance thanks to its central role in a thousand teen-themed films and TV shows. But what do real prom-goers look like today?

Maria Carroll and Coretta Gerould. Wyncote, PA 2006

Photographer Mary Ellen Mark shot 13 high school proms at schools from across the US that reflect a wide variety of regional and socio-economic class differences, from 2006 to 2009. She used only one of five existing 20×24 inch Polaroid Land Cameras for the project. The resulting large-sale black and white prints capture that typically teenage mix of confidence and nervousness, sweetness and swagger as the couples embark arrive for their big night.

Jasmine Lewis and Richard Salgado, NYC, 2007

Latosha Smith and Phillip Azore, Wyncote, PA 2006

Prom is at Janet Borden Inc, 560 Broadway, corner of Prince Street, NYC, until January 26. A book of the same title is published by the J Paul Getty Museum.

All images ©Mary Ellen Mark, courtesy Janet Borden, Inc

CR In print

In our December issue we look at why carpets are the latest medium of choice for designers and illustrators. Plus, Does it matter if design projects are presented using fake images created using LiveSurface and the like? Mark Sinclair looks in to the issue of mocking-up. We have an extract from Craig Ward’s upcoming book Popular Lies About Graphic Design and ask why advertising has been so poor at preserving its past. Illustrators’ agents share their tips for getting seen and we interview maverick director Tony Kaye by means of his unique way with email. In Crit, Guardian economics leader writer Aditya Chakrabortty review’s Kalle Lasn’s Meme Wars and Gordon Comstock pities brands’ long-suffering social media managers. In a new column on art direction, Paul Belford deconstructs a Levi’s ad that was so wrong it was very right, plus, in his brand identity column, Michael Evamy looks at the work of Barcelona-based Mario Eskenazi. And Daniel Benneworth-Gray tackles every freelancer’s dilemma – getting work.

Our Monograph this month, for subscribers only, features the EnsaïmadART project in which Astrid Stavro and Pablo Martin invited designers from around the world to create stickers to go on the packaging of special edition packaging for Majorca’s distinctive pastry, the ensaïmada, with all profits going to a charity on the island (full story here)

Please note, CR now has a limited presence on the newsstand at WH Smith high street stores (although it can still be found in WH Smith travel branches at train stations and airports). If you cannot find a copy of CR in your town, your WH Smith store or a local independent newsagent can order it for you. You can search for your nearest stockist here. Alternatively, call us on 020 7970 4878 to buy a copy direct from us. Based outside the UK? Simply call +44(0)207 970 4878 to find your nearest stockist. Better yet, subscribe to CR for a year here and save yourself almost 30% on the printed magazine.

CR for the iPad

Read in-depth features and analysis plus exclusive iPad-only content in the Creative Review iPad App. Longer, more in-depth features than we run on the blog, portfolios of great, full-screen images and hi-res video. If the blog is about news, comment and debate, the iPad is about inspiration, viewing and reading. As well as providing exclusive, iPad-only content, the app will also update with new content throughout each month. Try a free sample issue here