The Shape of Things

Photographer Carrie Mae Weems directs her lens towards the contemporary American political landscape, using a panoramic-style cylindrical screen known as a Cyclorama to create a seven-part film. Weems confronts the circus-like quality of current American political life, drawing on historical footage from the civil rights era to the present day. The films blend documentary elements with poetic rhythm, exploring the resistance to the changing demographics of America. Weems' powerful work reflects the irreversible transformations in the country and the mounting challenges faced in the present.