Most of us know Serena Williams to be one of the most accomplished female tennis stars or athletes known in the US. But how do we, as outsiders of her personal life, truly view her? This image, “Serena Williams, Key Biscaayne, Fl.,” by Walter Iooss captures Williams in a limousine, dressed up for an event, fixing her makeup. It depicts her high social, financial, and athletic standing. We aim to ask and understand questions surrounding the significance of the photo beyond what the eye sees. How can we interpret Iooss' work? How do we see Serena Williams through this image? Who is she as an athlete? Who is she as a female? Who is she as an African American in America? How does this documentary photo shape or change our view on Williams as both an athlete and a person? This podcast aims to not only answer these questions, but to further discuss Williams as a powerful figure in the sports world, and address her intersectionality as an African American woman and athlete.
This podcast is part of the Crop and Click series featuring student research on documentary photography from our collection. Click here for a portfolio of all the works discussed in the series.
Hosted and produced by Emma Rudy and Marcos Ruiz. Cover art by Lucy Sherman '23.