Danny Lyon Bikeriders Analysis

Through a selection of the works of Danny Lyon, —an American born, self-taught photographer and filmmaker—the concepts of authenticity, lawlessness, and aesthetic spectacle will be discussed. For the purpose of context, the terms authenticity, lawlessness, and aesthetic spectacle will be defend as followed:
Authenticity: conforming to the facts resulting in reliable and trustworthy information. Lawlessness: acting against the norms set for the community’s stability.
Aesthetic spectacle: the way a piece of art is presented to the audience.
This three concepts will be individually and respectively considered on “the movement documentary of a struggle for equality” focusing on authenticity, followed by “The Bikeriders” looking at the relation

Lyon joined the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, becoming the first staff photographer of the named organization (Cooke, 1994 p.343), from 1962 to 1946. This would become a key element in Lyon’s publication years later. His position in the committee allowed him to fully engulf himself in the 1960s rights movement, combining this with a fully committed attitude and the audacity of remaining as objective as possible, regardless of his position on the matter. Resulted in some of the most contaminant free images of the equality movement. As he mentions in an interview “it was important that I not lose sight of what I was doing” (Lyon, as cited in McKenna, 1992). His ability to execute the end product gave way to what some may refer as revolutionary documentary photographs, placing the viewer in the middle of the action, allowing for the work to deliver a more real and intimate experience. Kristine McKenna explains what is one of Lyon’s greatest ability on the field: “the power of Lyon's art rests on his ability to achieve an authentic intimacy with his subjects, while remaining uninvolved enough to be able to walk away when a body of work is completed.” (McKenna, 1992). Furthermore,

The evidence of Lyon’s approach to the production of a piece of art in a systematic way. Some of the key strategies employed by Lyon are, becoming part of the subject, while still being able to produce pure authentic images. Danger and lawlessness are often present in Lyon’s work. As seen in “the bikeriders” he is not afraid of, going to the extreme. And in some cases he is willing to put his life at risk, in order to generate the perfect shot. The shot that might change the way the audience perceives and understands his work. Resulting in an almost unique aesthetic composition. One that appears to be fully controlled and staged when it is easily understood that it is not. At the same time maintaining the purity of the environment around the target of his lens. “Lyons work is very personal and gives us, the viewer access to, people and places we wouldn’t normally get to see” (Streetwise - A Look at Danny Lyon,