Andrew has a way of seeing and describing things a little differently than
others. As photographers we deal with images and so we should be conscious
of their impact. Andrew mentioned some photo essay work that affected him
then had the audacity to criticize US television programming. At a party one
night we were talking about what a warped image people would have of the
good old USA if their only contact was through our television programming.
There are some very good educational and entertainment programs but the
majority of the stuff is pure crap. I have never had the opportunity to
compare our programming with that of other countries but it most likely
could not be worse. Andrew is the first non-US person I ever remember
mentioning this, although I'm sure others have. As to his challenge to show
the real America....it's just not sensational enough to draw network
sponsorship. That kind of programming mostly exists on Public Television but
I don't know how accessible that is outside the country. There is no single
Real America because we are a melting pot of cultures that varies with time
and location. Presenting the Real America then becomes an ongoing set of
transient images. If television can't do it maybe armature photographers
can. /jim
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of andrew fildes
Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2003 8:24 PM
To: olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [OM] NOT Mike Moore OT and guns
>
>
>But that says very little about the murder rate in most American
>communities. It mainly reflects the extraordinary murder rates in our
>poor inner cities. To be blunt, most Americans don't live or work in
>those communities and don't particularly care about reducing the crime
>level in those communities as long as the crime can be largely confined
>to those communities. They won't usually say that openly, but it's
>undeniable when you follow the money and votes.
Now let's use this thread - more than half of the list is merkin I
suspect and all we outside see is the dark side. Last time I saw a
'nice' US community on the screen it was in Donnie Darko and that was
heavily ironic. Saw the first episode of 'Hack' last night - yet
another violent city. Same crap, different bucket. No wonder our
perception of you doesn't match your understanding of yourselves.
So how about taking the challenge and showing the rest of us the
other 97%? We really don't see it that much at all. Not nice
landscapes - we know lots of it is pretty. Not portraits - we know
you're good looking. Community based stuff. Avoid mass displays of
patriotic or religious fervor perhaps - that makes us a tad nervous
too. Perhaps not ordinary folk enjoying themselves with guns (sorry
Walt). Not too Norman Rockwell either?
I'm sure that leaves you with a tremendous story to tell - we really
do want to like you, you know! Topic - I dunno - The Real America?
Doesn't have to be pretty - my favorite US portraits were Avedon's
'In the American West' and the better Farm Administration 'dust bowl'
shots. Not pretty but they really told me something (bought the
Avedon when I found myself sobbing quietly in the bookstore and it
cost me about as much as an OM1)
Whaddya say?
AndrewF
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