Monday, May 16, 2011
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
"My Parents"
This series of photographs called My Parents was taken in 1998 by Song Yongping. Song Yongping emerged in the 1990’s with the artistic genre called “the pictures of the sad world” (“Photography from New China[1]). Song Yongping expresses his concerns with the impact of economic reformation on the society by showing his understanding on the living attitude through his photographs (Photography from New China”[2]). Over the course of the series, Song Yongping’s parents go through depression while standing in the same poses to show their loss (“Song Yongping”[3]). These photos show the change in China throughout the years.
These photographs demonstrate the suffering of his ill parents throughout the years. In these photographs, the first photo was taken of his parents when they were healthy and proud before the change in China. The second picture is taken without their clothes on which represents that they have nothing to be proud of. In the next picture, they are wearing their wedding dresses and they do not look very happy. The last three pictures demonstrate death and sorrow. The first photo is different than the rest of the pictures because the first photo demonstrates pride as for the other ones depicts mourning.
These photos go along with the theme, loss of dignity, because it shows Song Yongping’s parents slowly losing pride by becoming weaker and more ill in each photo. In the first photo, his parents are standing up straight and his father is wearing his uniform which shows pride in their country. In the second photo, they do not have any clothes which demonstrate they do not represent their country anymore and do not care about their poise. They do not stand up straight which shows that they are ill and weak. In one photo, they are wearing their wedding outfits which show that they miss past when they were happy and healthy and in last three photos depict death. In all these photos, they are slowly losing their dignity even more to the extent where all their belongings are destroyed except their wedding picture. His parents went from being proud and feeling worthy to being in mourning with their life.
Nick Ut's photo of the Vietnam War
This photo was taken in 1972 during a Vietnamese napalm attack by Nick Ut, a Vietnamese photographer. The naked girl in the photo is named Kim Phuc. Phuc was severely burned on her back by a napalm attack (“Vietnam Napalm Attack”[1]). The boy in front of her is her brother and little girl looking back at the smoke is another family member. The soldiers behind the kids are Southern Vietnamese soldiers. They are fleeing their village after a napalm attack. Two Southern Vietnamese airplanes dropped napalm bombs onto the village, Trang Bang, which was being attacked by Northern Vietnamese soldiers (“Vietnam Napalm Attack”[2]). Kim ran to Nick and asked for help. Nick told her that he would help her so he took her to the Cu Chi Hospital where the doctors helped her. North Vietnam declared war against South Vietnam because South Vietnam refused to hold unification elections (“Learn about Vietnam War”[3]).
This photo shows the chaos after the occurrence of a disaster. The kids crying and running away from the smoke in the background portrays danger and fear. The smoke in the background represents the affects of the napalm attack. The girl with no clothes is very thin which shows that she did not come from a wealthy family. The way her hands are in the air and are not relaxed shows that she is in pain. The color choice of this photo makes the setting look gloomier and dramatic. In the picture, there are no adults present which demonstrates that the kids were independent. The young girl was able to save herself without the help of her mother or father. The naked girl is the main focus of the picture. She is in the center of the photo which emphasizes her pain compared to the other villagers who survived the napalm attack.
This photograph connects with the theme, loss of dignity, because it demonstrates loss of worthiness and respect. The young girl demonstrates loss of dignity due to the bombings by Southern Vietnam by mistake. She is running as far as away from the village as possible with no clothes on. The loss of her home, family and happiness represents loss of dignity. The young girl has nothing to be worthy of anymore due to the destruction caused by the napalm attack. This photo depicts loss of dignity caused by a disaster similar to the painting “Speechless”. Both the people in these paintings were affected by the loss of their home. The woman in the picture, “Speechless”, was impacted by the change in society and the young girl in this photo was affected by the destruction of her home. The loss of her poise is brought upon her by her surroundings which caused her great pain.
[2] Ibid.
"Joseph Is Sold into Slavery"
This picture illustrates the bible story, Joseph Being Sold into Slavery. This painting was painted by Alexander Maximilian Seitz; in 1989 (“Joseph Is Sold into Slavery”[1]). Jacob, Joseph’s father, sends Joseph to find his brothers to find his brother. His brothers plot to kill Joseph but instead they sell him into slavery for 20 shekels. This painting is a depiction of the situation of Joseph being sold to the Ishmaelite (“Joseph Is Sold into Slavery”[2]).
This painting illustrates betrayal of Joseph’s brothers. Joseph looks very disappointed at his brothers because he thought his brothers loved him. His brothers are looking over Judah’s shoulder and are crowding all around Judah while he is paying the Ishmaelite which shows that they are very eager to sell Joseph into slavery. The brothers on the right corner are next to the ditch where Joseph was pushed into by the brothers. None of the brothers bother to look at Joseph or give their attention to him before he leaves which demonstrates that how careless they are about their youngest brother, Joseph. The men are looking away from Joseph or facing their back towards which makes Joseph the center of the painting. Joseph is also paler and smaller than everyone which demonstrates that Joseph is the victim.
The painting, Joseph Being Sold into Slavery, illustrates the theme, loss of dignity. Joseph’s self esteem is lowered for the reason that none of his brothers truly love him and that they all want him out of their life. They only gave the Ishmaelites 20 shekels of silver for him which shows that the brothers do not respect Joseph because the brothers do not think Joseph is worth more than 20 shekels. In the painting, Joseph is looking down and slouching. This proves that he is very disappointed in his brothers and feels alone. He loses his self esteem because he figures out that no one truly loves him except his father. Joseph loses his dignity because he is being sold into slavery by his own brothers.
"The Hands of Protest"
In 1999, Oswaldo Guayasamin painted The Hands of Protest. Oswaldo Guayasamin is from Ecuador and this painting reveals the suffering caused by the twentieth century violence in Ecuador (“The Hands of Protest”[1]). It revolves around Ecuador where the people have been gaining political rights due to their protests and mobilization (“Guayasamin”[2]). From 1912-1999, Ecuador lacked political stability due to social and economic problems (“History of Ecuador”[3]).
This painting represents aggravation towards the society. The creature’s mouth is opened up widely which indicates that he is screaming and frustrated because of the chaos. His two front teeth are cracked which represents that the government is corrupted since the wealthy merchants and bankers had all the power instead of the liberals in office (“Ecuador”[4]). The rigidity of the creature in the painting demonstrates that nothing is smooth and the government is not flexible. The distorted creature’s hands are very big which symbolizes that he is begging for a resolution to end all the protests and sufferings. His eyes look teary which shows that he is dissatisfied. His fingers are all dirty and tense which represent that he is provoked and stressed. The dark colors in the background portray that the setting is very gloomy and mournful.
This painting connects to loss of dignity. It represents the loss of respect toward society because everyone is protesting and causing chaos instead of peacefully resolving it. The creature looks distorted which symbolizes that the government is corrupted. The creature is screaming which represents that he is upset with the corrupted system. The distorted creature’s big hands represent that he is aggravated and is begging for hope.
[2] "Guayasamin," Todo Es Posible En Ecuador, <http://adriennealta.weebly.com/guayasamin.html>.
[3] "History of Ecuador," History World, <http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?groupid=2125&HistoryID =ab93>.
[4] "Ecuador: Problems of the Early 20th Century," Encyclopedia Britannica, <http://corporate.britannica.com/about/>.
"Speechless"
The photo, Speechless, was taken by Shirin Neshat, in 1996. The Persian inscription that was painted on the woman’s face by Shirin Neshat comes from a poem celebrating martyrdom (“Speechless”[1]). Shirin Neshat moved to the United States when she was a teenager and returned to Iran in 1990 where she encountered a country transformed by a revolution. Iran altered from a secular regime to an Islamic republic (“Shirit Neshat”[2]). The Persian culture was very different than the Islamic culture; the Islamic culture affected women’s political and social status in Iran. Women lost all their rights in Iran; the right to be equal to their husbands in the family was changed (“Women’s Rights under Iran’s Revolution”[3]). Women were not allowed to express their thoughts and were forced to obey the government. This painting is a representation of women’s submission after the Iranian Revolution.
This photograph portrays the loss of women’s rights. The lack of color depicts that there is no mixture of culture or diversity. The minimum colors illustrate that there is only a set way to think or act. Between the veil and her face is a gun that resembles a piece of jewelry. The gun between her face and the veil symbolizes a threat. This gun symbolizes that women have no choices but to obey and follow the Islamic government. It demonstrates that she is forced to wear the veil and if she does not wear it she will punished. The woman in the painting has something on her mind but cannot say what she wants to say. The words written on her face represent what she is thinking but is not able to open her mouth. The watery aspect of her eyes represents a restricted cry for help and freedom; her shut mouth symbolizes restrained oppression, inability to live life freely. She also looks disappointed and shocked how a country she used to love changed so quickly.
This photo represents the loss of dignity of women in Iran. The woman in this photo is forced to cover herself up which demonstrates voice, self -expression and self -esteem. She is also forced to believe and obey something that she does not believe in. The gun next to her face represents that she cannot speak out her mind or say what she stands for. The woman does not have the choice to not wear the veil or to accept the traditions of Islamic fundamentalist which represents loss of respect. The dark colors represent gloom and no hope for the future. In the painting, only half of the woman’s face shows which demonstrate that she knows what she wants and what she believes in but can’t do anything about it. The photo portrays that she may follow what the Islamic republic wants her to follow so she is not disciplined but deep down she knows the truth.
Recources
"Ecuador: Problems of the Early 20th Century." Encyclopaedia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc. Web. <http://corporate.britannica.com/about/>.
"Guayasamin." Todo Es Posible En Ecuador. Weebly. Web. <http://adriennealta.weebly.com/guayasamin.html>.
"History of Ecuador." History World. HistoryWorld. Web. <http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?groupid=2125&HistoryID =ab93>.
"Joseph Is Sold Into Slavery." Genesis 37. David Guizak. Web. <http://www.enduringword.com/commentaries/0137.htm>.
Mintz, S. "Learn about Vietnam War." Digital History. Web. <http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/modules/vietnam/index.cfm>.
"Photography from the New China." J. Paul Getty Museum. J. Paul Getty Trust. Web. <http://www.getty.edu/art/exhibitions/new_china/>.
"Shirit Neshat." Time Europe. Time Inco. Web. <http://www.time.com/time/europe/photoessays/neshat/>.
"Speechless." Moma Multmedia. The Museum of Modern Art. Web. <http://www.moma.org/explore/multimedia/audios/27/652>.
"Song Yongping." Chinese Avant-gard Art Archive. Cornell University. Web. <http://wason.library.cornell.edu/Wen/song_yongping.php>.
"The Hands of Protest." Guayasamin. Contacto. Web. http://www.guayasamin.org/pages_ing/7_cuadro_mes_2.htm
"Vietnam Napalm Attack." BBC News. BBC. Web. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/4517597.stm>.
"Vietnam Napalm Attack." BBC News. BBC. Web. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/4517597.stm>.
"Women's Rights under Iran's Revolution." BBC News. BBC. Web. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7879797.stm>.
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