We are the Other- Tony, 38th & Chicago, South Minneapolis, MN (2012)
This image, titled "Tony, 38th & Chicago" in South Minneapolis in 2012 captures a man willingly presenting a symbol of his faith to the photographer. The first aspect of the photo recognized by the viewer is the cross- a way of representing his faith. Through the lens of a proud Christian, it is evident the man has a different perspective on life than people of other faiths might. Looking deeper into the picture, you notice the somber look on the man's face and his casual attire. It is also inferred that the man might live in a rougher area because of the location where the photo was taken.
In the photograph, the man stands strong in his faith as a Christian, similar to the characters in Margaret Atwood's, The Handmaid's Tale. There is no further information on the picture that would allow for the viewer to understand the background of the man's life as a follower of Christ, therefore the question is asked: was this decision to be a Christian one made by him or forced upon him, like Offred and the others in the society of Gilead? The man is photographed alone, representing how he might stand alone in his faith or how he could be an outsider, like the Unwomen. The viewer of the photograph can notice the man has a tired expression and is sitting down- a sign that he has been on his own and that life is hard on him. The life of the Unwomen corresponds similarly, as they were unappreciated for aspects of their life out of their control, so they were forced to stand alone. Although this example is far more extreme because the Unwomen were also shunned by society.
The colors of the man's attire and the background are all neutral, causing the cross to stand out in comparison. This relates to life in Gilead because everything revolves around Christianity, while all other aspects of everyday life such as relationships and happiness seem to linger in the background, unrecognized. Atwood's writing style highlights this, as she constantly makes biblical references, whether she does so in a straight-forward manner, or discretely.
I really enjoyed reading this Mack!! I think it was very interesting your question about whether or not this Christianity was forced upon him or not. In my opinion, also influenced by your second paragraph, I believe that he is proud of his faith and that it was his personal choice to be a Christian. His faith may be the only thing keeping him strong in whatever struggles he might be facing.
ReplyDeleteI think that this man is proud of his faith and that it is a better aspect of his life because it appears as if he is in a rough area. I think that the "othering" part of his situation comes from the fact that he is one of a few that have a Christian beliefs in his life and feels like an outcast from this. I liked your relationship between how Christianity is a key aspect in Gilead and the pride that this man has with his faith.
ReplyDeleteMackinley-
ReplyDelete1) Your background looks delicious
2) Watch out for assumptions & generalizations (like why he's wearing the necklace and with what effect). Also, be sure to provide enough "what", thinking about the artist's choices in composition.