Observing the Ordinary
Seeing
1. The pictures, taken by Peter Menzel, are of foods from "ordinary people" residing in different parts of the world. The collection consists if four photos, two made in comparison of each other to allow people clear observations of social and economical differences. The first picture is of the Mendoza family of Guatemala. This photo, in my opinion is very organic and natural. The family is outside in their yard with raw ingredients such as fresh tomatoes, potatoes, carrots and bananas. These ingredients are all fresh. This highly contrasts the picture of the Fernandez family of the United States; the picture following straight after the Mendoza family's. The Fernandez family is shown with products which are clearly store bought as they are all in packages and wrappings that are branded. Personally, as I read through the summary provided by Faith D'Alusio, I feel it as unnecessary and even underwhelms the pictures initial provoked emotions.
2. The next two pictures are of the Ukitas, a Japanese family residing in Japan and the Aboubakar's, an African family residing in the country Chad. Japan is considered as a first world country and as such, it is a well developed and people are financially well off. Chad, on the other hand, is a third world country and economically, the GDP only grosses USD$1600. This provides an insight to the story in which Mendzel is attempting to tell. The Japanese family is photographed with tables of food; fish, fruits, rice and many other things. The Aboukabar's, unfortunately, is shown to be sitting on a mat in the dry desert, outside of their tent with only one large bottle of water, rice, wheat (presumably) and very maybe a bagful of other items such as limes, red oninos, garlic and tomatoes. It is of harsh conditions, the unfortunate lifestyle of the Akoukabar's. Peter Menzel uses these pictures to provide a clear statement of excess and necessity. By showing these two pictures of such contrast, he allows readers or observers of his journalistic art to see their frivolous life.
Writing
1. The Akoukabars' family, from an artistic point of view seems to be a statement of conservation and a way to contrast the frivolity of first world countries' lifestyle. Frivolity, necessity, and unfortunate are the words I would describe this picture with. Yet, while "unfortunate" is one of the words I would use to describe the picture, I believe that the lack of frivolity in the Akoukabar family suggests a more simplistic value and therefore, in most case of simplicity, it leads to peace and happiness.
2. Magazines often times advertises products that may relate or favor their audiences taste. For example, I have taken the "Maxim" magazine as a sample product. The main attraction is beautiful women, often times in very little clothes. This should make clear that the target audience is straight men. That being said, the advertisement shown on the magazine tend to be many stereotypical odjects or ideals that men fancy, such as cars, alcohol, headphones (by 50 cent), television and sports products. There are clear distinctions between the images present in Maxim magazine and Peter Menzel's images of food from across the world. If I take the cover of the magazine, for example, it is a picture of the gorgeous Bar Rafeal. She poses in a black bikini and there isn't any messages that lies within the image while Menzel's images of food, more specifically, the Akoukabar family, is showing a family with little food with the underlying message being the America's wasteful culture contrasting that of the African poverish culture.
1. The pictures, taken by Peter Menzel, are of foods from "ordinary people" residing in different parts of the world. The collection consists if four photos, two made in comparison of each other to allow people clear observations of social and economical differences. The first picture is of the Mendoza family of Guatemala. This photo, in my opinion is very organic and natural. The family is outside in their yard with raw ingredients such as fresh tomatoes, potatoes, carrots and bananas. These ingredients are all fresh. This highly contrasts the picture of the Fernandez family of the United States; the picture following straight after the Mendoza family's. The Fernandez family is shown with products which are clearly store bought as they are all in packages and wrappings that are branded. Personally, as I read through the summary provided by Faith D'Alusio, I feel it as unnecessary and even underwhelms the pictures initial provoked emotions.
2. The next two pictures are of the Ukitas, a Japanese family residing in Japan and the Aboubakar's, an African family residing in the country Chad. Japan is considered as a first world country and as such, it is a well developed and people are financially well off. Chad, on the other hand, is a third world country and economically, the GDP only grosses USD$1600. This provides an insight to the story in which Mendzel is attempting to tell. The Japanese family is photographed with tables of food; fish, fruits, rice and many other things. The Aboukabar's, unfortunately, is shown to be sitting on a mat in the dry desert, outside of their tent with only one large bottle of water, rice, wheat (presumably) and very maybe a bagful of other items such as limes, red oninos, garlic and tomatoes. It is of harsh conditions, the unfortunate lifestyle of the Akoukabar's. Peter Menzel uses these pictures to provide a clear statement of excess and necessity. By showing these two pictures of such contrast, he allows readers or observers of his journalistic art to see their frivolous life.
Writing
1. The Akoukabars' family, from an artistic point of view seems to be a statement of conservation and a way to contrast the frivolity of first world countries' lifestyle. Frivolity, necessity, and unfortunate are the words I would describe this picture with. Yet, while "unfortunate" is one of the words I would use to describe the picture, I believe that the lack of frivolity in the Akoukabar family suggests a more simplistic value and therefore, in most case of simplicity, it leads to peace and happiness.
2. Magazines often times advertises products that may relate or favor their audiences taste. For example, I have taken the "Maxim" magazine as a sample product. The main attraction is beautiful women, often times in very little clothes. This should make clear that the target audience is straight men. That being said, the advertisement shown on the magazine tend to be many stereotypical odjects or ideals that men fancy, such as cars, alcohol, headphones (by 50 cent), television and sports products. There are clear distinctions between the images present in Maxim magazine and Peter Menzel's images of food from across the world. If I take the cover of the magazine, for example, it is a picture of the gorgeous Bar Rafeal. She poses in a black bikini and there isn't any messages that lies within the image while Menzel's images of food, more specifically, the Akoukabar family, is showing a family with little food with the underlying message being the America's wasteful culture contrasting that of the African poverish culture.
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