Every person needs a place to call home, and demonstrates what the word "home" means to a homeless person. The open boxes on a bench tied together with different types of twine, rope, and ribbon provide shelter from the elements and cold, hard ground. The line of boxes also serve to draw a line across the picture, along the fence and framed by the old tree, separating the shabby side of life from the busy, blurry background most people think of when recalling a city. A small black fence behind the bench is barely seen, but could imply am emotional guard we put between our busy, daily lives around town and the obvious struggle people are enduring right before our eyes. It seems meaningless enough, but it is a small symbol to distance ourselves from the pain of the homeless and serve as an excuse not to help in a little way such as giving away a sandwich or some spare change.
Even though the background is blurred, it seems more colorful because there is more action, although there are also colorful wording on the boxes and the blankets, clothes, and what would probably be rags inside the boxes are pink and blue. Underneath what appears to be a sleeping homeless person is a box, pointing up to what would be a man's head on a pillow, saying "handle with care." This is ironic and thought-provoking to lead the reader to realize that not many things or people in life are handled with the care and compassion one seeks after a hard day. The picture, as a whole, is mainly gray, brown, and beige, representing the dull colors of a hard, rough life. Even the blurred people in the background seem to be looking down as if tired out from life itself. The overall tone of the picture is sad, sullen, and concerning. Everything from the dirt and garbage on the ground, chips in the bench, and carvings on a worn tree to the lights and colors of too many signs is exhausting. Each detail in the background emphasizes the main idea simply put in the center of the photo, a tired homeless man, asleep during the day in his cardboard alcove.
Videos:
1. documentary of homelessness (real and sad): http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=4836617
2. parody of life's struggles (fake and still sad, but on a lighter note): http://www.break.com/index/homeless-james-bond.html
Jenny,
ReplyDeleteGreat job with this first blog! This is well written, and your detailed observations indicate the amount of time and thought you devoted to observing the photo. Also, I like the videos you’ve selected— relevant and thought provoking. Excellent job!
30/30
VS