Wk. 8 EOC: Bang Bang Club

While conflict photography shows the stories of places suffering things such as war or famine, I would not be brave enough to go and do the job myself. The men and women who cover this type of photography are very brave. I wouldn’t have the stomach to photograph the things they see in these situations and wouldn’t be brave enough to put myself into a situation where my life would be at stake.

The movie, “The Bang Bang Club,” which is based on real events and real photographs, showed the reality of the situations conflict photographers often face. Being caught in between enemies, in the line of fire from both sides, would terrify me. The situation led to the death of a photographer who was just out on his first shoot with the club. Personally, I’ll stick to photographing in safety.

Being awarded a Pulitzer Prize was the crowning moment for one member of the club, Greg Marinovich, while the same award put another member Kevin Carter, in the spot light as a bad guy for not helping in the situation. The first photographer was made a hero for getting that close to the violence that surrounded him while taking photos. The second made to look like a bad guy for not stepping up to save a child.

Wk. 7 EOC: Adult Content

In “Gentleman’s Relish” I felt that the dealings of the assistant were shady and underhanded but the man was a genuine marketing genius. He could sell the photographer on any idea he had just by wording things in a certain way. He made the photographer believe he was doing things for one reason and then turned around and sold the images to someone else for another reason.

Wk. 6 EOC: How Has Art Changed You?

Art has changed me in that I am aware of what inspires me. I have a more refined sense of what I find beautiful. Art is where I have found a place for me to feel safe. It is an expression of me and how I feel. It can be accepted for what it is while at the same time, others will find my art repulsive. Art has changed me in that it has opened my eyes to how more of the world sees itself. Different cultures have different feelings about art and what is acceptable as art. The United States has a very open mind where art is concerned and for that we are lucky. In other parts of the world, what we consider art, is banned and not able to be seen or enjoyed by others. Art has opened my eyes to what I enjoy doing. It has made me want to be an artist, to show the world how I see it and what I think makes it beautiful. Art is a way of expressing myself when words won’t work or don’t have a strong enough attachment to the feelings I have. It is a way of demonstrating to others what is going on inside my head. Art is an outlet that can be understood by people who don’t share a language. Much as music breaks down borders, art does the same.

Art has made me feel more strongly about the connections I want to make with people in other countries. I want to be able to share my work with them and for them to enjoy it and understand it as strongly as I do. I don’t think anyone can be taught how to be an artist. Everyone can be an artist as art is simply an expression. It can be translated many ways but ultimately, it is one person’s expression of themselves or a feeling.