So Who's Un-American Here?

Brian Moore

Brian Moore

Moderator
There is an anti-war protest group who, from time-to-time, set up hundreds of white crosses on this beach or that one up and down the local area to demonstrate in abstract form the number of deaths of American troops since the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts began. (I imagine Chris might have seen this down San Diego way as well.) Anyway, a couple of weeks ago it was Huntington Beach's turn again.

The first two shots show the crosses set up by the anti-war protest group.

The last photo shows an anti anti-war protest group protester who set up his beliefs nearby.

Took these with the Kiev 4A and Kentmere 100 film. Processed in Rodinal.


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Got a 1950s feel to the shots. The white light, indistinct figures. Le Corbusier style houses in the first. The politics are interesting too.
 
Bob's right, it does have a vintage feel and with the subject matter I guess it could be from another time even. From a protest point the crosses could be quite strong but using approximate numbers undermines the message somewhat. Can they not be bothered to put the right number there (each cross 'more than 10'...), too much effort or just more interested in the idea of the display than its meaning. The other protest also seems a little feeble. There is a very powerful reminder of those that lost their lives trying to leave East Berlin on the railing by the Reichstag in Berlin with a small wooden cross for each person with names and dates. The last cross is dated mere months before the fall of the wall: if he'd waited he could have walked across the area where he lost his life trying to cross.

Anyway, these are super images Brian (and you managed to include a bin) certainly raise issues even if not ones the protestors intended.
 
Rob MacKillop said:
Got a 1950s feel to the shots. The white light, indistinct figures. Le Corbusier style houses in the first. The politics are interesting too.
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Thank you, Rob. These pictures do have a vintage look about them if I do say so. It's the politics that interest me here. Not so much anything that speaks to my own opinions about the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, but more so the notion of "support" for the troops. If you are anti-war, does it follow that you don't support the troops or the country?

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Pete Askew said:
Bob's right, it does have a vintage feel and with the subject matter I guess it could be from another time even. From a protest point the crosses could be quite strong but using approximate numbers undermines the message somewhat. Can they not be bothered to put the right number there (each cross 'more than 10'...), too much effort or just more interested in the idea of the display than its meaning. The other protest also seems a little feeble. There is a very powerful reminder of those that lost their lives trying to leave East Berlin on the railing by the Reichstag in Berlin with a small wooden cross for each person with names and dates. The last cross is dated mere months before the fall of the wall: if he'd waited he could have walked across the area where he lost his life trying to cross.

Anyway, these are super images Brian (and you managed to include a bin) certainly raise issues even if not ones the protestors intended.
Click to expand...

Your point on approximate numbers is well-taken, Pete. I didn't think about that until you mentioned it, perhaps because I am more bothered by this question of what constitutes support, or lack of it, for troops and country.

Thanks for your comments about the images. I wonder why I included that bin? Perhaps I was putting forth my own protest in some subliminal way.

Please thank Rob's American cousin on my behalf too, would you? :p

Anyway, thanks again Pete.
 
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