Opinions

On Monday, we discussed Maurice Berger's article White Lies. Our main discussion revolved around his opinion of the add with the black model next to the horse. Berger feels that this add is a shot of racism because the black man is being said to be animal-like and also considered equal to this horse. I feel that Berger's opinion is just him searching too hard for racism. Although I see his point and understand how it is slightly racist, I just feel like that is the cynical way of looking at this add.

We continued to discuss another add with a Australian white model being painted black to fit in with the leopards in the photo. This add was in the same situation. It just depends on how the person viewing the photo interprets it because it is their opinion. I feel that we spent a long time discussing and trying to find a fine line for how these photos should be viewed. But actually, there is no fine line at all because it is our opinion. This is probably the point you were trying to make but I just found searching for something that does not exist to be exhausting.

In the end, my opinion of these photos is that there are many ways to look at them. And I feel that with this country's view on black people (comparing them to animals) makes these photos a little amoral but that, once again, depends on how you choose to view them. Finally, I just think that the photographers, while having the right to do whatever they please, should think about the possible ways their work can viewed and try to be sensitive towards anything it can affect.

Ryan Adams