Photograph by Sebastiao SalgadoLook around you. Chances are you've got a pretty nice view: a decent amount of food, a comfy bed, a closet packed with warm clothes, a least a couple of pairs of shoes. Do you have a cell phone in your pocket at this very moment? Heck, if you're reading this right now, then you have some sort of access to a computer and the internet. Not too shabby, huh?
This is a photograph taken by Sebastiao Selgado. His book Migrations: Humanity in Transition is a collection of his photographs that capture the lives of refugees from 40 different countries. What his work reveals is the darker side to humanity -- from broken families and broken bodies to broken souls.
In this society, it's safe to say that a lot of us are really well off and live very comfortably. Sometimes we get so caught up in our own little bubbles of concern that we forget that there are indeed those out there who go through hardships and face incredible trials on a daily basis. While we may get upset because we misplaced the tv remote or our internet connection is slow, others in this world struggle to find somewhere warm to sleep each night. But I think this is the purpose of this weekly blog project: not to guilt-trip us, but to raise our awareness. In the introduction to his book Salgado stated, "We hold the key to humanity's future, but for that we must understand the present. These photographs show part of this present. We cannot afford to look away" (12). While these pictures may trouble us or even make us feel somewhat guilty for living lives so rich with comfort, the purpose of these is not to hurt but to heal. Hopefully we can all take something from this new-found awareness and somehow play our own part in healing the present to create a better future.
Works Cited
Salgado, Sebastiao. Migrations: Humanity in Transition. Aperture. New York, 2000. Print.
Salgado, Sebastiao. Photograph. Migrations: Humanity in Transition. Aperture. New York, 2000. 78
I like how you started your post by engaging the reader. You get us to look at our lives and realize that we have been blessed with so much. I agree with your statement about each of us being in our own little bubble. This is especially true for us as college students. For the most part we don't have families to provide for and we just think about ourselves. We worry about how well we will do on our next midterm or who is dating who. If we really want a better future, the first thing we can do is acknowledge the harships and injustices that occur everywhere in the world.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate how you bring awareness to Salgado's purpose through his photography by having us first evaluate our own lives. The sense of sight is extremely powerful. We can perceive what is around us, and we can interpret Salgado's images through sight.
ReplyDeleteYour post reminded me of how much despair there is in the world today. We may feel down by menial things, such as overcooking our meals, or getting a flat tire. But how can we get so caught up in our own lives that we oversee the blessings we have? We have food to eat. We have means of transportation. I hope that through Salgado's photos not only do we raise awareness of what is going on throughout the world, but that also all those who view this blog truly understand how blessed they are.
Excellent post. Thank you. (also thank you for correct citations).
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