We sat in the quiet like we always did, a whole bunch of people of immigrant descent. Something was different today, there was an extra large display screen that we (I) wished we could have in our haus. The conversation started as a small fire and exploded, (not literally, or else, we'd all be kinds of messed up right now). We pondered as to why Jacob Riis cared about how the other half lived and came up with many ideas.
1) Riis, himself, was poor and worked his way up to middle class and empathized with the poor and their condition of living.
2) The oppression of the poor would someday drive them crazy enough to revolt against the middle and higher class. The poor is what makes the world go round. (viva la revolucion!)
3) He was just an altruistic kind of human being. (we the little people thank you)
Professor Davis then proceeded with his cool keyboard to flip through the photographs that Jacob Riis and Lewis Hine took. He then brought about the question of how the photographs were taken and it was usually planned. (Ooops) Apparently, since photography was still in its infant stage, the photographer would have had to lug a giant camera around and thus the element of surprise would be gone. We discussed about this in great length, if the planning of the photographs affected the picture and overall "feel" of the photograph.
Some said: "No it doesn't because they weren't given the clothes they were wearing and the setting that they were in. So, the picture still captured the most essential aspect of tenement living" (This isn't word for word)
There was a picture with three boys sleeping on a barrel and one boy was seen to be smirking. Some questioned as to whether it was because the child was giddy with excitement to have his picture taken, that it spilled out to his sleeping face.
Besides the discussion of Riis and the photographs. The conditions of immigrants today were discussed as well. People saw descents of China and Mexico living in tenement like conditions. There are people who share apartments between 5+ people and those who live in clutter. The reason why they can't do anything about it?
1) New immigrants do not possess green cards/visas/passports. No one knows about their situations and often times they don't know where to get help.
2) They have no money or time to speak up about their problems because they have work an excessive amount to send money back to their countries.
3) First generation-ers would rather suffer the hard times to make sure that the next generation or the generation after that would be able to live a better life, as to live a selfless life.
Uncle Sam - Strong Features
"Uncle Sam is a Man of Strong Features" (1898)
After viewing Hine's pictures alongside those of Riis, I became convinced that Riis's interest in how the other half lived was not as altruistic as it seemed on the surface.
ReplyDeleteComparing the gloomy, cluttered spaces occupied by bodies that almost seemed lifeless with the bright, seemingly positive (possibly due to the contrast between the two) pictures made Riis's agenda seem more evident. Although I find all three ideas(regarding Riis's interest in the other half) to be logical and possible the one that resonates the most, is the one you listed as #2.
"The oppression of the poor would someday drive them crazy enough to revolt against the middle and higher class."
I agree with most of the class. I don't see how having staged the pictures diminishes the harsh reality that those immigrants lived in. I don't, however, believe that Riis took those pictures to simply document the harsh reality that tenants were living in. If so, taking pictures of tenants as they go about in their every day lives, chatting on a roof top, or simply paying stick ball would have done the trick. He needed only to let his spectators know that all the people playing and watching the game probably lived in two or three seperate rooms. I'm convinced that all of the photos taken by Riis were staged;(which is fine)
but why go through the extra trouble? Riis says "The tenements had bred their Nemesis, a proliteriat ready and able to avenge the wrongs of their crowds." I believe that this was the underlying reason why Riis wanted to show the public how the other half lived, it was an effort to avoid the wrath of the tenants.
I dont necessarily feel that immigrants absolutely could not have done anything about the way they were forced to lived not only because they were "Brand New" to the country, but because they almost didnt want to create more problems on themselves and stir the pot bringing even more unwanted attention upon themselves. Think about it. They were poor, new to the country, (some illegally), naive to the language and on a quest toward a brand new more xomfortable life in a country that is not only advertised as the sanctuary of freedom but as a place where only the strog survive. They had run the risk of shaming their family and failing themselves, if they slipped up they most likely felt that they would indeed be chewed up and spat out. Left to again scrounge for a way to support their family. To an immigrant this was an extreme risk that they couldnt afford to take. One in their position couldnt fathom screwing up and failing their family and future gnerations to come.
ReplyDeleteSo I guess what Im saying is that yes, they were afraid to revolt against their living conditions, but who would really bother to speak up when condiotons in America compared to what they left back home was the more desirable pick.
The issue of freely expressing one self in a nation where they have no "legal" rights is a challenging issue. Freedom of speech is an amendment protected for citizens of the United States and lawful residents, if one does not posses such right then they face a dilemma as to whether they are entitled to express theirselves freely or to try to assimilate to the melting pot quietly and almost exist as a shadowy backdrop in the American society. When examing Riis photos I beleived that he tried to portray a side of the immigrant experince that was rampant but not openly discussed, by bringing those botherline imhumane pictures to the surface he was trying to touch on the empathy side of the reader/viewer.Coming from an immigrant family I also believe that the sense of pride on the immigrant side hinders them from seeking out help and one would rather live in a dire situation instead of accepting "handouts", the mere idea of coming to American and sustaining theirselves independently is a huge accomplishment and sense of achievement when viewd by the immigrant. The pictures were a surface portrayol of a deeper issue and the neglect that immigrants has have to suffer.
ReplyDeleteWhen analyzing the pictures it brought back memories of having first moved to America and having to share a limited amount of space with my extended family memebers, the space though seemed never to be unbearable of conditions because after all we were in America(the land of freedom and extended possibilities). The pictures also touch upon a question that was lingering in my mind for awhile as to why some cultures put up with those conditions for such an extended period of time, the answer was highlighted that indeed they were in America and the ultimate goal was achieved so the living conditions no matter how pitiful is no comparison mentally to the situation that they had left behind in their "mother land".Overall the pictures were insightful and touched upon mixed emotions for myself.