Musa N. Nxumalo, Are the fees gonna fall or nah?, 2017.

Born in 1986 in Soweto, Musa N. Nxumalo is a contemporary photographer who tends to focus his works on primarily youth culture, identity and the journey to self-discovery. Musa N. Nxumalo’s Are the fees gonna fall or nah? was taken in 2017 and is apart of a bigger collection of work known as “16 shots”, which is a collection of of 16 photographic prints reflecting on the changing contexts and concerns that confront this contemporary generation of South African youth.

After reading Roland Barthes’s book, Camera Lucida, my perception and understanding of photography has completely been altered. Throughout the book, we see that Roland Barthes has a unique view and definition of photography. Instead of just seeing the photograph for what the photographer intended to capture, the studium, Barthes gets a certain feeling of jubilation from the accidents the photographer ends up capturing, known as the punctum.

As I was searching through Musa N. Nxumalo’s collection of photographs, I was trying to find that unique point in a photograph that as Barthes said, “pricks” me. When I came across Nxumalo’s Are the fees gonna fall or nah?; however, I was able to see his intentions along with finding that point that “animates” me. It is clear in this photograph that Musa N. Nxumalo is trying to depict. We see three men standing in a unique pose, as if they’re imitating the pose of a crane. In addition we see two of the men staring at what appears to be a fence or a cage. In the background I notice a few trees and a relatively big fire that is burning what could be either a truck or a van. The observer can interpret here that Musa N. Nxumalo intentions or studium, is to capture the contemporary lives of South African youth because it appears like it is a normal day for these men. But what truly pierces me is the backpack the guy in the center of the photograph is wearing. At first glance, this backpack was not something I immediately noticed; however, as I continuously glare at this backpack, my mind keeps wondering a million different things. As I keep looking at this photograph, my mind brings me from one place to another. I first question why is this guy wearing this backpack, which then brings my mind to questioning who this guy is and what is his background. Is he a worker, though the outfit he is wearing, or is he a student? As I keep thinking, I keep questioning and coming to different conclusions. This makes me feel as if I have a certain connection to this guy, as I am both a student and a worker as well, even though I have never met or spoken to this person. These constant wonders and limitless possibilities excite me and “wounds” me.