Language Recreates Photography
The addition of words and symbols to photography adds a completely different dimension to the photographs. In the exhibit, “Between Language and Geography: Words, Signs and Symbols in Photography,” the work of various photographers is combined to show just how significant the inclusion of words and symbols are.The most striking of all the photos is, “Shoot AIDS, Not War!” The photograph was taken by Candace Scharsu and is of a poster in the Congo, which reads, “Do not shoot each other, shoot aids.” The picture in the poster is that of a soldier with a rifle, but instead of bullets, he is shooting condoms. The image delivers a clear cut message— that war must be stopped, and safe sex practices must be taken. It shows that in the Congo, the wrong war is being fought, while the proper war against AIDS, is being neglected.
Milt Hinton’s photograph of the “Colored Entrance” reminds us of how life used to be in the United States. Today, we find it impossible to believe that there were two different entrances to a building, one for whites and another for blacks. The picture serves to remind us of how far we’ve come and to not forget where we once were.
Andreas Feininger’s picture of the Hudson River Waterfront shows the industrial giant that is New York City. The sign, “Welcome Home,” seems ironic, because the factories and smoke create an environment that is not one to be considered “home.” The picture is inviting you into a world of pollution and manual labor, not of family which is what we associate with home.
Though in their unique way, all of the photos contribute to the same underlying theme of how words and symbols influence not only photography but also life. They show the ironies of our society that we normally would not be able to recognize. “A picture may be worth a thousand words, but a single word can radically alter the meaning of a picture.” (http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/news/language_geography_photos.htm)