These photos were taken in 2012 in a village located in Zambia, a country in central Africa. I was part of a tour group.
considerations:
Colonization has normalized poverty in Africa to the point that scenic poverty is an expected part of the African tourist experience. In this village donations to the school were suggested allowing the tourists to stay morally comfortable. Charity as an agent of delusional largesse.
Would the economic disparity between the tourists and the village children be more "visible" if the children were white?
It took me several years to process how the children were being exploited by this transient invasion of wealthy tourists. Despite the generous distribution of lollypops the expressions on the children faces indicate their consciousness and contempt for the display of concern and support. Preserving their individual facial expressions made just replacing the black children with white children not optional.
Colonization has normalized poverty in Africa to the point that scenic poverty is an expected part of the African tourist experience. In this village donations to the school were suggested allowing the tourists to stay morally comfortable. Charity as an agent of delusional largesse.
Would the economic disparity between the tourists and the village children be more "visible" if the children were white?
It took me several years to process how the children were being exploited by this transient invasion of wealthy tourists. Despite the generous distribution of lollypops the expressions on the children faces indicate their consciousness and contempt for the display of concern and support. Preserving their individual facial expressions made just replacing the black children with white children not optional.
visual considerations:
Comparing the before and after images of the photos I invariably disliked how the "after" photo was much weaker as a formal visual statement. In the "before" pictures the dark tones of the children's black skin made a much more dramatic and integrated image. The dark legs blended in with the ground and the shadows.
The "white" children in the photoshopped images look flimsy and vulnerable in their surroundings. The black children look solid and strong. How does this perception of "solidness" and "flimsiness" translate into cultural interactions between the races?
Comparing the before and after images of the photos I invariably disliked how the "after" photo was much weaker as a formal visual statement. In the "before" pictures the dark tones of the children's black skin made a much more dramatic and integrated image. The dark legs blended in with the ground and the shadows.
The "white" children in the photoshopped images look flimsy and vulnerable in their surroundings. The black children look solid and strong. How does this perception of "solidness" and "flimsiness" translate into cultural interactions between the races?