Friday, December 11, 2009

Final Sketch (Image)


If you're a regular reader of the National Post, you probably recognize this photo from recent news. Published December 7th 2009, this photo is of two young entrepreneurs who are changing the way in which investors do business. Essentially they're offering real-time stock quotes for free and profiting from selling advertising space. Initially this photograph probably doesn't catch your eye as something important or even meaningful. To be honest, it didn't even catch me eye until I decided to take a deeper understanding of what it could represent.

Technically this image was captured and perhaps even constructed. It is of two young men in business suits looking out. At first it looks as if these men have been photographed without their knowing. It looks almost as if they have been photographed while walking. A closer look at it, we can see what it looks as if they have been photographed from another space completely. We can see the reflection off the glass that seems to indicate these men were photographed while looking out to the busy city.

Culturally this image could represent many things. Things that have become so normalized into our thinking. The obvious fact that we think: Serious men, who do business, wear suits. Secondly: Serious men, who do business are caucasian. While I do understand that the two men in charge of this business are in fact
caucasian, would it have meant anything different if it were two oriental men? Are two men in casual
clothing?

I think culturally this photograph provides nothing different then what is the normal. It does not stand out and
probably doesn't stand out to you either. But why is that? Perhaps because it is a photograph of what we
have collectively understood to be the normal for Business in Western Society?

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10 questions regarding Sonic Outlaws is posted earlier.

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