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01/21/2006 07:08:27 PM · #1 |
| I'm only 13 so can anyone tell me what Very American means when it comes to photography. I submitted a entry in the road challenge and I was left a comment. It went something like this " This may sound very brutal, but I find this very bland and very 'American'. Doesn't really appeal to me in any way. Not sure what very American means concerning photos, do American's take photos any different than anyone else in the world. I'm new and trying to learn, so I'm just wanting to know if there's a certain style that American's have. |
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01/21/2006 07:09:46 PM · #2 |
| who knows, who cares. If the dude want's to be prejudiced.... whatever. |
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01/21/2006 07:10:14 PM · #3 |
Someone's just probably angry that your photo is better than theirs....obviously that person is a racist, most likely against Americans for some reason or another...
You can most certainly not say a photo is "American" when talking about its photographic integrity -- that's a pretty broad stereotype...obviously a shot of the Grand Canyon could be considered a 'very American' photo...but I have a feeling we're not dealing with a shot like that.
Message edited by author 2006-01-21 19:10:33.
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01/21/2006 07:11:47 PM · #4 |
I think that the comment only makes sense in the reference to your shot... I'll add a comment with my thoughts, I don't think anything "anti-American" was meant by it, FWIW.
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01/21/2006 07:14:17 PM · #5 |
I have a photo that is, in my opinion, very American........but I am a Canadian and quite proud of it.
The comment left may seem harsh, but some folks on this site are honest with their opinions, albeit sometimes a bit too direct and a tad insensitive.
Try not to take such comments to heart... it may not have been meant in a hurtful manner.
Ray
Message edited by author 2006-01-21 19:17:27. |
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01/21/2006 07:17:07 PM · #6 |
Originally posted by kirbic:
I think that the comment only makes sense in the reference to your shot... I'll add a comment with my thoughts, I don't think anything "anti-American" was meant by it, FWIW. |
I agree.
Originally posted by dpaull:
Someone's just probably angry that your photo is better than theirs....obviously that person is a racist, most likely against Americans for some reason or another... |
Strange. Since when have Americans been considered a race?
Message edited by author 2006-01-21 20:00:24. |
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01/21/2006 07:17:36 PM · #7 |
So. Like, if I were to go and take a picture of the Eiffel Tower, i'd be "very French", bah.
Your photo may very well be bland and boring without the "American" element.
If I were to say that someones photo was "very [insert ethnic group]" then I would be out of line, and I think this guy just might be also. |
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01/21/2006 07:20:32 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by wavelength:
So. Like, if I were to go and take a picture of the Eiffel Tower, i'd be "very French", bah.
Your photo may very well be bland and boring without the "American" element.
If I were to say that someones photo was "very [insert ethnic group]" then I would be out of line, and I think this guy just might be also. |
I think that speculation is pointless. The comment does make sense, IMO, in the context of the shot. Perhaps it's better to wait until the voting finishes and assess the situation with full information?
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01/21/2006 07:22:19 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by kirbic:
Originally posted by wavelength:
So. Like, if I were to go and take a picture of the Eiffel Tower, i'd be "very French", bah.
Your photo may very well be bland and boring without the "American" element.
If I were to say that someones photo was "very [insert ethnic group]" then I would be out of line, and I think this guy just might be also. |
I think that speculation is pointless. The comment does make sense, IMO, in the context of the shot. Perhaps it's better to wait until the voting finishes and assess the situation with full information? |
Ok. But speculation is funner-er. |
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01/21/2006 07:26:12 PM · #10 |
| I'm not taking anything to heart, or I'm I upset by what was said. I'm very new to photography and since my dad is not here right now to ask, I'd thought I'd ask on the forum. I joined the site with my dad to learn about photography so all comments are welcome. "I just thought that American's have a certain style" |
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01/21/2006 07:26:56 PM · #11 |
Originally posted by beagleboy:
Strange. Since when have Americans been considered a race?
From the dictionary:
race: A group of people united or classified together on the basis of common history, nationality, or geographic distribution
Being an American is a race that can be broken down into many other categories, but for the most part, because of the way the rest of the world views America and Americans, one who is 'anti-America' can definately be considered a racist...
(link removed)
have a look around.
Message edited by ClubJuggle - Link removed. |
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01/21/2006 07:28:34 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by deme314:
I'm not taking anything to heart, or I'm I upset by what was said. I'm very new to photography and since my dad is not here right now to ask, I'd thought I'd ask on the forum. I joined the site with my dad to learn about photography so all comments are welcome. "I just thought that American's have a certain style" |
Read my comment, and when you have a chance, talk about it, and the original comment, with your Dad.
By the way, welcome to DPC!
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01/21/2006 07:29:04 PM · #13 |
Originally posted by deme314:
I'm not taking anything to heart, or I'm I upset by what was said. I'm very new to photography and since my dad is not here right now to ask, I'd thought I'd ask on the forum. I joined the site with my dad to learn about photography so all comments are welcome. "I just thought that American's have a certain style" |
Wow, that would be SOOO freakin boring.
To think, all this time American was a style and I didn't know it. |
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01/21/2006 07:29:54 PM · #14 |
Originally posted by dpaull:
Originally posted by beagleboy:
Strange. Since when have Americans been considered a race?
Being an American is a race that can be broken down into many other categories, but for the most part, because of the way the rest of the world views America and Americans, one who is 'anti-America' can definately be considered a racist...
(link removed)
have a look around. |
Just took a glance at that front page and closed it. Not worth my time, except maybe to denounce it.
Message edited by ClubJuggle - Link removed. |
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01/21/2006 07:30:42 PM · #15 |
Originally posted by dpaull:
have a look around. |
My works firewall says that I can't go there because it promotes or discusses "hate and descrimination", so I'll just have to believe you. |
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01/21/2006 07:36:22 PM · #16 |
i think there may be a style called 'american' or at least a flavor
as opposed to 'european' /'eastern european' / 'fareast'
page through random photos on pbase's gallery for a while ..
you get a sence of where the images come from after a bit
cultural sensitivities ..
as far as being bigot'ed comment - i'd doubt it - but i'm anxious to see which photo ;)
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01/21/2006 07:36:24 PM · #17 |
Originally posted by dpaull:
Originally posted by beagleboy:
Strange. Since when have Americans been considered a race?
Being an American is a race that can be broken down into many other categories, but for the most part, because of the way the rest of the world views America and Americans, one who is 'anti-America' can definately be considered a racist...
(link removed)
have a look around. |
just gotta ask...are you endorsing this (as you believe it) or you were just showing a website you found??
Message edited by ClubJuggle - Link removed. |
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01/21/2006 07:38:15 PM · #18 |
There exist, hopefully, photographs in an American style or manner. I'd celebrate such images.
I have a sense that the comment referred to by the OP was a derogatory one. I'd wait until it can be discussed in context, as kirbic already suggested.
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01/21/2006 07:38:24 PM · #19 |
There is a sad, even pitiful tendency, Demetrius, for many folks from the rest of the world to claim that anything American is bland, and that anything bland is American. They claim that McDonalds and Hollywood are the devil, usually while munching a Mac with fries and watching an Arnie DVD. It's really just a case of inferiority complex. Of course, in the case of most of the countries these people are from, they have plenty to feel inferior about.
(I of course exclude Australia, where I'm from; we're a special case). |
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01/21/2006 07:41:32 PM · #20 |
| Where's the hose? Things are going to get hot... |
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01/21/2006 07:43:22 PM · #21 |
Originally posted by ubique:
It's really just a case of inferiority complex. |
clearly you haven't seen the world. |
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01/21/2006 07:44:09 PM · #22 |
| Beagleboy: can you take that stupid smiley out, I keep getting popups when I view the thread. |
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01/21/2006 07:46:17 PM · #23 |
Originally posted by deme314:
I'm not taking anything to heart, or I'm I upset by what was said. I'm very new to photography and since my dad is not here right now to ask, I'd thought I'd ask on the forum. I joined the site with my dad to learn about photography so all comments are welcome. "I just thought that American's have a certain style" |
I agree with kirbic's statement. And his suggestion to ask your Dad when he comes home. I also can understand that as a 13 yr old you are trying to learn and may have taken the persons comment literal. I think some of the following replies didn't take that into effect and began giving you off-the cuff responses.
Not knowing what your shot was makes it difficult to comment, but I can think sometimes other nationalities think that American's are very commercialized. Perhaps that fits in to the picture???
Keep using the site to learn, and keep using the forums to talk and ask questions. In my short time here I have learned many times the posts can have rants in them.
I have only just entered my first 2 challenges. My road challenge only has 2 comments. 1) ....this could have been interesting if it wasn't boring... 2) Funny title (I guess that is the only thing good about it!! :-D 3) no other comments after 198 votes 4.108avg. I think these people have been taught 'if you can't say something nice don't say anything at all! :-D
Anyways, I don't believe it was a racist comment but propably something distintly pertaining to the photo subject.
Good luck...how are your scores doing??
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01/21/2006 07:47:58 PM · #24 |
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01/21/2006 07:52:37 PM · #25 |
Originally posted by dpaull:
Originally posted by beagleboy:
Strange. Since when have Americans been considered a race?
Being an American is a race that can be broken down into many other categories, but for the most part, because of the way the rest of the world views America and Americans, one who is 'anti-America' can definately be considered a racist...
have a look around. |
I have removed the link from the quote as I do not wish to promote this site.
I do not think this is suitable to bring this site up when the thread was instigated by a young child whi no doubt will be following it closely.
:(
P
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