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White man's burden or tyrant's charm ...
White man's burden or tyrant's charm ...
markmulkerin


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Authority (Basic Editing I)
Camera: Canon EOS-300D Rebel
Location: Hong Kong Coastal Defence Museum
Date: Nov 23, 2004
Aperture: 2
ISO: 100
Shutter: 0.003125 s
Galleries: Black and White, Science and Technology
Date Uploaded: Nov 23, 2004

Curves, monochrome channel mixer, resize

Statistics
Place: 92 out of 149
Avg (all users): 4.8057
Avg (commenters): 5.3000
Avg (participants): 4.6049
Avg (non-participants): 4.8861
Views since voting: 1094
Views during voting: 443
Votes: 283
Comments: 12
Favorites: 0


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AuthorThread
12/04/2004 12:12:51 PM
Thanks for the pm and explaination of your title. I'll put away my dissertation about nazis and other racial supremacist advocates. The title is awkward, as phrased can mean the opposite of what you had intended, as is in my case. Of course Kipling's words "White man's burden" are interesting in a historical way, as you have pointed out, also it surely continues to be controversial. Unfortunately the title phrasing sequence more than hints at being objectionable to me. In light of how I initially and continue to see the image itself and considering your post challenge comment, I find that the idea of authoritarianism and subjugation closer to how this title/image pairing is intended to function.
12/01/2004 09:04:52 AM
Thanks for your comments everyone. I guess it is time to clear up the questions. Yes, it is a machine gun (specifically, a machine gun on a WWII era British tank that would have been stationed in Hong Kong to keep Hong Kong British). Yes, my overexposure and tight focus on the muzzled end was intentional - I was hoping to give the impression of what it might look like to someone from the wrong end of it. I guess for some it worked, for most it didn't.

White man's burden - the short answer is a 19th century Imperial British notion that it was the duty of civilized people (meaning British) to lift the ignorant heathens (meaning anyone not white) from the quagmire of their pathetic lives (meaning not Victorian England) even if they didn't want help (meaning we will save them even if it means killing them all). The term, I believe, was coined by Ruyard Kipling as part of a glowing praise poem to British Imperial power.

Thank goodness we are past that stage in our history and don't invade countries to install regimes that follow proper capitalist/democratic values (I won't argue whether or not Iraq would be better as a real democracy, but the picture should suggest what the US soldiers look like to some locals).
 Comments Made During the Challenge
11/30/2004 10:21:26 PM
returning for comment:
A lerthal authority. Good composition. Bumping to 6.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/30/2004 02:01:26 AM
I am at a loss. I thought it was a machine gun barrel but reading the title - just not getting it. ...is it an empty toilet paper roll? that's a burden. :-?
11/26/2004 11:44:38 AM
I don't understand the reference to white man's burden.
11/25/2004 11:55:37 AM
If your title is asking a question (Where is the question mark?) of the viewer to determine what your photo (.......a machine gun?; something that flames come out of?; a sewer pipe?; a musical instrument?) represents - I see the nonsensical choices you offer as: (1) A despicable, archaic, 19th century idea of racial superiority? OR.... (2) A despot's amulet? What I see is an effective high contrast b&w of the rusted muzzle of a early 20th century automatic firearm projected forward in space from what appears as a blurry turrent, slightly diagonal on the picture plane.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/25/2004 12:14:28 AM
I am not sure here what White man's burden means. Nice use of space and line. The photo does make me want to take a step back and get out of the way. The artist's choice of angle and point of view works very well. Sorry I don't get the White man's burden part. It is probably obvious. Is it that we must bear the burden of all the killing that has been done by white men? Let me know if you get a chance. Nonetheless, the photo carries a certain energy and intensity that certainly works very well for this challenge.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/24/2004 04:07:54 PM
hmm. I don't get it.
11/24/2004 03:58:39 PM
What is that?
11/24/2004 08:11:04 AM
All a bit too blurry and overexposed. Not enough detail.
11/24/2004 02:21:22 AM
Looks oversharp or overexposed on the highlights. Almost abstract with the depth of field and the blown background. I don't care fo rit.
11/24/2004 01:27:00 AM
just what is 'white man's burden'? as far as the image goes, i guess i'm seeing a gun barrel; beyond that, i really can't tell.


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