urban ku # 76 ~ July 4th
Wednesday, July 4, 2007 at 08:52AM 
We, the people, must redeem
Our land, the mines, the plains, the rivers,
The mountains and the endless plain -
All, all the stretch of these great green states -
And make America again!
~ from Let America be America Again by Langston Hughes
gravitas et nugalis
Featured Comments: Paul Maxim wrote: "...Oh, and thanks for the reference to "The Point". Hadn't thought about Oblio and Arrow in years and years. I wonder if that music is still available? It was such great political and social farce."
My response: Paul, I just ordered the The Point on DVD at Borders. The sound track cd is also available.
BTW, my oldest son, Jason, barely escaped being named Oblio. On the other hand, we did name one of our dogs Arrow. I have also spent a lot of time throughout my life trying to find the 3 fat sisters (whose point was merriment and fun)
Reader Comments (1)
Mark,
I certainly agree with the sentiment you've posted. However, I just happen to be reading Robert Adams' "Why People Photograph" and ran across this passage last night (he's talking about the general degradation of the American west):
"Because our politics and economics aren't likely to change in the near future, I hold small hope that the American West, even significant parts of it, will remain open. The region's central, defining characteristic - space - is unlikely to be retained in anything resembling its original sense because, in accordance with our system of values, it is not as important as the chance to amass wealth."
I fear he may be right. Even if the national parks survive, they will simply become isolated islands in a sea of man-made housing sprawl and malls. And that makes me very sad.
On a lighter note, I loved your "left brain wall" comment in the previous discussion. I've been reading Adam's book for that very reason - trying to figure out what makes people take (or make) photographs. If photography is a form of visual expression, then those who make images must be trying to "say something", right? So again, what are they trying to say and why are they so reluctant to talk about it? Why is it so much easier for them to discuss cropping and saturation and depth of field than it is to talk about why they pressed the shutter in the first place?
Oh, and thanks for the reference to "The Point". Hadn't thought about Oblio and Arrow in years and years. I wonder if that music is still available? It was such great political and social farce.