Talking Pictures: People Speak About the Photographs That Speak to Them

Rating:
Summary: art is interactive, and this is the best example I know
Review: The exhibit this book catalogs, in addition to being interesting and often moving, exemplified and highlighted how active and interactive viewing art actually is. For example, there was a photo of Jackie Joyner-Kersey throwing a javelin. My first reaction was "what a perfectly sculpted, strong, beautiful woman." Then I saw that the person who chose the photo was...herself! "Geesh, how vain!" I couldn't help but thinking. Then I heard her reason--the total opposite. It turned out to be a bad throw, and she takes you through all the signs evident in the photo, before she even let go. And I recognized in the comments every woman's extremely critical eye for herself, even when great beauty is evident to all around. People wandering through the exhibit pointed photos out to each other, even to strangers. "Did you see that one?" And at one point I heard a man reply, "I can't look at that one. It makes me cry." There are many photos you'll recognize, many you won't. Once you read who chose them and why, your own view of the photos will be forever altered, a little in some cases, a lot in others.

Rating:
Summary: art is interactive, and this is the best example I know
Review: The exhibit this book catalogs, in addition to being interesting and often moving, exemplified and highlighted how active and interactive viewing art actually is. For example, there was a photo of Jackie Joyner-Kersey throwing a javelin. My first reaction was "what a perfectly sculpted, strong, beautiful woman." Then I saw that the person who chose the photo was...herself! "Geesh, how vain!" I couldn't help but thinking. Then I heard her reason--the total opposite. It turned out to be a bad throw, and she takes you through all the signs evident in the photo, before she even let go. And I recognized in the comments every woman's extremely critical eye for herself, even when great beauty is evident to all around. People wandering through the exhibit pointed photos out to each other, even to strangers. "Did you see that one?" And at one point I heard a man reply, "I can't look at that one. It makes me cry." There are many photos you'll recognize, many you won't. Once you read who chose them and why, your own view of the photos will be forever altered, a little in some cases, a lot in others.