"Pictures of people who mock me"

[DominikDUK]

The few photographs in the article except for the last one illustrate her point very well imo. The photographs do not only look like snapshots they are snapshots but honestly why not what's so bad about snapshots.
If she were extremely underweight or had a big mole on her nose and head she would get the same reactions. People like to sneer at or make fun of people that are less than perfect. Sad truth.

If I were her I would not only use her not even extremely overweight body but also people with other problems say a heavy case of neurodermitis or something like that to illustrate the problem. It's not great art but the photographs work.

I also don't think that her weight should matter in the discourse about the work, it's irrelevant. The only thing that matters is the people's reaction to people that are not the norm or do not conform to the beauty ideal.

 

[Photo_Smith]

It's entirely possible to control your weight enjoyably. As an example, did you know that many types of ice cream provide less than 150 kilocalories per 100 grammes? Compare that with typical values of 230 kilocalories per 100 grammes for wholemeal bread.

Good for you pat yourself on the back, what would your advice be for the lady in the OP who has a serious illness that makes her put on weight?

My mother has that illness, she'll be ecstatic to learn that simple exercise and calorie controlled diet will help against the terrible illness that is hypothyroidism.

 

[Photo_Smith]

Apparently your the guy who can't read. I said precludes her from exercise. Hypothyroidism does not preclude someone from exercise. I'am not saying I know her medical history but that's almost a laughable excuse shes giving.

Hypothyroidism pretty much precludes someone from exercise, it can make sufferers fatigued, short of breath with swelling of the tendons, abnormal heart rhythms, weight gain etc

So some may find somebody that suffers from that terrible illness having 'a laughable excuse' I'm not sure serious illness is an excuse, but it should once you are aware her problem at least instil some empathic response from readers-as many as 1 in 20 people have this I know two-its not nice.

 

[stompyq]

Hypothyroidism pretty much precludes someone from exercise, it can make sufferers fatigued, short of breath with swelling of the tendons, abnormal heart rhythms, weight gain etc

So some may find somebody that suffers from that terrible illness having 'a laughable excuse' I'm not sure serious illness is an excuse, but it should once you are aware her problem at least instil some empathic response from readers-as many as 1 in 20 people have this I know two-its not nice.

I'am well aware what Hypothyroidism is. My ex wife has it as does her mother. Neither of them have made it a excuse like the lady from the article has.

 

[Photo_Smith]

It's not an excuse-its an illness. It has a variety of different symptoms one can be weight gain, irregular heart, swelling of tendons, tiredness-my mother has it and its very disabling–she's not doing the London marathon any time soon.

To tell sufferers to get more exercise and have a calorie controlled diet is like telling people with dementia to do memory exercises.
I think the woman doesn't need an 'excuse' the attitude people show to her is more revealing of human spitefulness and shallow perception and should make civilised people feel uncomfortable.
If people in your family suffer from this try to be more empathic, they are human after all.

Advice for her to take exercise or diet is disgusting as are people reactions to others medical issues.

 

[noisycheese]

She fails to make a strong point of something. Also the fact that she tries too hard to make a point makes it a lot worse.

I have to disagree - I think she does makes a strong point of something. Her point is this: There are a lot of ******s in our so-called culture.

In this supposedly magnanimous and politically correct culture, anyone who dares to mock - for any reason - a black person, a homosexual, a middle eastern person, a person of Asian heritage, a Latino or a physically/mentally disabled person is met with the brand of triple distilled contempt that is usually reserved for child molesters.

But mock an overweight person? That's just good, clean fun.

Only *****s mock overweight people. Period.

 

[Sejanus.Aelianus]

I'am well aware what Hypothyroidism is. My ex wife has it as does her mother. Neither of them have made it a excuse like the lady from the article has.

I'm guessing that you mean that they control it and not let it control them, which is as it should be.

I've met three people who have one form or another of hypothyrodism and they, like your relatives, refuse to let it rule their lives. The thing is, without being told, you probably wouldn't realise that they have this problem.

I do sometimes wonder how many obese people who claim hypothyroidism actually do have clinical symptoms.

 

[Photo_Smith]

And yet for every person that uses drugs to control it there are people who still can't have the luxury of living a normal life.
My mother suffers from it and I can tell you daily drugs and exercise are no cure.

If someone tells me they have this terrible illness, they have my sympathy rather that telling them they are 'fakers' and using it as an excuse to be a fat b*sta*rd.

Peoples response to others weight and illnesses in this have been most enlightening, if not shamefully disappointing.

 

[Sid836]

I have to disagree - I think she does makes a strong point of something. Her point is this: There are a lot of *****s in our so-called culture. ...

Honestly I don't give a ***** for what some fat person gets troubled for, a million miles away from where I am. There is no strong point to it no matter how hard one tries to make it.
It can work for people close to her, but not for anybody else. If you try to add some drama to it, again it does not work. Trying to win some empathy from others just because one is fat is pathetic at its best.
It sucks in every aspect, pity she makes it even worse showing it around.

As for the cultural point of it, please leave it aside. One can select the social group to fit in. If a fatty "little" princess had a dream of fitting in some space of anorexic ladies, she's going all wrong. She won't get accepted and this will be her fault. Apparently she goes for high hopes in wrong places.

The same applies to any type of person you can imagine.

People that liked that post, can send some sympathy to her, and who knows they can find more than enough common points and get closer than that. Bat that's it. Beyond that it is crap 100%.

--- Edit ---
Aha, and I am not mocking of anybody. I just don't care. Got landed on it simply through reading for its existence in here.

 

[zauhar]

this thread is FAT with fat haters. it is simple as that. the photos would be considered "art" by members here - or, at least, non-threatening - if the photographer were a gorgeous, leggy, curvy woman in halter top and short-shorts, snapping pics of people leering at her.
there wouldn't be any snide comments at all, but there would be your standard wolfish ones ...

+1 Paul.

Although this lady is not in the league of Marina Abramovic, in some sense she is braver; it's easier to expose yourself to the world and its abuses if you are hot, and can frame the negative attention as 'pervy' male behavior (not that Abramovic takes that tack). Morris-Cafiero knows she is not hot, and lays that truth out in the open.

I do understand she is setting herself up for this, with a camera and tripod directed at her, but I guarantee the reactions would be vastly different if a gorgeous chick were obstructing traffic.

 

[Lund]

I'm very fond of art trying to say something. The photography itself also intrigues me, sloppy but thoughtful at the same time. The use of commercial slogans like "Anonymity isn't for everyone" and a billboard for chocolate aids the thought when trying to make sense of the image.

I suppose the series is trying to show and make us reflect on just how obsessed with looks our society is. Reflecting on both the pictures and the reaction I must say it succeeds.

 

[thejameskendall]

I'm not inclined to cut her any slack on this. I used to weigh 224lb, which is a lot when you're 66 inches tall. For many years now, I've weighed under 145lb. All it takes is a weighing machine, a notebook and will power.

I think you missed the part where she told us she has hypothyroidism. Well done for losing weight, but what you went through isn't the same thing.

 

[thejameskendall]

I think that many people can't get past the idea that all photography is about the craft. These photographs aren't pretty, but that's only one type of photography. I love well crafted photos, but it's not the only way through the art form.

 

[hepcat]

I am surprised at the responses to this thread. I'm sorry, but the photos aren't art; they're documentary. And they don't document the person whose narrative we're discussing, they document the abysmal failure of humans to relate to one another. She recognizes that she's not "hot" in the way society has set the standard. What she's documenting tho, is the personality flaws of those who somehow view themselves as superior.

The statement is that not only are they NOT superior, their behavior is unwarranted and unwanted. I'm not sure what that makes them, but they've got nothing to be morally superior about.

 

[Photo_Smith]

I'm very fond of art trying to say something. The photography itself also intrigues me, sloppy but thoughtful at the same time. The use of commercial slogans like "Anonymity isn't for everyone" and a billboard for chocolate aids the thought when trying to make sense of the image.

I suppose the series is trying to show and make us reflect on just how obsessed with looks our society is. Reflecting on both the pictures and the reaction I must say it succeeds.

Absolutely agree Lund, the reaction shows that society is shallow and appearance driven we see the fat not the person, and those people who worship the public image™ tend to ridicule those who don't fit in.

 

[Sid836]

Absolutely agree Lund, the reaction shows that society is shallow and appearance driven we see the fat not the person, and those people who worship the public image™ tend to ridicule those who don't fit in.

A nice lesson here is that not anybody fits everywhere. There is nothing wrong with that. There are people that find it hard to find some social group to fit in. This is not a problem of the rest, but of theirs. It is their attitude that causes it and there is no doubt about it. I have seen friendships of the most unbelievable kind, and that proves it.
In this case think of it as a lamp trying to attract wolves for no apparent reason. The result is pretty much expected, no matter how artistically or not the attempt goes.

Btw, a soft like butter soul that seeks desperately for compassion will not make it too far. Our world does not work like that. And this applies not just for fat people.

 

[back alley]

about ready to close this thread...

 

[NY_Dan]

about ready to close this thread...

Our prayers may soon be answered! Please 🙂 Lets talk about cameras.

 

[Slow Down]

I think the array of reactions in this thread pretty much confirm the success of her project.

 

[zauhar]

Sorry I brought it up.

Interesting that here on Rangefinder Forum, no one had anything to say about the artist using a film rangefinder.

I know - all what matters is the final product, not the tool!

Joe, close the thread quick!