“Ambiguity” ( ) [Reflections on: Berger, John and Mohr, Jean, with help from Nicholas Philbert, Another Way of Telling, NY: Pantheon Books, 1982, 308p. - Preface and Section 1 ]

These two worked hard, together, like
For years to marry pics with type,
And publish same for other folks
Who’d grow from insights of these blokes.

Jean worked for several different orgs
Like U.N., health, Red Cross, (affords
Him ways and means to carry on) –
Critic of art for one named John.

Their question was a simple one –
“What really is a pic, when done
By all and any round the globe
With cell-phone – now there is a load –

Of the photos in our global store,
With bits and bytes of life galore;
Some used, some posted on the net,
With many more not captured yet?”

They use a docu-process to
Lay out their insights, point of view;
Instead of theory, all in words,
Through photos they sought to be heard.

Their theme was, “Peasants – how they viewed
Themselves” (one group, at least), re-viewed
Through fully seven working-years,
To get below what first appears.

In chapter one, they spell things out –
Four players circle roundabout
All photos: taker; taken; viewed;
And user of each image new.

We each take turns at all four roles.
There’s tension there, for each role holds
A purpose unique in each scene
Midst fuzzy views – what each pix means.

These men say ambiguity
(Inherent in all pics that be),
Is heightened by this set of roles,
For each one holds quite separate goals.

Chap one gives illustrations where
Each player’s focused on with care,
To say in words and pictures clear
How different goals shape what appears.

Thanks Holy Spirit for this.

navigation