Luminous Landscape Forum

The Art of Photography => User Critiques => Topic started by: Slobodan Blagojevic on April 03, 2012, 08:19:26 pm

Title: "Life, Liberty and...
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on April 03, 2012, 08:19:26 pm
... the pursuit of Happiness".

For those outside of the U.S., the above is a well-known phrase in the United States Declaration of Independence and considered by some as part of one of the most well crafted, influential sentences in the history of the English language (according to Wikipedia).

I found that neon sign in a Chicago mall as a funny (punny?) play on words, a real tribute to our consumerism society and trivialization of everything.

Funny or sad? Symbolic or tragic? Lighthearted fun or not for the faint of heart?

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7132/6896649128_c4eaf2b6be.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/slobodan_blagojevic/6896649128/)
Chicago Neon - LIfe, Liberty and... (http://www.flickr.com/photos/slobodan_blagojevic/6896649128/) by Slobodan Blagojevic (http://www.flickr.com/people/slobodan_blagojevic/), on Flickr
Title: Re: "Life, Liberty and...
Post by: louoates on April 03, 2012, 09:29:47 pm
I see it as a lighthearted effort. That's assuming that a shop in that mall was actually giving out samples. If so, I'd say that it was doing it's job of getting attention to the offer. If it's trying to make a political statement about how commercialism is evil it's just plain dumb.
Title: Re: "Life, Liberty and...
Post by: Rob C on April 04, 2012, 04:10:48 am
Wasn't aware of the original phrase; now that I am, I see the sign as clever/humorous/sardonic marketing.

Rob C
Title: Re: "Life, Liberty and...
Post by: kencameron on April 04, 2012, 06:47:06 am
I see it as a lighthearted effort. That's assuming that a shop in that mall was actually giving out samples. If so, I'd say that it was doing it's job of getting attention to the offer. If it's trying to make a political statement about how commercialism is evil it's just plain dumb.

Interesting. You need to know the intentions of the person responsible before you can respond to the image. If he was trying to sell something (by giving something away), it was fine. If he was making a point about whether too much importance is sometimes attached to one among the various ways of pursuing happiness, it was dumb. So it is dumb to think that there serious questions to be asked about whether happiness can be bought. Or am I completely misunderstanding you? If so, I apologize in advance. I liked the image a lot because it provokes these multiple (mis)understandings.
Title: Re: "Life, Liberty and...
Post by: RSL on April 04, 2012, 10:18:03 am
Well, isn't "samples" a synonym for "the pursuit of happiness?"
Title: Re: "Life, Liberty and...
Post by: walter.sk on April 04, 2012, 12:11:41 pm
... the pursuit of Happiness".
I found that neon sign in a Chicago mall as a funny (punny?) play on words, a real tribute to our consumerism society and trivialization of everything.

I don't think you have to know the original intent of the sign-maker.  In this case, I agree with Slobodan, the maker of this photograph, about the trivialization of everything.
Title: Re: "Life, Liberty and...
Post by: Rob C on April 04, 2012, 06:04:21 pm
I don't think you have to know the original intent of the sign-maker.  In this case, I agree with Slobodan, the maker of this photograph, about the trivialization of everything.




Trouble is, when it comes right down to it, most everything is trivial.

Rob C
Title: Re: "Life, Liberty and...
Post by: Isaac on April 04, 2012, 06:13:55 pm
Trouble is, when it comes right down to it, most everything is trivial.

Your choice - trivialize or sanctify.
Title: Re: "Life, Liberty and...
Post by: jeremypayne on April 04, 2012, 08:34:29 pm
I like how you created a sense of depth and your composition is precise.

Like it.

Title: Re: "Life, Liberty and...
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on April 05, 2012, 12:22:06 am
I like how you created a sense of depth and your composition is precise...

Thanks. You know, in my OP I was apparently too preoccupied with the implied socio-political metaphor (or marketing gimmick, depending on one's point of view) to mention that I was equally drawn to the visual aspect of the scene. I have a soft spot for neon signs in general, and I liked how the colors, textures and pop-art all came together. I also chose a standpoint that gave me that angular dynamics and the added dimension of those glass doors and shop windows (to further amplify the commercial aspect), instead of a cleaner, frontal shot.
Title: Re: "Life, Liberty and...
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on April 05, 2012, 09:55:36 am
You did it just right, Slobodan. Fine image in all respects.

Eric