Period 2 - Critical Analysis #3

1/5/2022

Today you will be writing about this image by artist Zora Murff, which is from his series titled Corrections. Your analysis must be 4 paragraphs, 5 sentences minimum per paragraph. Remember to post your analysis as a comment to the blog post that corresponds to your class. If you post your analysis to the wrong class's post, it will not be graded.

Below is a project statement written by Murff about his body of work, Corrections:
From 2012 to 2015, I worked as a Tracker for Linn County Juvenile Detention and Diversion Services in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. As a Tracker, I provided services to youths who were convicted of crimes, adjudicated, and subsequently ordered to complete probation. Juveniles in my charge were asked to comply with services which may include: electronic monitoring, therapies, drug screening, and community service; it was my responsibility to have continual contact with them to ensure these expectations are met.

Tracking and other similar community-based services are being increasingly used as an alternative to detention facilities. These services, which allow juveniles to stay in their homes, show a higher rate of success than strict incarceration. Although community-based services are built to foster a collaborative relationship between juveniles and service providers, attaining the actualization of teamwork becomes problematic when juveniles feel that they have done nothing wrong, are victims of circumstance, or do not fully understand why they have committed a crime. The system has been put in place to provide rehabilitation, but it is far from being a straightforward process. Many influences outside of the youths' control such as education, socioeconomic status, and race all play a role in whether or not a youth reoffends - all of these factors possessing the propensity to lead them to extended periods of incarceration in the juvenile system or to involvement with the criminal justice system as an adult.

By reconsidering the role that I played in the lives of the kids I worked with, I began to acknowledge the burden that comes with tasking young men and women with continued complicity. My stance as a consequence kept our relationships in a state of flux ranging from stable to tenuous – a constant motion mirroring the discord that develops between the system's intentions and outcomes. Through employing ideas of anonymity, voyeurism, and introspection, Corrections is an examination of youth experience in the system, the role images play in defining someone who is deemed a criminal, and how the concepts of privacy and control may affect their future.

Refer to your "How to See" handout for analyzing a photograph--

Describe specifics.
Describe form.
Describe the content.
Evaluate the image

Your analyses will be graded on:

meeting minimum length requirements
depth of organization
evaluation of the content
grammar/punctuation

11 Comments

Will clanton

1/5/2022 07:09:44 am

It looks like there is a bed that seems to be empty and there is a book on the bed showing that the person might have been reading or relaxing. The room looks to be super empty maybe showing that this person has just moved in. There are photos on the wall of a baby that could be family and the shoes on the ground show that its like a home to him. it feels very jail like and the box has all his belongings and is maybe where he keeps everything.
The photo is very bright and seems bland. There are small glimpse of color throughout it such as the blue floor and the red bed. it feels depressing almost and it seems like a prison. Instead of feeling at home it feels like more of a place to just be. The brightness helps you look all around the photo.
The comforter is a blue and red type of woven pattern. The black shoes point down and make your eyes gaze other places . The colorful box with the hoodie and towel make you realize this is where someone lives. The photos on the wall make it seem more human. Almost like there is a sense of emotion in the image.
The image is meh. When I look at it I feel depressed. It feels like all my freedom is taken away when I look at it. It feels like a jail a trap somewhere you don't want to be. S the image is kind of meh its not that its bad it just is meh

Georgia Martinez

1/5/2022 07:14:12 am

This image depicts a bedroom, the walls are completely bare other than some baby photos taped up by the bed. The covers are pulled up, so the bed is made, there is a book and some sort of cloth and there is a box of towels at the foot of the bed with a pair of shoes next to it. The image only shows the very corner of the room and that is all that is visibly present. It is using very little colors, the cover is brown with a little bit of light blue in it. This biggest pop of color is the red linen in the box and the bright baby photo on the wall. Other than that, all of the colors are very neutral and blend together, white walls, black bed frame, gray floors. It has brighter lighting but there are a lot of shadows cast over the room, giving a sort of ominous feeling.
The focal point of the image is the bed, and it draws the viewer’s eyes toward the foot of the bed where the box and shoes are, the photos on the wall will also catch the viewers attention. The picture is taken from an angled view point, so the bed does not follow the rule of thirds because it takes up both the middle and right third of the image. It is taken from the perspective of someone who had just walked into the room and is seeing it as if they were there. It is not a symmetrical picture at all because the angel from which it was taken takes away any possibility of symmetry present. There is also some negative space present in the top left and right corner on the blank wall and bottom right corner on the floor, which really emphasizes how bare the room is.
This artist depicts the life of the juveniles from the detention center he worked with, and this picture of their room captures their life very well. The lack of things present shows how the person who lives there hasn’t been there long and is not settling in to make it like home. It gives a very temporary feeling to the room which is a large part of the lives of these kids. Moving from juvies to detention centers to foster homes does not allow these kids to have a very permanent life at all and this image tells that story of instability. It very much reminds me of all of the stories of kids I’ve heard that have grown up in this system and really struggle with finding their place in the world.
I think this image is very successful. It clearly demonstrates the unstable life these kids have growing up, with very few possessions in their life. The only personal items in the whole room are those images up on the wall. Everything else is pretty replaceable which is very typical for kids that live within this system. I like the attention to this situation that the photos call for. This showshow temporary every aspect of their life is.

kendrick De Luna

1/5/2022 07:14:27 am

looking at this picture makes my wonder different places. I wonder why they shot this. also wonder if that's someone kid that's hanging up on the wall.as I read the statement above it made think why is the person in a correction center. I wonder if this person has a roommate.
the picture looks so plain at first. as my eyes glance at different things in this picture it tends to fill the picture. on a side note the bed does not look to comfy. the bed spread doesn't look like It belongs in this picture.
if I saw just the picture and not read the statement I would've said this is like a dorm or something. I sort of like this picture because I feel like it has someone story in it. this picture is what someone sees everyday so that's why I feel like it has purpose. I also like the picture because it just random and it makes me want to look at the others in this collection.

Owen Alvares

1/5/2022 07:14:38 am

In the picture there is a light blue carpeted room with white walls a small bed with 4 baby pictures on the wall taped.
The bed sheets are plaid and the room is quite empty. In front of the bed there is a box with what looks like clothes and shoes next to them. Judging on the size this might be a kids room. There are too objects on the bed one is a book and the other looks like a black flat bag. The bed has no pillows and all the light in the room looks natural.

With this picture being really basic and dull I get creeped out when looking at it although it’s a perfectly normal-ish room it’s a high contender for someone to film a ghost video. The room looks very preset as if everything was put there for the shot. The shoes are in an odd position cause nobody takes there shoes off like that so they must be placed down but if someone where to place them down why are they not facing the same direction. This room has life but the life in it doesn’t make sense. Why would a kid have baby pictures on there wall with 2 of them being black and white. why is the room so dull, is it because the person is moving in? This person was clearly not organized if they came with the box like that.

the lighting in the room is very odd it’s not from a light bulb but the shadows in the room suggest that the light is coming from the wall behind the bed although there isn’t a visible window. The bed is very modern but the bed sheets are a little discolored as if they have been washed a lot.

When looking at the picture I feel as if my eyes go from the frame to the indentation on the bed to the opposite frame and follows the shadows down to the box and shoes. The description of the picture is a story about a man whole helps kids in juvenile prison, But why would a kid have baby photos in prison?

Krish Puri

1/5/2022 07:15:37 am

As I look at the image, I can see four pictures on the wall of a baby. Two of the pictures are in color, and two are black and white. There is also a bed that is made with a book on it. There is also a box with clothes and a towel in it. Next to the bed there is a pair of worn sneakers.
The form appears to be simplistic and geometric. I say this because the shape that occurs over and over again are rectangles. This is used to show the simplicity in the image because rectangles can be found a lot in life. the simplicity of shapes shows that the owner of this room lives a simple life. The box uses the rule of thirds and so does the book on the bed. The walls and floor act as a frame for the image.
The four pictures of babies could possibly be all of the same baby to show that the room's owner has some sort of connection to the baby. The made bed could tell us the the room's owner is disciplined and respects his area. The box with clothes and a towel could be a makeshift laundry basket or dresser. The worn sneakers signify that the owner is active and uses them a lot.
In my evaluation, I think that the image is a success because it portrays the simplicity of the owner's life. It also puts emphasis on the things that are important to him/her such as the baby in the pictures and the book on the bed. This is shown with the rule of thirds. If I were to change something, I would possibly change the frame of the image to incorporate a window just to add to the setting.

ethan green

1/5/2022 07:15:44 am

the photo shows an empty bed with books and shoes scattered across an empty room. I also see for pictures on the way maybe describing the guy in juvenile detentions previous life before going to Juve. There is a box and the box describes a past life.
Some of the shapes I see in the image are rectangles and I like how it all connects into the rule of thirds.It makes the photo a lot better to look at. it is better than looking at a jumbled mess with no organization. I can see that the outline of the photo is the frame.
All of the things in the first paragraph save a purpose, the phots of hi as a baby symbolism his past life before Juve and his boxes imply that he either just got here or he is leaving the center. the shoes on the bed imply that he has definitely given up on himself in life and he has basically hung up the boots and he wants to retire himself.
the photo is good in the way that a photographer would look at it but for me it wasn't really appealing to me because there is no action and no real emotion in my eyes. I wanted to see more emotion, I think if there was a window or something It could help me understand the picture a lot more because then it would have been an escape from his past life and really a beginning into his new life in Juve.

Kaleb Yu

1/5/2022 07:22:13 am

On the surface level, it's just a bed in the corner of the room with miscellaneous objects around it, like a box full of clothes and a pair shoes besides it. The blanket on the bed has a dull, almost faded red color. The room is pretty monotone in the sense that it's only like two colors, those being grey and a sort of grey-ish blue. The lighting looks like it's coming from a window on the right-most side of the room.
The composition of the image uses the rule of thirds well in my opinion. I personally am drawn to the box besides the bed and photos on the wall as opposed to the rest of the room. The main focus point of the image is the bed in the corner. The negative spaces that I see are in the bottom left corner and on the right-most side.
After reading the reason for why this photo was taken, it really makes me feel more at home, if that makes any sense. Basically, the photographer worked as a Tracker for juvenile detention. By arranging the rooms to look more like home, it allows those convicted of crime to comply more to their superiors than that of strict incarceration.
Overall, I didn't really like the image. It looks kinda boring on the surface level, or rather it's something that I would see everyday. After reading the article attached below, it made me feel more melancholic for the situation of the people placed in juvenile detention.

Dylqn Dorgan

1/5/2022 07:24:52 am

The first thing that is noticed upon viewing this image is the bed and its red sheets. The color easily stands out amidst the dull shades of the floor and wall. This draws the focus of the viewer to what is supposed to be the main draw of the image. Further more, the angle of the bed adds depth that helps someone viewing it realize that there are layers to this image, akin to an onion. Its rectangular shape fits very well in the rectangular image which makes it satisfying to look at.

The image then uses the stuff on the bed to move your eyes to the box and the shoes. They are well acquainted with the rule of thirds and sit in a satisfying position. The box's brown color is lame and unappealing and helps the viewer's mind stay on the move. The orange jacket, however, is bright in comparison to both the shoes and the box it sits on. This keeps the viewer there long enough to notice the box is full of towels, which makes them stop and question if the jacket is a towel as well.

Of course, the eyes follow the drooping gray towel to the shoes on the floor directly adjacent to the box. The shoes are black and have some shine but are clearly dirty. This fact conveys that the image might be one of less than ideal living conditions. The rightmost shoe points to open space and leads the viewer's eyes there. There is nothing in this space so the eyes go back up the wall to the top of the bed. Having already looked at the bed and completed the triangle this images main focus creates the viewer wanders to the last part of the image.

The photos on the wall are of a young child. These photos of an infant imply that a parent was separated from their young and likely misses them. The photos almost make the image sad in tone, but the bright red and orange distract from that mood. Perhaps the bed and towels should be a stronger cold color like a purple or blue.

Brooke Kapoor

1/5/2022 07:25:00 am

This photo is so simple it's complicated. I feel like there may be something I am missing. All the different colors, different components really make my mind wonder the intent behind it.
I don't personally love the pattern and color of the blanket but it's not unpleasing to look at. The baby pictures on the walls make me wonder if the person in this room had to leave people behind. Or maybe they were taken away.
The different colorist this photo are not too dramatic. This picture looks normal and the colors are natural. The red of the blanket caught my eye due to the other plain colors in the room.
I also noticed that the floor is concrete which means this is most likely not a home. It looks like the floor of a school or hospital. I believe this was taken in a prison. That's what the description says at least.
The baby photos strike me as interesting because the description is about a person who helps juvenile delinquents, but if they're kids, why would they have baby pictures. Maybe a baby brother/sister? There seems to be some character in the room which is unusual for a prison.
Overall this photo is very interesting and makes your mind wonder. I enjoyed this piece and I think it would touch other people. It can be interpreted many different ways. I think the photographer definitely succeeded.

Heath Bryant

1/5/2022 07:30:32 am

The image appears to be of a persons room. It looks like there are used towels in a box at the end of the bed. There are baby pictures on the wall. There are old shoes next to the bed. The image doesn't have bright colors and looks bland.
The image has a pretty empty room besides the bed and there is quite a bit of empty space. The point of view is from somebody looking into a room. The edges of the image is of walls and the floor and there is noting framing the image. This is a pretty balanced image. There is the main subject in the middle of the image and then a lot of open space around it.
I believe that the image is supposed to be a sad image. The emptiness of the room and the design of the room make me think that the person in the picture is somewhere other than his house. He also has baby pictures on the walls which make you assume the person has a kid and is not with them at the moment. I think that there is a story being told in the image. I believe that the artist made this image to connect with people who are away from home like possibly someone in the military.
I like this image and I think that it has a story in it. I think that there are many people that can relate to this image. I think that the image is successful because the artist's image has a message in it. I think that this image is pretty clear too and easy to see. I think that because of that it is able to connect with many people.

Aubrey Robbins

1/5/2022 03:45:50 pm

I initially started writing in the wrong class blog with the picture of the boy with the wood railing covering his face and read the project statement over what his pictures were about. then I saw that I was writing in the wrong class so I moved to this one but in this picture I didn't see how the project statement reflected on the photo because the picture is what looks to be a miniature middle of a room with baby pictures on the wall. and I don't see how the two correlate in the other one it makes sense it's a boy who was convicted of a crime but in this one it looks to be an ordinary room. I suppose the point of the photograph is that these types of things happen to normal people with ordinary lives but what else is there to this picture? the only other thing to go off of is the items in the room but there's a book on the bed sitting next to a beanie then there's shoes on the floor lying next to a box with what looks to be a towel with a hoodie on top of it but that's it there's nothing else that's the whole picture.

but if I recall correctly the tile on the floor looks to be the same as the tile in some college dorms from when I stayed overnight at camps. but the biggest oddity to me is the baby pictures on the wall. why are they there what could have caused them to put that on their bedroom or dorm room wall? does it pertain to the crime if so what crime was it? there are far too many questions about this photo that I know won't get answered and I am left only to infer what's going on and that bothers me.

Although I suppose the point of this photo with the lack of items is the lack of items itself. Because what if the owner wanted more for the room but didn't want to work for it. What if they think that they have nothing to lose by stealing. What if after a lawsuit they didn't have enough money to keep their current place of residence and had to sell some things to pay for the smaller one. There are many different ways you could potentially look at this person's situation.

I looked back at the baby pictures and although i can't make out what the bottom left picture is they seem to be printed out while the other two seem laminated or from an actual camera. This could also tie into the fact that this person isn't financially stable. Because why else would someone print out a baby picture to put on a wall if they could get a better-looking one instead. So I believe it's safe to say that this person is not in the best financial position. But even so this picture seems like something they would show before a success story. That because of their financial position that drove them towards success.

Period 2 - Critical Analysis #3

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