Prompt: Above you have viewed the work of Adam Panczuk. What are your reactions to the work? Do you find the series interesting? Why or why not? What is going on in the imagery? What are the individuals within the series trying to convey to their viewers? Choose the image that you find most interesting and write a synopsis of what you think happened the day in which that particular image was shot. Label your description so that others can refer to your chosen piece. The top image is one, the second is two, and so on.
After writing your initial reactions, read the commentary below. Has your opinion of the work changed after gaining more information about the work? Why or why not?
Actors
photographs by
Adam Panczuk
Adam Panczuk is working on a project depicting the transformation of a Polish village. His focus is on the relationship between human beings and nature, on the essence of humanity in relation to the earth and the seasons, and on passing away and birth as inseparable elements.
The Actors series shows amateur actors from the folk theater company ”Czeladonka" based in Lubenka (near the border of Poland and Belarus). They perform scenes based on old customs and rituals passed down through generations. The actors are farmers, who work in the fields during the day, only working on the plays in the evening.
Often a show is performed by a whole family – sometimes three generations of actors take part in a single performance. The plays are staged outdoors in different parts of the village. The audience follows the actors as they move along with their stage. In the end, the actors and the spectators join together for a feast.
10 comments:
Kasen, Period 4
The work to me is very thought prevoking. They are intresting in the way that they were set up with differnt kinds of people in differnt areas but all in front of a sheet. Also the positions and props give it a tint of humor in what looks to be a somewhat serious work of art. I find it very intresting because of the whole idea of the way they were set up. There seems to be a tint of good vs evil in all of the pictures.
-Picture 8- something might have happened that such has someone dieing and the people believeing they were going to go to heaven.
-My opionion hasn't changed much I still find it to be a very intresting series.
It looks to me that this work was done in a poor farmland community; possibly located in a different country. I get an eerie feeling when I look at these images. It is as if they are surreal in a way. The location and energy that is produced in the photographs is what makes this series interesting to me. I think the imagery shows what people can do to kill time with practically no amount of money needing to be spent. I think that the people in the pictures are trying to send a message that anyone can create entertainment wherever they are with whatever they have to work with.
The image I choose is the third from the top. My thoughts of what happened earlier that day: Three children woke up in the same house; they are all related in some way. One of the children started to read a fairytale book, the others joined in shortly after. The little boy began reading it aloud and it was about the life of a royal family. The book ended too soon for them, they were not completely satisfied. After breakfast, the little girl had an idea to act like the royal family in the storybook. The children found some supplies and dressed up. While they were having a great time, their uncle comes along and asks them to pose for a picture. That is the picture you see.
My opinion has changed after reading the information. My initial thoughts matched up with the truth in some ways, but I did not assume that the people were from a theatre company.
Stephanie Latendresse
Period five
Photo 5-6
9-1-09
To me it looks like these images were taken in a farm; located down south. I find them quite interesting, but at the same time I find them funny. The expressions on their faces gives the images a comic touch.I do find the series interesting, the look surreal and dream like. They are trying to convey that, eventhough they are poor they can still find ways to entertain themselves specially the little kids.
The image I choose is the fith one.
I think its a very mellow picture; I think someone die and they're trying to make like a tribute or something.
My opinion doesn't change after reading the info. I find very interesting that these families are farmers and actors HOW COOL!
I still think the series are intesting.
Ana Peña
Period 4
Photography 3-4
Eli Groves
Upon examining these images, I begin to question the one thing they all have in common. In every photograph there are two people holding a sheet in the background. In most of the photo’s they are concealed by the sheet, or turned around trying to be unnoticed. My first thought, and this comes after noticing what is happening in front of the sheet, is they are acting as a backdrop. In every “scene,” in front of the sheet, there is someone attempting to be the center of attention. They become the center of attention by posing or holding an object.
What sparks my interest is how unfamiliar this series is to me. I have no way to relate to what is happening in the images. This inability to find any connection to these “scenes” is because I have no idea what is going on. It is hard to tell what story is being told throughout, if any.
The third image tells me the most, story wise. Compared to the rest of the “scenes,” this one actually says something. Or it says something that is more easily understood compared to the rest. What I hear is this… these three kids were playing their childish games as usual all afternoon. As children they have wild imaginations, and have elected the one in the middle to be their ruler.
The series description makes things very clear. It’s almost a lesson in anthropology or world history when you learn about other cultures and civilizations. My imagination never would have been close to the story being told in the commentary.
My reactions to the work are that they possibly tried to hide their background by using a "backdrop" but it only covers so much and you can still see their surroundings. I do find the series interesting because the person who is posing is posing in a way you would not expect them to because the objects they are posing with or the pose itself is different and looks rather awkward.
-Picture 4
It looks as though the woman in the picture was picking berries or whatever is on the tree before the picture was taken along with the other people who are holding the "backdrop".
-My opinion on the work does not change because they are still farmers I just think it is weird because they look like poor farmer and you can't really invision them as actors.
I really like the way this picture is taken. I really like to look at what the people are doing in each of the pictures.
It looks like they're all holding up a blanket, which makes me wonder, is there symbolism with that?
When i glance at each of the photos it seems like they are all wearing or holding something they dream of doing or becoming. I really like that.
I really enjoy looking at the picture with the girl standing on the tree stump with a crown on (3). Therefore i think that they must be playing "kings and Queens" as we all did when we were younger.
I really like this series. It shows people trying to have fun in a poor and old environment. The sheet really confuses me though. I sort of think that the photographer was trying to use it as a background. I think he had people hold the sheet and maybe he would crop out the background and just keep the subject with the sheet behind them.
#7
I like and find this image the most interesting. I feel that he is using the antlers to look different or to confuse people. The other thing i find interesting are that the one of the person holding the sheet is looking away while the other is hiding behind the sheet. The guy holding the antlers reminds me of someone trying to come up with a hoax.
The commentary doesn't change my opinion on the work.
Gustavo
Photo 3-4
Period 5
my first reaction was people raking a picture and putting they're own, homemade backdrop. it also looked like they were mostly kids and elderly people. the image i chose was the one with the kid wearing a crown. its kind of reminded me of when i was a kid. always wanting to be famous and important.
I like the work, and I find the series very interesting. In all of the pictures there are only three people, most of the time children, and they’re all arranged the same way, with two people holding a blanket or large piece of fabric, and one person standing in front of the fabric in between the two holding it up. I find the first picture the most interesting, though I can’t tell whether the girl is holding a picture or a mirror, and I’m not sure what happened on the day that picture was shot. After reading the commentary about the series, my opinion hasn’t changed.
Olivia Ottinger
Period 5
Photo 5-6
10/19/09
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