TOW#26: Change

Homeless men and women, located near a busy walkway holding a cardboard sign or a cup, seeking change, but who is too say what form of change they seek? This image demonstrates that idea; that perhaps these men and women are not trying to get a few coins or dollar bills, perhaps they want something even more meaningful, true change. In order to illustrate this point, the image was created with a simplistic approach to effectively relay the message that perhaps change is more important that money.

            The frail people lining the streets that most encounter at some point in their life seem to be struggling to obtain what they need to survive, assuming money will solve all of their problems people will drop spare change into the homeless man or woman’s cup. This spare change realistically does not solve anything. Perhaps they are now able to purchase something off of a dollar menu and can eat that night, but the next day they will be right back to their spot on the busy walkway. Money is not what they seek for it only provides temporary life improvement. They want change. Something that will keep them from reclaiming their position on a busy street everyday, something that will provide for their needs, something that will do more then small change ever could. This is the purpose of this image, to demonstrate just how complex poverty is.

            This image is able to capture this purpose with one small piece of text, written on a ripped piece are cardboard reading, “keep your coins, I want change.” This quote is the only aspect of the message meanwhile everything else is simple, indistinct, and colorless. The setting consists of a brick wall, brick road, and window with nothing inside and a small strip of concrete where the wall and street mix. This simplicity allows the audience, more privileged adults, to see and focus only on the message portrayed on the cardboard sign that the man in the image is holding. This mad is wearing a black hooded sweatshirt so his face is hidden, by making him a faceless figure, the image again emphasis only the message.

            It is through the use of a simple setting and clear message that this piece of visual text is able to effectively demonstrate the complexity of poverty. Perhaps the next homeless man or woman you encounter will prompt you to think about what more you can do, rather than simply reaching into your pocket. 

URL:http://community.boredofstudies.org/475/old-focus-change/72803/texts-changing-self.html