A documentation of modern life, an urban (or suburban) anthropology. The author, Grant McCracken, always causes me to look at the world around me in new ways. Won't you come along on the trip?
I'm calling this anthropology but it is something like an archeology, as the blogger digs down into the details of every day life and unearths cultural assumptions and practices. The trick is to proceed with precision and perspective. We need to set the focal plane first on macro and then on infinity. We want to see everyday life close up and as if from a long way off.
We could begin anywhere, but let’s begin working by the light of a 5 watt bulb. I mean, of course, the fridge. We want a thorough documentation, both photographic and written. We begin with our fridge as it exists right now (no tidying up, or cleaning out, for posterity). We photograph both the outside (all those fridge magnets, notes to self, a post card from friends in Mozambique). Now the inside: wide shots and close ups.We want to document each item in the fridge with photos. This means taking everything out and photographing it front, back and sides. (I know you’ve been looking for an excuse to give the place a good cleaning.) Now, a “bio” of each product. Recently, I switched from flavored to plain yogurt. Why? Someone told me that “refined sugar” is a bad thing. Do I know what “refined sugar” is? Not really.
Comments