“So much ruin photography and ruin film aestheticizes poverty without inquiring of its origins, dramatizes spaces but never seeks out the people that inhabit and transform them, and romanticizes isolated acts of resistance without acknowledging the massive political and social forces aligned against the real transformation, and not just stubborn survival, of the city.”
At Guernica, an insightful article about the ruin-craze, especially the Detroit ruin craze. A worthy read especially if you recently explored these photographs.
I admit to being one of those privileged white persons who has a fascination for ruined buildings. And ruins in general.
But I suspect this fascination — whether it’s for the ruins of Detroit, of Ancient Rome, or Machu Picchu — is fairly innate in most people. Decomposition is both comforting and appalling wouldn’t you say?
3 responses
Hi Michael! Sorry to be a total nerd, but I’m permanently fascinated by the idea of imperialist nostalgia: “Mourning for what one has destroyed.” This is super example of that.
my camera is in the pawn shop, I get paid manyana though
Not sure it’s entirely respectful to the current citizens of Detroit, many of whom are intent on revitalizing their city, to put them in the same category as Ancient Rome and Machu Picchu? Also, a friend from Detroit said some of those “Detroit ruins” photos are outdated. And seem to change in odd ways, depending on the photographer.
As she put it, “Did the photographers mess with the mess? Or was it vandals?” She’s a writer, and hoping to tell the story of
Orchestra Hall, which apparently has been revived from this stage of delapidation pictured.
I resonate with fascination with the old, weathered, the very-lived and patinaed, and with ancient ruins. But urban decay makes me mostly sad. Makes me wonder too — what kind of privilege gives you nostalgia, and for what? Do you feel the same way about whatever version of Tara or Kennebunkport your family retires to, if it were to become decrepit and haunted feeling?
Thanks for the heads up on the continuing conversation, tho.
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