Woman Waiting to Take a Photograph By David Eggers (response)

The time frame for the vignette is modern time. (90’s-present)

The text implies that some photographers take part in exploiting their subjects more specifically, subjects that have a lower economic status. The text also implies that when a photographer uses that image as an advantage to boost their portfolios or in hopes of being more successful at the expense of another individual who may not have the same opportunity.

The writer’s attitude towards the woman is observant at the beginning but it is also bit critical because he uses goes into detail about the process of how the right picture would get her recognition in the art world. He includes words like “injustices of life” “ hypocrisy” and “exploitation of the underclass.”

The writer’s repetition of the term “Go-Getters” works as a motif.  The phrase can reflect the attitude of the photographer in the vignette because she is trying to achieve the right timing for her picture. She is eager to be successful no matter the obstacles. She is probably waiting for her big break because she is currently working in a temp job.

The final sentence builds observed details by describing the process of how some well known photographers come to be successful with exploitative photographs. It gets recognition in a gallery, bought by a collector, and later kept in a museum.

A new idea that emerges in the final sentence is the concept of exploitation of individuals like the poor, the underprivileged, or the people who are seen as anything other than the norm. It can be seen as intrusive and disrespectful because some photographers pick up on only the negative aspects of the area or they don’t respect everyone that they photograph. Some argue that photographers should give back to the community that they photograph.