Word: exhibition
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Entering the exhibit, the viewer is immediately confronted by a row of beaming all American girls taking part in a swimsuit competition and a photograph of shining, brand-new-car emblems of suburban bliss. The next series of images are photographs of gray-faced politicians, young children who are being indoctrinated by them, diners, an automobile factory and an actual television. The accompanying quote, “There is an abundance of evidence to sustain the conclusion that the indulgence in acts of sexual perversion weakens the moral fiber to a degree that he is not suitable for a position...
This kind of juxtaposition of quotations and images continues throughout the rest of the exhibit. Next to pictures of rows of docile school children with crossed hands and obedient expressions, and happy children engaging in healthy, innocent activities is the quotation, “A great many school children have been damaged by the spinster teacher, who cannot be an adequate model of a complete woman.” The quotation is used in direct opposition to the serenity of the children, and causes the viewer to reexamine the series of images presented...
Barbara Norwood, the curator of the exhibit, says, “These candids taken by photographers are social documents of the best kind. The goal of such photographs was to take photographs that would please. If the photographs were to be successful, they had to respond to the attitudes prejudices, and values of their clients.” By doing this, the photographers also inadvertently demonstrate the narrow mindedness of hypocrisy of an era that was going to be transformed...
...When We Liked Ike,” is an exhibit that most people can appreciate because it is easy to identify with the subject matter. Although many of the photographs seems absurdly contrived, and although this exhibit serves as a reminder that the face of American society has drastically changed, it is still important to ask ourselves whether or not the core values of our society have really changed all that much. Are we really more open minded than we were in the 50s, have we really eradicated racism and sexism, have we actually dealt with the economic polarity...
...When We Liked Ike” is not an exhibit that can be called high art, and some of the more high brow and erudite Harvardians may claim that the exhibit is catering to the average Joe, it is still an exhibit that is interesting, amusing and conveniently located...