Beat Generation, a photo from Mandalay, Nord

Photographer's Note

This young man works in a gold-leaf workshop. Starting with a gold leaf 2.5 cms. x 1 cm., he pounds with a wooden mallet or sledge hammer to make it thinner. 200 of these leaves weigh about 12 grams. On reaching the necessary thickness, or thinness, they are packaged in multiples of 10. The original leaf will make one packet of 10, some 5 hours or so after beginning.

Devout Buddhist families buy a packet of these leaves when they visit a stupa or Buddhist image, such as the one at Maha Muni, to earn merit.

I wondered, but could not inquire, if he had yet experienced his "moment of the absurd". Every day he comes to the workshop and does the same boring task, over and over. Admittedly it generates "great abs", but there is more to life, surely, than this. I doubt he earns very much. Camus in the Myth of Sisyphus suggests that at some point the young man will realize that he is in a trap and may revolt. I do wish him well.

Cloud__Warrior trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

kloppenborg (977) 2008-07-13 5:10

Hi Ken.

I like the photo, it's a nice portrait of this working man. Your note is also somewhat informative.
However, I do not quite get your reference to Camus and "absurdity". Surely this guy has not read Camus and surely Buddhism - which is a closer reference frame for this guy - has its own reflections about absurdity of life, and what it means to work every day like he does. Are you not projecting your own perceptions about his work (e.g. whether its "boring" or not)?. Will he revolt? Against what? and who?
Those are perhaps questions that make more sense in our Western perception of things.

Anyway, nice picture and interesting note. Made me think - which is a quality of any good photo and note.

Best regards,

Henrik

Cloud__Warrior (391) 2008-07-13 5:27

Hi Ken

Good note. An interesting portait maybe but a little too much pp. He has a definite halo more obvious on his left arm.

Andy

Morac (27725) 2008-07-13 9:58

Hello Ken

Beautiful portrait. Interesting explanation on the gold sheets of Thailand and good philosophical reflexion.
Is what this young man has the capacity of the revolt?
Regards
Marc