it's not what it used to be, the least i can say...
some may say the Downtown became the heart of Beirut. i disagree strongly, maybe an artificial heart, at its best.
Librairie Orientale. specialized in art books, mostly. i think my book is somewhere inside :)
beggars, too many. it's an old fashioned one, having his "spot" sitting and waiting for the passers to give him.
these day they follow you everywhere and hang on your car window or your sleeve.
these two come from an older photo walk, i was in my "double exposure" period.
the first one, no comment ;)
It says :
why is there more poverty in Lebanon : because of the confessional system
why we still don't have electricity (yes why???) : because of the confessional system
(our whole government is based on religions. the president must be of one specified religion, the prime minister of another, the deputies etc... until the simplest employees that have a quota. we have 18 confessions, try to make the math)
yes stupid system that fails every day since ever
i said this blog will not get political or social, how to avoid this in Lebanon ?
Lebanese war (1975- )
some Lebanese humor. we like to make fun of ourselves, that's how we survive
electricity and it's dangers. WHEN we get electricity.
keep eating... because it's the only pleasure left, for many and because many others are busy trying to feed their family and forget that it is important to make a change. and here goes another 50 years of degradation.
I'm gay , it says. takes a lot of courage to say it here. it's a crime and is punished by prison.
right under it : the party of Tuesday nice political party for a change. we all hate Mondays.
it says red red meaning red lipstick (like in french "Rouge") but here there is a third word play, the name of the street "hamra" means also red.
a happy wall, wise too in places. typically Lebanese, i find, in a modern way.
it says somewhere: don't come too close, my heart might swallow you
i have nothing to add to that!
i hope you understand when i say that i love all these images and what you are doing here. it's not to deny the trouble that is shown but to say yes to the looking you are doing and sharing with us all. and who is charlie?
ReplyDeletei understand what you mean. in fact it answers exactly what i'm trying to do, sharing!
ReplyDeletethat is why i needed words much more than usual. images can't say it all, at least not to a stranger's eye.
i know it seems chaotic, it is, even though i had in mind this blog while shooting. i still have to learn to have a journalistic approach.
Ah, Charlie! i admit i have no idea. :)
thank you for translating when necessary.
ReplyDeleteIt really helps to discern the id of Lebanese culture.
U know--from an outsiders POV--its 'assumed' alls well in what are considered more open (? --minded) cultures. so close yet it seems --so far.
'dont come too close my heart might swallow you'
bravo!...
\
ps-
ReplyDeletesome of these tags hurt.
esp.1975- ...
:(
i translate as my blog is made for you (this blog is even more personal than the other, i speak to some persons and only to them, others who might read by accident would be visitors, but you are here at home)
ReplyDeletei realize how confused it may seem, but as you said, an ID will form after a moment. at least i hope.
the war tag hurts more, no irony to make it softer, just facts.
Yep, that of 1975 - . . . hurts . . .
ReplyDeleteBUT, it is true, and nobody actually understands WHY ! ?