04 February 2008

Eye e City 城市的眼睛 - eye e city 07 judging day

http://eyeecity.multiply.com/photos/album/34/eye_e_city_07_judging_day
城市的眼睛的評選當天我在新加坡,所以不小心我也有在場。當天,有一位朋友提到一個問題,我覺得很有意思。"新加坡大部分人是屬於中產階級,為甚麼我們城市的朋友都很少紀錄中產階級的生活,照片的數目和人口的人數不成比例"。

我們這裡先避開“中產階級”定義的問題,我們把字眼換成現在比較流行的“中等收入家庭”。的確,城市的眼睛舉辦了六年(2002-2007),如果以社會階程來說,拍攝的主題較多的是較貧苦的拾荒老人、清潔工人,或者是少部分的較富裕的全家福、游泳池、豪宅(我們可解釋為高收入家庭是少數,所以少部分是合理的)。但是反而是屬於社會主幹的中等收入家庭的照片紀錄,反而相對不成比例的少。

我個人的解釋是:
1 人類正常的心理:在課堂教書的老師一定會明白,在一個30-40人的班級裡,只有最好和最差的學生會被注意到。一般成績品行普通的學生往往會被忽略。
2 因為平時沒有注意到:因為城市的眼睛是在歲末舉行,大家總覺得在這個除舊迎新的日子,社會上較不幸的人應該被關懷。
3 認為這樣的主題比較容易被選中:就是揣測評選的評分標準。

後來,在場的朋友建議,我們在今年是否應該積極的鼓勵大家拍攝中等收入家庭為主的照片?

我其實是反對這樣的意見的。我覺得城市的眼睛最成功的地方在於,我們雖然沒有規定主題,收集的照片自然而然的就反應了新加坡的特色。比如:多元種族宗教文化、當年政府推行的運動、當年發生的重要事件......這些都自然而然的反應出國人關切的問題。

個人覺得城市的眼睛,只是要提供一個讓大家發表自己意見的平台,展現自己關心的議題,至於成功失敗,對與錯,應該留給歷史來說明。我們只是為新加坡的歷史留下一個回憶罷了。所以,如果大家還是覺得不需要拍中等收入家庭為主題的照片,我們應該給予尊重。我們沒有必要,也不需要提供一個“正確或不正確”“應該或不應該”的標準拍照的主題。

從另外一個角度來看,其實評選的過程中。評審及來參與義工,花了相當的時間來說明他們某張照片背後的故事或歷史背景,或者他們認為照片應該收集的原因。而這些原因也包羅萬有,有些是因為歷史人文價值,有些道出一些不為人知的故事,有些只是因為照片感覺溫馨,有些是避免和以前照片有所重複,有些是照片題材重複但是有新觀點新角度新問題的出現。

而我覺得這種討論正是體現了城市的眼睛的精神。我們可能需要話更多的時間精力,但是我們要盡力(不可能完全)反應民間發出來的不同聲音,提出來不同的意見,不同人如何用自己的眼睛,看出一個不同屬於自己的城市。



13 comments:

  1. “隐私权”在新加坡被具体性的误解是“中阶层”人士的生活面不常被反应的其中一个非常主要的原因。
    而且,那些大多数人习以为常的生活为主题的作品,也很难使评审或观众“欣赏”。
    我想这也应该是造成。-- "新加坡大部分人是屬於中產階級,為甚麼我們城市的朋友都很少紀錄中產階級的生活,照片的數目和人口的人數不成比例"。-- 的原因吧。

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  2. "城市的眼睛的評選當天我在新加坡,所以不小心我也有在場。"
    ha ha ha,好個不小心。

    my view is, yes it is possible that participants may feel these photos of the lower income group may stand higher chances of being selected, but it may also be that these are they want to show the hardship of this group of people in singapore after they sit down and ponder over the whole year's happenings, much like during mother's day when most take the opportunity to express their graditude for their mom (not that they only love their mom for a day in the whole year).

    most of us are too busy making ends meet or chasing goals. these event gave a much needed "excuse" for us to slow down and reflect on ourselves, than shoot subject that we have neglected.

    you see, everything goes by statistic, a scientific methology to ensure a certain degree of confident that things are correct. also, most of us had been given a set of target to hit in our work place, dont you think it is sad if "eye" begins to tell / hint participants what to shoot? but photography is art, is there such thing as right and wrong?

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  3. 谢谢指教。隐私权倒是我没有想到的,但是其实评审选不选则应该不是个问题。

    真正的问题是:其实定义中等收入家庭其实是相当不容易。比如住五房式和公寓式组屋的家庭是不是中等收入家庭?KFC还是美珍香肉干算是中等收入家庭食品吗?食阁(Food Court)算不算?还是他们当中有分不同的等级?还是有些是,另外一些cheapo的食阁不是。

    我倒是有几个思考方向。其实这个问题已开始就问错了?或者是一开始就不应该问?或者这问题本来就不应该有答案,因为它只是在让我们对我们的生活有一个反思的空间。

    这又引发了我对城市的眼睛另外一个想法,它其实只是为我们提供一个反思的空间,让人们在岁末少用脑袋,多多用“心”想问题。而真正的答案是什么,这是大家各自的人生问题了。

    反正我觉得城市的眼睛不应该给大家标准答案,而是要大家多多问问题、想问题。

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  4. this is precisely what i think eye and it participants should question, "is there such thing as right and wrong?"

    i agree wif dennis that there r possibility that this might be an "excuse" for pp to stop n ponder some question.

    imho, if participants hav slow down on the new year's eve n to ponder some question they hav never thou of, i think this is the reason y eye shd carry on. it worth the effort even if there is only a few pp do that.

    i persoanlly hope that sg shd be going towards a "thinking" nation n jus a "following-the-leader" nation.

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  5. but follow the leader is what is "required". like i mentioned, leader set the goals, the rest follow and jolly well hit it, else labeled as not a team player, guess what happen to annual increment?

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  6. diff games gav diff rules, thats wat i could say.

    u can shoot photo n don follow wat ur boss say if u r a photographer as a profession in a media, then u got fire.

    but if u r a renown freelance photographer, u shoot what u like n u tell ur client this is what i wanna to shoot n sell. u don buy if u don like.

    so, diff ball games lah my friend some times. :p

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  7. not really, 1st, the client will look at the portfolio, if they like the style they engage the photog.

    but yah, not all like that but mostly they are, thats what i see from my past experience. thats why i hope "eye" will not become part of the norm.

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  8. From this trend, perhaps it shows the hidden worries and concerns of the participants...or perhaps from guilt of neglecting the needy for the rest of the year...
    可能我是以小人之心度君子之腹。

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  9. 君子也好,小人也好。
    i jus hope that eye is a platform for people to voice out their view. i hope eye don act as a authoritive org to decide wat is "correct" or "right".

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