Analysis Of Image Of Homelessness: The Other Side Of The Fence By Mark Peterson

The Other Side of the Fence

The Image of Homelessness, captured by Mark Peterson in 1994, shows two perspectives of how people live their lives. In the center of the photograph you see a short, black, rounded fence, no higher than the old, brown bench placed in front of it. On the bench is a temporary shelter made of cardboard boxes, tied down with strings. To the right of the fence is a thin, sick looking tree with trash and dead leaves surrounding the base of the tree. In the bottom left corner of the photo is a box placed under the bench and reads: “Handle with Care,” which is ironic as the living conditions show a complete lack of care. Above the fence, stretching across the top of the photo, the sun shines on the blurred Burger King

In a large city encountering multiple social classes is common. Although the photo is cropped to a certain area one can assume that it is in a large city due to the activities taking place. In the foreground of the photograph one sees an old, brown, bench covered with boxes tied down with string. These boxes serve as a shelter and a bed for a man. The strings represent how his life is being held together with little support. As the sun shines in the back of this photo it is evident that it is daytime. However, the man is asleep, wrapped in his light pink and blue blankets, head resting on his dirty gray pillow, inside his make-shift shelter. Sleeping in the middle of the day potentially shows how he is not motivated to try for a more successful life or it can be interpreted that he is more active at night or even that it is not safe to sleep at night. There is little to no activity happening on this side of the fence, in the shade of the world. Due to the lack of activities the man is allowed to sleep is life away without a disturbance. Contrasting with the calm around him is the hectic pace shown across the street where people are quickly going about their lives. The blur shows the pace at which everyone moves; they are all lively in the sun of the day. All of the people in the background have different responsibilities and life styles as shown through the captured moment of their busy days. Having expectations in life such as having a family, a job or just seeing the world, makes it a necessity to work and be active through the