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Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Two: Travel Incongruities > Snooze, Beijing, China, 2007
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15-SEP-2007

Snooze, Beijing, China, 2007

I can’t read what the red banner proclaims, but this particular fellow certainly seems unmindful of its exhortations, whatever they might be. The relationship between the banner, which seems to call us to action, and the inaction of the sleeping man, is incongruous. Since both the banner and the sleeping man are horizontally displayed, I choose a 28mm wideangle lens to stress the flow of both elements.

(After I posted this image, pbase artist Sheena Xin Liu, a Chinese student now living in the US, has left a comment telling us that the red banner says "I contribute my efforts, then I rejoice." As she notes, "instead of a sweating worker laboring under this banner, we discover a drowsy man making himself comfortable in a two-chair bed." The words on the banner, juxtaposed with his somnolent posture, double the incongruity here.)

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Phil Douglis20-Oct-2007 00:47
It is good to think of photographs as potential metaphors. Thanks, Tim, for this one. This man defies the
party line here, and takes his pleasure on two chairs instead. A banner that begins outside the frame, and ends inside of it, can also be seen as the "end of the trail." The China of Mao is no more. As Xin, who is Chinese herself, points out, the banner is "an obsolete means to advocate socialism, and used to raise people's social awareness of their personal contribution to the common wealth of Chinese society." Obviously, that's the last thing on this fellow's mind. And after seeing China's booming capitalistic economy in action ourselves, I'd guess that most Chinese would simply tolerate a banner such as this, and prefer to do their own thing.
Tim May19-Oct-2007 19:28
Now that we know what the banner says - it so deepens the meaning of the image for me - I am in a metaphorical mood and I see this as a metaphor for the changes in China. It also reminds me reminds me of a famous painting called "End of the Trail." It is as if the China of Mao is at the "end of the trail."
Phil Douglis10-Oct-2007 21:38
Glad you enjoyed this delayed punch-line as much as I did, Cyndy. The added context supplied by Xin's translation of the red banner certainly intensifies the incongruity present in this image. It's enough to make us all rejoice!
Guest 10-Oct-2007 18:44
"I CONTRIBUTE MY EFFORTS, THEN I REJOICE." Perhaps this guy has rejoiced way too much and now he's really really tired from all that rejoicing. Too funny.
Phil Douglis04-Oct-2007 22:47
"Rejoice" can take many forms. If this is the way he chooses to celebrate his labors, more power to him.
Patricia Lay-Dorsey04-Oct-2007 22:09
Incongruity personified! The banner's translation gives this image an even greater impact. This says it all--work and then rejoice. And what better way to rejoice than to take a nice long nap ;=)
Phil Douglis04-Oct-2007 17:32
Thanks so much for this wonderful translation, Xin. No, this was not taken in a rural suburb. It was taken in a hutong in the heart of Beijing. "I contribute my efforts and then rejoice" makes this image even more incongruous than I had planned. Thanks so much for adding this layer of context, Xin.
Sheena Xin Liu04-Oct-2007 01:42
The banner says, "I contribute my efforts, then I rejoice". It almost puts me to laugh when reading this message while looking at this guy underneath. Was this picture taken in a suburban China, Phil? It seems to me those RED banners are more likely to be witnessed in remote areas than in modern cities. As an obsolete means to advocate socialism, it was used to raise people's social awareness on the personal contribution to the common wealth of the entire society.

Yes, ironically, instead of seeing a sweating social worker laboring under this banner, we unfortunately discovered a drowsy man found himself comfortable in a two-chair bed. Such an incongruity, Phil, such a humor as well.
Phil Douglis03-Oct-2007 18:29
That is why I made this image, Cyndy -- the shock of red against gray fails to stir the slumber of the man below it.
I am anxious to find out what the banner says as well. Eventually, someone who speaks Chinese will tell us. I am sure that the added context of the translation will add still another layer of meaning to this image.
Guest 03-Oct-2007 18:07
I like how the subject is softly illuminated against the mostly grey background, yet that banner almost screams: "wake up!" I'll be sure to check back to see what the translation is.
Phil Douglis28-Sep-2007 02:24
I am sure that one of my students who speaks Chinese will translate shortly. Until then, we can only guess. As for that hula hoop you see, think again. It is some kind of plastic hose or tubing, I think. I have no idea who dropped the cigarettes on the street. It was not raining, but the streets are always running with water. Leaks, street washers, etc. Glad you like it, Patricia.
Patricia Lay-Dorsey28-Sep-2007 01:58
Yes, Phil, this image makes me smile. Again, questions come to mind. Is he tired from putting up the banner? Is that a hula hoop in the trash can? If so, is he tired from twirling the hula hoop around his waist? Is that his pack of cigarettes on the sidewalk beside him? When did it stop raining? Or is it still raining and he's under an overhang? But most of all, I want to know what the banner says!

Love this image. An excellent example of incongruity!
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