The City Dweller by Chipka
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Description
The City’s voices are subtle and distinct; few, if any of them, are human. It doesn’t matter; humans are little more than chattering apes with smart phones. They don’t say very much; their phones and their clothing always say more. The City is different, however. It speaks in the clatter of train-wheels on metal rails. It speaks in the sigh of wind through torn paper, flapping on the side of a building, torn vinyl advertising something of importance this week, next week, but not much longer after that. It speaks in blaring car horns and sirens wailing at the onset of arcane emergency. The City—at 3am—speaks with muted thunder: the endless drone of diesel engines belching diffuse blue-black fumes into the sweat-humid air.
The City’s faces are flat and angular: Euclidian in form (or is it Platonic?) The straight line is King; the serene, parabolic sweep is the Royal Consort. There are those who say that the Fractal is divine, but The City follows a different religion and venerates different ideals.
The City is, at times, indistinguishable from its inhabitants and there are those who contend that one is a function of the other. The City’s passions are the passions of its inhabitants. The City’s inhabitants are The City itself, marveling at its own complicated beauty and proud of its own abstract achievements. This causes me to wonder: is the myth of Narcissus not the story of the origin of flowers, but rather the idea embedded at the heart of every city. Cities are—after all—the handiwork of men, the egos of men scrawled across the face of the earth, and so in looking at a city’s inhabitants, is one looking at the strangest of holographic representations: a full city in miniature? (A fragment of the whole, reflecting the entirety of the whole?)
I wonder….
* * *
I took this picture on my way home from Corey’s, last Monday night. We’d spent the day photographing things and dodging dodgy weather. I wasn’t in the mood to return home, but the hour was late and so I had little choice. As I had my camera with me, I simply took random shots of random things; this is the clearest of those shots: not entirely perfect, but I like it for numerous reasons. The human subject is what drew my eye, and the geometrical forms of the Red Line station at Belmon stirred my imagination. I wondered if all of the rectangular, square, and metallic planes, grids, and angles were an aspect of the humans making use of them. Was one a reflection of the other? If so, what does Chicago say of its inhabitants? What do Chicago’s inhabitants say of It? One can ponder this question forever, but I was satisfied to photograph that question, and simply make my way home.
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you’re all on the verge of a fantastic weekend.
Comments (25)
ArtistKimberly
nice
Orinoor
I admit to an out loud chuckle when I saw your photo, such a typical city persona. It is a good question you pose, one where there is no real answer, just other questions. Wonderfully written!
MrsRatbag
Fascinating questions, and the answer is probably yes... :)
bobrgallegos
Now You have made Me wonder!! This guy looks a little down on his luck. Very well done.
RodS
As always, a superb combination of photography and thoughtful, insightful narration. Most excellent! The young man seems detached and deep in contemplation. Perhaps he's contemplating a new wardrobe. One can hope. ;-D
blinkings
'Humans are little more than chattering apes with smart phones'!!!! I LOVE IT! I was crossing a railway bridge in the city last week, and as I looked down' I saw a person had passed out on a train platform. I was amazed to watch the countless people stepping over her in an effort to get home quicker. I wondered what was slowly happening to our species. Are we all indeed slowly morphing into 'Weena' from the year 802,701 AD? Would I have walked around her too in an effort to not get involved etc......... honestly.........probably. :(
jocko500
looks so sad here. cool shot
auntietk
City without people has no purpose, people with no city are at loose ends, too far away from each other to get anything done. Everything leads to more and more questions. Maybe this guy is contemplating them for the first time ...
costapanos
You described the city and its city dwellers to tee. I am one of those dwellers and this could have been me!
Crabbycabby
Wonderful narrative, I like the Symbiosis question you raise between the city and the inhabitants.
Ilona-Krijgsman
an image with so much expression.....just awesome.....
kgb224
By the looks of it the person do seem lost my friend. Stunning capture my friend.
Meisiekind
Your human looks either deep in thought or maybe a bit tired after a heavy night... I would go for contemplating your questions... Wonderful catch Chip. I love how you make art out of random everyday things... Cool work.
durleybeachbum
"Who am I? Where did I come from? Where am I going? Why did I buy these pants?"
whaleman
Truly a look of 'engrossed in thought' for this fellow. What are you thinking lad? I'd like to know.
helanker
He seems to be far from where he stands or maybe he is a.... spinner, just like you. I have seen portraits of you, where you almost look like him in the expression.. far far away :-) A very beautiful shot, Chip.
makron
Very nice shot. Wonderful composition.
flavia49
wonderful
sandra46
outstanding mood
micturn
very thought provoking, nicely done
njb2000
A city of millions and all alone! Modern living!
CoreyBlack
Nice angular shot of the banal modernism of the big city. Guy is kind of cute in a way as generic as the surroundings themselves. He seems to be trying to stand out by wearing some of the ugliest pants I've ever seen. Are koolats making a come back? Is wearing industrial grade plastic trash bins the latest fashion craze? Couldn't be any worse than the baggy plumber's crack pants and untied sneekers fad of the 90s, but perhaps a tad harder to move around in... Your writing, always good, gets better and better all the time. Lately, your Chicago ruminations have come to remind me of Nelson Algren with a richer vocabulary filtered through William Gibson and your own unique gift.Wonderful!
evinrude
Indeed, very evocative. Still, the dude looks like Frodo.
jac204
As others point out, the young man's fashion taste is a statement in itself. I do hope this is not a wave of the future. Great capture.
BessieB
I am unsure why he is deemed to be wearing bad taste clothing, where I live this is not unusual. I wouldnt look twice as his clothes sense but would look at his demeanour, he looks a little lost in life but maybe we assume too much. Sometimes people ask why i am unhappy, I am generally very happy most of the time but its my face! I can't change it, its been with me for 51 years.