Product Placement (A Visual Commentary) by Chipka
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Description
The open hand, as recognized in the world of the Roman Empire, was a symbol closely associated with the public service industry of prostitution. Establishments and free agents who expected pay for their services (often beforehand) identified this particular necessity with the “open hand.” Ancient Roman graffiti remains in existence to this day, and many of the open hand symbols scratched, etched, or dabbed in paint bear sometimes humorous similarities to the international pictographic warning to not cross the street. I thought of this in conjunction with…well…an overpriced coffee joint. Strange things happen when you see a sign telling you not to walk, while also seeing a sign for a mermaid selling coffee. Based on what I saw, I can safely assume that if you buy coffee from a mermaid, pay first. Well, that’s what this image says to me.
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you’re all having a great week (and a great quasi-neo-post-pre multi-holiday season.)
Comments (20)
Faemike55
Excellent timing to see these together, although if you think about it, the other symbol, indicating that one can now walk could be interpreted as walk to this place
sandra46
superlative work! great image!
wysiwig
I just thought it meant Stop...at Starbuck's. Well seen and captured.
flavia49
stunning image
treasureprints
Great juxtaposition and interesting commentary.:)
jac204
Nice capture and commentary. Hands and Starbucks are common to many cities, but rarely in this combination.
CoreyBlack
This image says to me that I shouldn't go to Starbuck's. (Eeeeeeeeh! I said the name of Satan!!) Which is a moot point as I never go there anyway. I love the juxtaposition of the various objects in this shot as well as the deceptively low angle from which you made it. And that hand! That hand REALLY makes this an arresting, and somewhat surreal image. Fantastic work!
lwperkins
All I can think is "I'm gonna jaywalk to that mermaid and get my fix!" Now if I could just get my publisher to pay me up front :D (And I love the hot colors and the reflections inside the walk sign--I never noticed how shiny it was in there before!)
auntietk
I'm with Corey ... I saw a sign that said *Stop going to $ !!! :) (Make sure you tell Corey he can use those symbols so he doesn't have to speak the name.)
kgb224
The sign of Starbucks coffee is an eye opener for me.I see the sign of baal hadad in the Starbucks Coffee sign.More on baal hadad signs can be seen here: http://amazingdiscoveries.org/albums/a/40/Symbols-of-the-gods . Stunning capture complimented by wonderful writing and information my friend. God Bless.
charpix
Interesting facts about signs. I do not go to Starbuck's, either. Too expensive, too many calories, and there is better coffee elsewhere (my kitchen, for one). This image has the perfect placement of the signs, artistically speaking. The signs say volumes, and your talent says volumes.
durleybeachbum
Well, I learn something new every day! Great image. I've never been to Starbucks, I like my coffee how I make it.
whaleman
I think the mermaid is telling us that she will welcome even those with severed thumbs, though they may spill more often! For me, I'm at Tim Hortons if I'm out and brewing Tims when at home! (For those questioning my punctuation, there is no "'s" in Hortons which is technically legitimate because it was registered that way as a trademark.)
ragouc
Very good light and shot.
helanker
Yeah a stop signal to me too. Awesome shot and story behind it :)
MrsRatbag
LOL! Great juxtaposition, and who wouldn't draw the same conclusions that you have here?
GARAGELAND
Moby-Dick; or, The Whale is a novel by Herman Melville, first published in 1851. It is considered to be one of the Great American Novels and a treasure of world literature. The story tells the adventures of wandering sailor Ishmael, and his voyage on the whaleship Pequod, commanded by Captain Ahab. Ishmael soon learns that Ahab has one purpose on this voyage: to seek out Moby Dick, a ferocious, enigmatic white sperm whale. In a previous encounter, the whale destroyed Ahab's boat and bit off his leg, which now drives Ahab to take revenge. Starbuck, the young chief mate of the Pequod, was a thoughtful and intellectual Quaker from Nantucket. I often wonder why the company chose this name? b.t.w. a very thought provoking image
KatesFriend
I love night scenes, especially when so many varied forms of lighting can be captured at once. City streets are perfect for this purpose. Incandescent, LED, fluorescent and of coarse sodium vapour. Each has there own look, as if from there own universe if you will. Given that each has a radically different generation process must lend to this perception I think. And what we judge to be 'reality' is the overlapping of all these realms. Night being the perfect back drop to bring these factors into sharp relief. I've played with this concept before, I know, but I like to return to it now and again. I didn't know about the Roman hand symbol - very interesting. How meanings change over so much time. Reflecting upon the symbols implications to the general populous of the day, this may have also been a back hand (pun intended) way of saying, "no beggars". Unless you have money, don't bother coming inside - keep out the 'riff-raff'. This likely evolved into "no pleaders" as languages changed and empires fell - expanding the net to include those with no money and others with no power. Until now it means "no passage". Now then, coffee would be a good idea right about now...
alwaysonmymind
For what it's worth: the icon supposedly allegedly is not a mermaid, but a jewish queen, Esther. Nice photo, and yes, Starbucks coffee sucks.
netot
And you pay much more than what you get really!excellent simil:)