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Linsy Fusch July 11, 2009 Matt Kelley: The Last Days of Bush, by Alec Soth, Is A Collection of Photographs That Capture
Linsy Fusch July 11, 2009 Matt Kelley: The Last Days of Bush, by Alec Soth, Is A Collection of Photographs That Capture
Matt Kelley
The Last Days of Bush, by Alec Soth, is a collection of photographs that capture
the effect the Bush administration has had upon the country for the last eight years. The
series consists of thirty-six photographs along with one poem and a line of text from the
same poem. Some of the photographs are arranged while others are candid. The
photographs were shot in an array of locations within the United States; ranging from
the east coast of New York to California’s west coast. Many of the photographs in the
series were shot in Minnesota, Soth’s home state. The photographs shot within
Minnesota are the issues that Soth feels are most detrimental to America. Through the
many images in the series Soth has been able to capture the contention between the
American people and the Bush Administration; therefore giving it’s people a voice. This
voice speaks for the emotions of such tragedies that have outraged Americans such as;
One photograph that evokes the emotions of these tragedies is the third in the
set, entitled, “Walker, Minnesota”. This arranged photo consists of a mounted deer head
upon the blank canvas of a white wall. The head of the deer is not preserved but instead
a bare skull. Soth chose this type of mounted head to represent the death of the animal,
along with the dilapidated spirit America has acquired in recent years. The economic
recession has been one of the many tragedies that have left Americans feeling
rundown, jobless, homeless, and hopeless. The dry barren skull of the deer is the
American people who have been drained of all funds, opportunity and faith in their
government. Soth chose to utilize the set of dice in the photo to represent the gamble
made with money by the government over the last eight years. The opinion of the
American people is shown as one of distrust and uncertainty, much like that of a
gamble. Soth poses the question of, how is one able to trust a government that has
promised resolution with personal finance when they themselves can’t resolve their own
financial ruin.
This feeling of distrust between the American people and the government is
further established by Soth through the antlers of the deer in the photo. The deer has
four horns on each antler creating eight horns total, meant to represent Bush’s years in
office. The antlers are separated and put onto sides. It is meant to be a metaphor for his
two terms. Hanging from the antlers are dice. The dice hanging from the left set of horns
display snake eyes, or two ones. Immediately a punctum is seen, two ones, side by side
make an eleven. September eleventh, a date that will live in infamy within American
history and the history of George W. Bush’s presidency. During this time rumors were
circulating that Bush was aware of the attacks prior to the date and some even said that
he was involved. Many in America had mixed feelings towards the republican but chose
to re-elect him in two thousand and four. The public took a risk and made a gamble in
his re-election. That gamble is noted, and expressed by Soth for the people through the
dice. It is a representation of the people’s note of uncertainty the future would have. It’s
a feature of the image that allows the voice of the American people to express their
the photograph. George W. Bush’s second term is represented through the right side of
the antlers. Here are another set of dice that display the number eight. This eight
represents August, the month in two-thousand and five when Hurricane Katrina hit the
Gulf Coast. This can also be seen through the Mardi Gras beads that hang from the
antlers as well. Mardi Gras is a celebration and tradition of New Orleans, Louisiana, the
area most affected by Hurricane Katrina. The Mardi Gras beads are a powerful symbol
for the culture of Louisiana. Soth placed the beads haphazardly among the antlers to
show the carelessness and lack of responsibility shown by George W. Bush during the
rescue efforts. The use of the Mardi Gras beads is a bold move by Soth; it captures both
the negligence of Bush and FEMA. The use of the beads is ironic in the context of
Hurricane Katrina and the lack of attention given to it. The beads themselves are eye
catching, dazzling, glamorous but the situation of Katrina was not. The beads are the
first items in the photo that stand out, grabbing the attention of the eye. This attention
from the beads in the photo makes for irony in the matter that during the aftermath the
government abandoned of the Gulf Coast. This abandonment felt by Americans and the
people of Louisiana is explicit in the photo. These are events and emotions that won’t
soon be forgotten and will cast a shadow upon his legacy; following him throughout his
life.
Soth captures this same shadow in the photograph through the use of harsh
lighting. Extreme lighting in the photograph against the mounted deer head emits a
shadow behind the head itself, visually seen upon the wall. This shadow is not only
visually eye catching but also a representation of how Bush’s legacy as the forty-third
president. Bush’s mistakes are being examined and people are voicing their opinions
toward his actions. This shadow will follow him, where ever he goes. In the photograph
the shadow is another emotion expressed through Soth for the American people. It’s an
“ah ha” moment, that what goes around comes around. Bush may be out of office and
free from the duties of his presidency but his legacy will following him for the rest his life.
eye sore to both the American people and the occupation as president. He has not only
disgraced America but has also managed to disgrace the highest seat in US
government.
Through talent, creativity, and use of the camera Alec Soth is able to capture the
emotions of the American people towards Bush and his administration. Soth touches on
subjects including the economy, September 11, and Hurricane Katrina. These topics
have been seen as the most high profile in Bush’s career and the ones that the
American people have the most opinions towards. In the photo “Walker, Minnesota”
Soth manages to touch on each of these topics while expressing the opinion of
Americans. Through this photograph and the collection as a whole Soth tells the story of
the Bush administration, completely uncensored. This story helps not only Soth express
his frustration but also expresses the dissatisfaction of the American people. “The Last
Day’s of W” is a brilliant collection of the last eight years and chronicles the problems of
our country. From this photo collection America can learn from its mistakes and grow