Shooting the Americans

I think this is a great project/idea.
The media do such a great job of creating an "other" for western society that we rarely our similarities - we concentrate only on how we are different.

Its an interesting and terrifying process, to get you started on the topic of "othering" here is a link::

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Other

It is a process which has been taking place in the mainstream press for years. I think its really great that you're unraveling it.

Ace video - really interesting insight on a pretty sensitive topic. Top notch

This is very counterproductive. People will see this and get scared. I would almost think Fox News funded this project. You are playing right into the hands of the warmongers, creating the images that will frighten voters and push them to the hawkish side. This is destructive propaganda. I fail to see the artistic merit of this project. This is a State of Israel public service announcement. Think about it.

When will we see projects that actually call for peace?

I have to agree with Rob1964 to some extent. I think the idea is a great start, and something that definitely can be expounded on; however, your execution seems rushed and not fully thought out. Your work can be turned into destructive propaganda, because all that matters is how it is perceived and understood. Secondly, how are you going to target other ethnic groups. America is not just white, and I find it hard to believe that members of other ethnic groups will even try to understand what you are saying. You are missing too many variables.

I think your idea is a great brainstorm, but brainstorms need more brainstorms then some fine tuning. Maybe you can design a whole project based on that experience; you would capture what you originally wanted to show, as well as the American plight that includes diversity, terror, etc.

I think it would have made more sense if in the staged pictures, the soliders were American Soldiers....

I think that would have made the point a little bolder and less ambiguous.

Bravo. It is time for the american people to wake up to the reality of what our presence in the middle east is really like.

tparish, you may have done us a greater service with your video than your subject did with his photographs. (I agree that they easily could be hijacked by hawks.) In your video, the artist's whole rationale is spelled out, and it's a provocative one. I think he's right about repeated war images becoming banal. However, you also captured something I'm a bit uncomfortable with: The makeup on the "Iraqi" soldiers. Are those white American actors in brownface?

really interesting

this isn't meant to cause fear or be used as propaganda. I see it as a creative way of grabbing our attention and putting us as Americans "on the floor" and be whitnessing the realities that are happening in Iraq. The more people see how cruel it is, the closer we are to bringing Our Troops Home!

We didn't commit genocide in this country. Saddam and his henchman had their way for years with the minority and the poor. That is one of the #1 reasons that we should have and did help Iraq out in time need. Not everyone is a Sunni "Rich" and can speak for themself. Wake up and realize we didn't go over there for total greed!!! The whole regime was a total monster that was all about oppression. So to think that pics of American soldiers in Iraqi households is a thing to reverse and make everyday Americans feel guilty about is wack. Think about living in that country during that time and realize we did a good thing for the MAJORITY of the population.

Wow! What a wonderful project man. I thik you are adressing a very real issue that, like you said, is easy to ignore. Because of the constant barrage of similar pictures from overseas, the emotional and human connection is lost almost entirely. This project just seems to be provoking very simple, yet, in my opinion important thoughts. The war against "Terror" (if you can even wage a war against an idea) should be looked at from every angle. I feel that it is crucial to at least ask ourslves "how would we feel if these same actions were taken against our country and our citizens?", even if it were in the name of peace and justice. Great idea for a project and I can't possibly see how someone would call this counterproductive.

I want to share this with my dad, he's one of the ones thats become desensitized to the war in Iraq. Is this work going to be shown in any galleries, I'd like to see more of it.

yes, I do realize this is helping the idea of "fear". Scaring society to believe that this WILL happen to us. BUT if you believe in good intentions of the human kind, then you will hope that this project will also bring people to realize what we are doing. Americans would never allow this to happen, yet it is right for our government to send soldiers into the homes of this civilians?

Beautiful, though I think the idea of Islamic forces coming into our homes really reinforces the common negative stereotypes about their people, but what a great idea.

Good for you for showing this......
ReconMoM

After seeing this pod, I contacted Jensen. On top of being a really nice person, he is an extraordinary photographer who has a great message. He wants people to think. Think about what we are doing to others on a human level. Forget politcs, forget oil, forget everything. What are we doing as humans to other humans? It is a timely, brilliant and inspiring piece of work.

i love this pod, completely.
it really makes people think what if it was me.
keep up the good work.

I like this pod quite a bit. I can see that people are worried about it being misused as negative propaganda, but I'm not sure I'm all that worried about it. This is for a couple reasons. First, I don't think the people who would use it really need any help. Second, I think it's important to make an effort to show people images that will shock them back out of complacency and realize that this isn't just a war in a far away place that does not and will not affect us at home. Kudos to the artist and here's to more important, meaningful art like this in the future.

wow thats really neat

This already happens in the United States....

i think this is the most interesting story about photography that i have ever heard. that was a beautiful and creative piece. i do believe some people are so used to seeing disturbing pictures from Iraq and being passive about it. this will/can make a person think about their opinion on this matter. this should have been #1 not 6

This is not an antithesis. I don't know, maybe I just don't get it. The "reversal" photos depict Islamic forces tying up and blindfolding families while pillaging a screaming mother-figure. Seems a little skewed. Not sure what kind of propaganda this is. I definitely wouldn't call it an antithesis.

Great photos though. Original at least.