Watching the brief video and the images of Carrie Mae Weems “From Here I Saw What happened and I cried” , takes me back in time while stirring up a lot of emotions. It takes all of us in the past and reminds us of the lost moments. I can see how powerful these images can be and how anyone can choose to interpret them, its strictly personal. With her artistic addition to each image she gives the viewers such a blunt confrontation with history. The images in black and white reflect a sad and the realistic truth of the racism severity. The dehumanization on the photos is unfortunately clear, but  when she adds the red tint to photos it seems to give the images a unique sense of unification.

The choice of red has obviously a special meaning to her, because it represents so many emotions in one single color. The anger, the passion and the blood, are all extreme feelings that meet in one image. The addition of text to the already powerful images makes so vivid and outrageous at the same time.  It is clear that the subjects on the prints are completely dehumanized and lack the individual power. What she does with the words across the images is as if these subjects are being vocal. Each image has been carefully labeled with a meaningful emotion.  Her work is so raw and unique, that allows anyone to interpret them subjectively. Her work supports the existence of racism and the social injustice. Through her work I was able to see how powerful photography can be, how colors make such a difference in interpretation, how the shape of the image gives the sense of the past.

After watching the video  of Carrie Rae Weems, “From Here I Saw What Happened and I Cried.”, I found that Weems has transformed  J.T. Zealy’s daguerreotypes of slaves that were used for scientific purposes into the photographs of the people with stories behind. In  J.T. Zealy’s works, the people have no significant meaning in the photographs but as the objects for scientific study; however, Weems used appropriation to make these photographs to have a utterly different meaning. The major differences I found is that Weems used a monochrome red and she added texts. The appropriation she used revealed the facts about the inequity and mistreatment in the black history. The colors in this series of photographs are mostly dark and bloody, which gives me intense feelings of anger and sadness. The texts narrate the development of the black history in the way of criticizing the inequity of race. Weems’s photographic project reminds me how inhuman the slavery was. This project is depicting how black people were treated as the inferiors and less than a human being; therefore, Weems’s work is also sending a powerful message to the public that we as an human being shouldn’t treat another human being differently base on their skin color. Without the text, I think even though we might not be able to know the stories behind each individual, the photographs are still very powerful and impressive.

I was surprised to see the word appropriation used in a positive manner.  So often I hear people sling accusations of “cultural appropriation” as a cardinal sin. The argument against cultural appropriation is that (white) people steal and colonize cultures that they don’t understand, using it as they see fit and dropping it as soon as it no longer suits them in a disrespectful manner.  Here, however, the artist is taking pre-existant images, altering and combining them to give them new meaning.  it is done with consciousness and sensitivity.  I wonder if that would mean that cultural appropriation is okay if it is done in the same manner.  I wonder where the line is between appropriation and exchange.

Seeing the images I wondered where all of them came from. Clearly not all of them were the polygenesis images. Based on the clothes some were from at least the 1920’s.

I think that the change is color, even with out the text bring the images into a new light.  The red looks angry and hurt, like a swollen bruise to me.  I think it’s great that these images, many of which I am sure were taken in an exploitative manner can now be used as a source of empowerment.

After reading and watching Carrie Rae Weems, “From Here I Saw What Happened and I Cried”, I saw the major differences between her and Louis Agassiz’s intention. What were once meant to be used for scientific and objectifying purposes, Weems turned into a powerful message convening to many others that race and separation was established far back in so many ways. She narrates the fact that these black men and women were overlooked and abused, basically treated as lowly beings, just because of the color of their skin. The way the photographs were changed in color and added text, she gave life to the once sterile-looking photos. Based on these photographs, appropriation definitely helps to convey an important message. Without the texts, the photograph would still be quite shocking to the modern world as it is today but the texts are so important in that they personify the photo and tell unique stories of each individual photographed as if they were speaking to an audience. I think that Weems’ photographic photos are very successful and mind-provoking in delivering an important part of history, racism, which is still quite a prevalent issue in society today.

When I first viewed Carrie Mae Weems’ From Here I saw What Happened and I Cried, 1995-1996, I was not sure what to make of it. I had to listen to Weems’ statement about the series to have a better understanding of the series. I learned how she used appropriation to distant the viewers from the original photographs. She did this by putting a red glass over the images and adding frames and texts on the photographs. When I viewed the series again with a different perspective, I do see it as a film like Weems mentioned in her statement. It is as though I am looking through a film slide and I see a story going on because the sentence never really ends at the first portrait. The way the artist inserted text gives the individuals in the photograph a story, which makes them more memorable. The artist’s use of text is also interesting because it is as if we are reading what white supremest would say.  Through text, it also gives the subjects character and makes them more humanized. Weems’ photographic project is interesting because they are historical images with a twist. It makes me think of what the individuals went through and what exactly they were thinking through Weems’ appropriation tool.

As I was already familiar with these images from class and what they were meant to be seen as or rather what they were used for, I found Carrie Mae Weems appropriation of these images to be transformational.  I think she transformed them to tell a story and humanize the people in them.  When I saw them in class, we discussed them in a scientific way. We all agreed that the subjects were slaves and specimens  studied due to the way the pictures were taken.  While we all are aware of the abuse that slaves had to endure, these same pictures didn’t really convey that, without the text she added. She made a clear distinction, with the titles she gave each image. She added a depth and gave these same images a totally different meaning, adding a different element and a different dimension.  She showed how in this same scientific study that seemed harmless, because the point of taking the photos was to prove a theory, these photos were derogatory in their own right. She removes the scientific element in her collection. Their posture, their expressions, the image themselves; showing them with their masters and families paints an entirely different picture with the added text.

I found it difficult to read the text and look at the images at the same time. I had to look at the collection a few times. The first time I tried to do both but I couldn’t connect the two. I had to read the text first and then analyze the image, to kind of interpret what she was trying to convey. I think that was because I was familiar with some of the images already, and because in some images so much of the text overlapped the image. I think without the text you are allowed to create your own story and assumptions about what is happening in the photos, without having an emotional connection.  She brings that emotional aspect to these images.

Personally, I liked the collection.I think it is very powerful. I think it evoked something from me that I didn’t really expect it to.  It showed me how significant text can be and how the same piece of work can be so different, with a few changes. The pictures themselves didn’t change, but she changed the color, and added text, and really made you realize what was happening during this time period. She brings an awareness and compassion to the viewer in a way that was not there before. From listening to her first, I got a sense that was what she was trying to convey, but after actually seeing them, I think she nailed it. I  think she was really able to convey that in her work, and I think I would’ve gotten that without hearing her statement first. Her work speaks for itself.

The contemporary art artist Carrie Mae Weems uses appropriation to create her own works of art. She appropriates the well known Swiss artist J.T. Zealy’s daguerreotypes and makes them her own. She changes the color of the images to red and black and puts text across them. Each picture has texts across them and when it is read consecutively tells a story. The story speaks of the hardships African Americans faced during slavery. The pictures and words show the ways African Americans were viewed, how they were treated, and the various things they were reduced to do as people. It is very possible to understand what these people went through especially with the words given. The body language and facial expressions show some people with no interest in taking these pictures. Once you read the text and look at the images it is easier to understand the image and what went on behind it. The work without the text would be able to express some situations but not all. Some pictures would look like every day people while others would show the struggle of slavery. Weem’s project was absolutely amazing. It gave a story behind each and every picture. The pictures go perfect with the words. Without the words the pictures would not do enough justice in telling her story. The message is strong and firm and makes you want to know more of what is going on behind each picture and the person’s emotion.

The compilation of images in Carrie Mae Weems project “From Here I Saw What Happened and I Cried” conveys a strong message, in my opinion, of the ironies and tragedies faced in the lives of African Americans. I think it’s a soulful depiction of a soulless time in American history. The images show the ill treatment and stereotypes that African American slaves had to live with while the text pinpoints the genre to specific references. Upon first watching the video I was moved and then angered at the fact that people have been treated so inhumanely and continue to be treated this way and in other forms of dehumanization even in today’s modern world. In this specific photo set it’s daunting to think that these people were unwillingly objectified like this and that they represent only a small portion of an oppressed population. Between the image and the text on each individual photo, the text is what first captured my attention. I had to first read the text, analyze the image and then look at the overall product. It’s not really effective if you were to just glance over the whole thing reading and looking at the image at once. If there were no text over the image I feel as if the message of the collection would definitely be more open to interpretation. The text solidifies Weems intentions of creating the exhibit.

Artist Carrie Mae Weems have appropriated Zealy’s photographs into monochrome red in her series “From Here I Saw What Happened and I Cried.” This monochrome red effect on the photographs amplifies the sadness of the history and the racism occurred at the time.Figures in the first four photos of the series were nude. Their emotionless facial expressions actually indicate that they have no power. In fact, they were objectified. They were granted no right to wear clothes in front of the camera. It disturbs me to see this series of photographs. The monochrome red effect makes me think of hatred. It also stimulates my anger. The caption in each photo further amplified the evidence of racism in Black in the history. This series show us the history of Black in the society dominated by the White. This shows how Black were treated inhumanely and unfairly. However, I think the texts give more meaning to the photos than the photos show us. If these photographs were narrated with medical diagnosis or information I believe the whole perspective would be shifted.