pg. 42 seeing 1&2

1) Peer Menzel's photographs depict what might be the out of the norm for some. The scarce volumes of food available to the Aboubakar family from Chad may be believably slim to first world cultures such as America. Vice versa, if you where the Aboubakar family gazing in wonder over the rainbow of packaged food that the Ukita family have the most fortune to enjoy on a weekly basis; you'd be pretty shocked to say the least!
                   Diversity isnt bound by the shear volume of food but, the food itself reflects upon the families environmental conditions, as well as their economic status. For example, the Mendoza family's plate is composed of mostly vegetables, fruit, and grain which suggest that their home is heavily vegetated; which can be confirmed by the leafed vines growing on their wall and the rolling hills seen out their window. Because of the heavy vegetation on their land and abundance of vegetables on the table it could be inferred that they are a farming community. An inter weaved community where no name goes without a face and tradition is the beating heart of an otherwise neighborly oriented society. Their wardrobes full of color and almost in uniform with the others gives insight of how much tradition plays into their lives. I myself, being from a similar type of community can imagine them going to a village wide ceremony, one where every villager regardless of age or complication goes down to a courtyard in the middle of town. The courtyard would be fenced with colorful decor, sealing in the clamor, keeping it from escaping the yards rumble.
           Each photograph's summery helps complete the image  economic stance, as well as that of their community. In the Aboubakar family's case, it adds a whole other level of depth to their lives. They are refugees, a life that we can only imagine living and in no way can infer.

2) Peter Menzel's photos o different culture's "full plate," or full week of food, captures not only the families culture and food groups, but also gives insight to their environment and it's conditions. The pictures background gives as much information as the food itself. For example, the vast, dry camp ground behind the Aboubakar family is an obvious hint of why they have a surplus of water in the gas containers next to Souleymane. Compared to the cramped living parlor that houses the Ukita family shows that they might be living in a crowded city where space is limited and space is compact. The amount packaged food that the Ukita family bought is a near opposite to the rationed grains, fruits and vegetables that the Aboubakars family was given and further expresses the economic polarities cultures around could have.