Mar 10, 2011
10 photographs of children from around the world and their bedrooms
These photos are from photographer James Mollison’s book Where Children Sleep.
(via Visual News)
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© 2012 Abuyo. All rights reserved.
Mar 10, 2011
These photos are from photographer James Mollison’s book Where Children Sleep.
(via Visual News)
* * * * *
Lord come quickly.
(Also: you seem to have left off the one of the kid who posed with a shotgun, and whose bedroom was outfitted like a hunting blind!)
The kid whose bedroom is a field with a mattress in it made me burst into tears.
The one with the little blonde girl dressed like a pedophile’s wet dream made me cry!
That’s because, if you look at her bedroom, there are what I assume to be pageant ribbons and tiaras. She’s being dressed like that by her mother.
That one was a fake. She’s plastic right?
I have so many questions about these pics! Guess I’ll have to find the book.
Me too. I’d love to know the story behind those children
Where did you find this? Definately a reminder of how good we have things here.
This reminds me of a book I saw a while back of families and their homs+belongings. Basically the family hauled everything they owned into thier front yards or in front of their homes ans had their picture taken. It was quite interesting to see what people around the world kept stored in their homes. Unfortunately, I can’t for the life of me remember the book’s title.
It was in Air Canada’s EnRoute. I wish I’d saved the issue.
I saw that one too. It was fascinating. I’d love to see more photographic art like that. It’s fascinating to see the range of conditions around the world, especially as someone who is in the military and has had a chance to see a small glimpse of those conditions firsthand.
It’s Peter Menzel’s “Material World.” One of my favorite books.
That book was “The Material World” I saw the exhibit in Denver before they published the book. I thought of it too when I saw this.
Material World is the book. and United States sure had the gravy flowing.
Who’s to say the boy with a field and mattress isn’t from the United States too? Not everyone in America has riches, food, a home, or a job.
Elizabeth, me too! The one that struck me was the one in China, with the pic on the wall. How sad that child has to live like that because of that scumbag dictator, Mao. Not sure if that is him on the poster(actually, that guy looks too clean,) but the gov of that country is sick. What an awful depiction of propoganda.
It’s no different than pictures of Jesus or the pope being on the wall. Or a picture of some roided out sports star who makes 60 million a year for that matter. The fact you aren’t even sure if it’s Mao or not underlines the fact you have no idea what you are talking about. You have no idea if that child is happy or unhappy. Many of the children I encountered while living in China for over 3 years were far happier than in the U.S. or Canada.
By making a statement like that, (which was clearly not well thought out) you demonstrated how the west also effectively uses propaganda. You simply threw together a few buzzwords that you heard about China, mixed in with false notions you heard about the country (for example, Mao has been dead for many years and yes that is a picture of him, their rulers are not considered dictators, but rather part of an aristocracy and there are also children living in our country in conditions that are like those of the Chinese picture or worse)
I know nothing of China or their lifestyle. I may be wrong in the statement I am about to make…
BUT
Mike, I would not in any way compare the dictator of China, or a sports star anywhere on the same bookshelf… let alone sentence, as Jesus or the Pope.
The meaning behind those symbolic figures are very different, all are symbolic yes, maybe in China they view their dictators much differently, although I am not inclined to believe they feel towards them the same feelings as those towards a religious figure.
I do not say this in an effort to offend, or prove wrong. I am only stating my opinon on what you said, and that again I will say is highly uneducated in the lifestyle of the Chinese.
Although, I agree with your other statement about how can we make a judgement on their lifestyle, especially not knowing their background or day to day surroundings.
Unfortunately most dictators really like to be thought of in the same way as religious figures….
“cult of personality”
I agree with Mike.
I live in China, and the children here honestly have a better sense of ethics than most kids I worked with in the US. Yes, it is Chairman Mao, and while the government here may be perfect, I’d hardly say the politicians in the US are great role models for children.
I’m disturbed that the picture of someone with different beliefs than you is what makes you sad, and not the children living in filth, without shelter.
Didn’t a toddler get run over by two vehicles in china, and no one did a thing to help? Isn’t china a leading producer of knock-off products? isn’t china’s media state run? not sure if you can say china’s kids have a better sense of ethics dude.
An elderly man got run over by two cars in the US and no one did anything either. http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/Hit-and-Run-Victim-Dies.html
Why does China produce knock-off products? Because WE demand the most product for the least amount of money.
Do you really think there isn’t a filter on what they decide to show in our media? Everything is about entertainment in this country, not facts.
And you don’t think kids in China have a better sense of ethics? When I went there I met 18-year-old students who, instead of dressing like hookers and having sex with anyone they could get their hands on, were studying their butts off because they had dreams of going to university (to STUDY, not get piss drunk).
And AMERICAN kids have better ethics? -.-
Some people need to do some traveling before they open their mouths (or type).
Most of these photos are sad, but the boy holding the axe broke my heart. The pile of worn, much-used books in his room spoke volumes about who and what he really is. And what he could be.
The little beauty pageant queen struck me as the most tragic of them all. Actually the two that showed the most blatant privilege were the most upsetting. it was a good use of contrasts.
Makes you take a step back when you picture your own child in those situations!
Wow its really sad to see how we live compared to other countries
I wish my kids could understand just how good they have it here in America and not take so much for granted, they apprecate the things they have and by no means are they spoiled but I dont think they relly get it that some people have far less. And we should be so greatful to have the opportunitys that we have here in America.
I absolutely understand the contrasts, but people don’t understand that they exist in America as well. I’ve lived in a variety of conditions, having 5 siblings, and parents in college and trying to find careers as I grew up. I’ve lived in everything from a 3-man tent to a 5-bedroom mansion with a daylight basement. I’ve been at the low end of poverty, and the higher end of middle-class living, though my parents have never been “rich” by American standards.
The most disgusting of these are the two girls dressed up like plastic dolls in rooms of pure plastic. If only the money spent on those bedrooms could be used for something so much more meaningful to help children in need.
I am sorry to say that People in USA have no idea what poverty is. I grow up like one of those kids and I did not even have a bed room, but I was very happy because I did not know better and I was surrounded with love of my parents. Now, I can say that our kids in USA have every thing and yet they have nothing. They need more love, hugs and kisses from their parents.
There is still much poverty in the United States that needs attention. So much want within our own borders.
The photo about chinese boy with “Mao zedong” picture can not behalf of all the chinese children in China, at least my daughter is in happyness and she has a comportable bed.
The little boy in the red jacket has such haunted eyes. I cry for all these children – including the ‘princess’ in yellow !
http://www.jamesmollison.com/wherechildrensleep.php
Here’s the link to the pics. My sister sent it to me a while ago. Most of them are sad but I was actually surprised how many sleeping places actually somehow reminded me of my own. :P (I.e. all clothes on the floor cause no place for them, spartan white room with small windows close to ceiling, guns.) But I’m adult and can change that, wish I could change the situation for those kids too. :/ One way is to spread pictures like these to make people more aware of how children suffer.
Yeah, I don’t know if it has been corrected yet, but this is actually James Mollison’s book Where children Sleep. Awesome book filled with many more photos.
The rich kids look like they are vapid, board & soulless.
The poor kids are all saying a lot with their eyes.
Peter Menzel’s “Material World.”