Below are a few examples from the 475 photos taken the other night in a Trotter hotbed known as Shinjuku. I stress again that this is a serious anthropological work which I have devoted serious time to and hope, should academic acceptance from the enlightened readership of these pages be forthcoming, to produce a "coffee table" book later in the year entitled "Tokyo Trotters: A work of taxonomy."
If there are any serious objections then please comment, if there are any serious supporters of such a work then please also comment. The pictures below are a very small sample and not necessarily the best in terms of content or quality but merely provided to hint at the possibility here.
The classic Tokyo Trotter in full Trot
Fashion is an absolute crucial element of Tokyo life.
Style is also important and how you accessorise defines you.
But what really defines a Trotter is the gait.
Comments required please.
Having lived in Shibuya for 6 months (the hothouse for the juvenile Tokyo Trotter) I would just like to add weight to this request, Jack. And help to confirm that this would be a serious piece of work rather than an excuse take photos of women almost falling over all the time. When I was there the phrase 'ganguro' was used (I think) to describe the young women with attempted dyed blonde hair that ends up taking on a ginger hue. The second of your photos is a prime example of this phenomenon. I would be interested to know if the ganguro are a subset of the Tokyo Trotters, or vice versa, or that there is merely some overlap between the two camps. A Venn diagram may be required.
ReplyDeleteGood to hear from you Jack!
Jack
ReplyDeleteI fully endorse this project.
Striking a balance with this work is crucial. On the one hand you could become poised to adopt a position of flagrant gain. Here I give the example of the work of countless so-called 'fashion photographers' who have either made lucrative careers with street shots or endorsing material photographic equipment.
On the other hand, which is where I would support such anthropological artistry, is the work of photographers such as Cartier-Bresson and Chris Weeks. Here the casual snap is transposed into high artform. Your anthropological position here raises the bar one stage further.
With regards to voyerism - as Week's himself states regarding the photographer you must "develop the eye of a fetishist voyeur. A spy. A ghost. A voyeur spy with a great eye." Hence I would argue, as demonstrated in all of your blog, you are simply an honest observer. The true dilemmas posed and challenges of interpretation are left squarely with the zen-consumer of your material.
Swift