Great Works 2

Philosophical satirical novel “Candide” by Voltaire impressed me since it covered topics such as public perceptions and vices, culture and religion, feelings and actions. At the beginning of the story we introduced to Candide who had lived a happy life in the castle and thought that everything in the world is wonderful but he had forced to leave the castle. Candide aimlessly wandered the earth, but finding the lost lover has brought him to life. Peaceful philosopher under the influence of love suddenly turns into a defender of the lady of his heart: he kills a wealthy Jew, then the inquisitor. However, all the murders in the story purely have external nature. Hanged, burned, stabbed and raped characters invariably alive due to the miraculous circumstances and skill healers. Candide’s traveling in Europe, South America and the Middle East is the basis for the disclosure of the modern world. The writer shows the historical and cultural realities of his time and hovering in society legends (about the wonderful country of Eldorado). Incidentally, it is a mythical state of universal happiness and contentment in the novella becomes opposition to the actually existing world. During the events that happened on Candide’s way when he was searching Cunegonde in spite of ranting of Candide’s teacher, philosopher Pangloss, Candide realizes that not all for the best in this world. Candide initially takes the words of his teacher for the truth, but life teaches him back. Everyone who meets a young man tells the horrific stories of their lives. Misfortunes accompany characters, regardless of their social status. Throughout external events of the story Voltaire teaches Candide and his friends that true happiness of man is in his work, and not sputtered over the whole earth, but centered on the small area of your garden.

Recently I visited The International Center of Photography,a museum, school and research center in midtown Manhattan. The current exhibition was dedicated to the work of photographers from Chile, Cuba, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Mexico and other countries in Latin America.The exhibition “Urbes Mutantes” (“Mutant Cities”) covers the period between 1950’s-1980’s and contains political and social upheavals that occurred in the countries of Latin America during these decades. These photographs reflected political protest and poverty, which intertwined in the pictures as one. Streets of the cities serve as an arena for the revolution, protest and street culture.
Black and white photographs of Latin American cities immerse the audience sad reality of that time and makes them an involuntary participant in the struggle for life and liberty.Images show people as if they are accustomed to the atmosphere of chaos that surrounds them. Shots, protests, murders and arrests were common part of everyday life of Latin America population in 1950’s-1980’s and that precisely reflected on the photos.
Moreover, urban art involved pieces of the protest that depicted on the photography, such as pistols, and displays that turns out to be part of the street art. As a demonstration of participation in the revolutionary protests people depicted images that related to it.
In general this exhibition impressed me with its vivid images that denuded the truth about the political and social environment in Latin American countries. it served as sort of documental-historical piece of art. White and black pictures enriched the exhibition by enabling to demonstrate daily life without embellishment and immerse audience in the experience of chaos.

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