I am attracted to Montague’s decision to shoot abandoned shopping carts. Who cares about an old abandoned shopping cart? Not many people do. Montague compiles hundreds of abandoned shopping carts into a database. He classifies each one and in doing so, makes each one matter.
I like the selection above for a variety of reasons. I think that Specimen 3, 169, and 178 all demonstrate the abandoned shopping cart and an impact that it has on a somewhat natural environment. I believe that this speaks to human consumption. The shopping cart represents consumerism; The shopping cart holds all of the “things” that we go to a store and buy. Montague has then gone out and found these vessels for “product” in a natural environment. I like the harsh juxtaposition that is created as well as the environmental message that is sent to the viewer.
With Specimens 4, 185, and 197, I like how the shopping carts are in a way, being used as they are meant to be. With these specimens, the shopping carts are full of “stuff”. These images make me think of packaging, consumption, and the unneeded items that Americans buy every single day without giving it a second thought.
I am inspired, for the next project, to try and trace one form of consumerism and its affect on the environment.
