BAGnewsNotes

Our Own Media: Going Forward

Two weeks ago, I launched an effort to help bring political imagery directly into the public sphere.

The purpose of "Our Own Media" fund is to help support and subsidize the socially committed, traditionally underpaid and inherently visionary photojournalist.  The goal of the effort -- in addition to bringing more political content to the site -- is to establish a precedent for the grassroots, independent support of social/political photojournalism and to strengthen the progressive blogosphere as a platform and forum for this vital imagery.

I want to thank Digby for his support, as well as several progressive blogs -- including Crooks and Liars, Brad Blog, Majikthise, Tattered Coat and Hughes for America  -- that have donated free advertising space to promote the fund.  (If you're interested in supporting Majikthise, by the way, which you can contribute here.)

Primarily, though, I want to thank the over 100 of you who have already donated.  So far, we have raised over $8,500 out of what I consider an achievable goal of $30,000. 

If you are part of the 90% of The BAG's regular, daily readership that hasn't donated yet (or just a fan), and you're capable, I ask that you please go to the "Our Own Media" fund page and click on one of the contribution buttons (or mail in a check to the address) at the bottom of the post.   

So, what kind of impact is the fund already having on The BAG?

Besides increasing my coverage of original ("non-newswire") imagery,  I'm now working with a handful of photographers to adapt extended material for the site.  In the next six to eight months, I'm especially interested in testing how far one can push the blog format as a story-telling medium. 

Also, your help is enabling me to work more closely with existing contributers, Tim Fadek and Alan Chin, and also invite a few more regular contributers to the site. 

If you hang out at The BAG, I'm sure you remember the "Oh (Chinese) Christmas Tree" post from this past December.  That entry, dealing with how the Chinese market Christmas in Africa, featured the work of a talented young Spanish photographer named Héctor Mediavilla. 

While teaching photography in Congo several years ago, Héctor came upon a subculture of men who derive their lifestyle and sense of well-being from elegant comportment along with the import of fine French clothing.  This subculture -- known as the "Sape" (which stands for the Society of Ambiance's and Elegant People)-- extends back more than four generations.  Until Héctor came upon the society, however, it was virtually unheard of outside Congo, even in France. 

Because the Sape look up to Western culture and many Sape have immigrated to France (with mixed results), their story offers a compelling and practical lens through which to view the larger issues of globalization, migration, identity and race.  Looking at the Sape historically, at present, as well as forward, into the future, I'm excited to offer this story in extended and serialized fashion along with my welcome new contributor, Héctor Mediavilla.

(Regarding the show:  This presentation was adapted from "Le Parisian Kiboba" (The Old Parisian), a video by Héctor Mediavilla.  The slide show was created by The BAG as part of an ongoing experiment into visual, blogospheric storytelling.  If you wish to comment on particular stills, you can refer to them by number.)

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh (Chinese) Christmas Tree

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Hey BAG, can't you just enjoy a picture without having to get so caught up in politics?  C'mon, where's your holiday cheer?

Héctor Mediavilla -- one of those fine, up-and-coming Spanish photographers you've met in Barcelona -- captured these stunning images of Christmas in Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of the Congo.  And sure, he thinks it's ironic the Christmas toys, trees and trinkets come courtesy of the good-hearted subsidization of the Chinese.  But he can also see the spirit, the wonder, and the shining faces, too.

But I already know what you would say.

You would bring up (or, at least suggest, in that subtle and clever way you always do it) that the Congolese are being taken advantage of because an energy-starved China is getting thirty per cent of its oil from Africa, mostly from Sudan, Angola, and, yes, Congo-Brazzaville.

I don't know, BAG.  You always find the dark cloud inside the silver lining.  Like Scrooge,  you would surely mention that Chinese investment in Africa largely underwrites war, weapons and civil rights abuses, particularly in countries like Sudan and Zimbabwe.

On top of that, I could see you asking why the Congolese can't manufacture these Christmas items themselves ... since they must be aware cheap Chinese imports have already wiped out whole industries, especially textiles, in places like Lesotho and South Africa.

And because I know you, you would also find some way to bash America's corporate class  ... and, somehow, even work Iraq into it.  Yeah, you would probably say something cute, like:  America's fat cats were so badly distracted by the war on terror that Mickey Mouse, Tweedy Bird, a thousand Barbie's clones and even Santa, himself -- the whitest man on the face of the earth, for crying out loud -- are now fully employed as Chinese trade emissaries.  (And, you would say that even if those fat cats were making plenty off the war economy, and you were largely a globalization critic.)

But look BAG, you can fight all the battles you want, but no one beats Christmas.  And even if you have a problem with that, I know one thing we would agree on.  That is: there's no better gift (especially at this time of year) than a great eye and excellent pictures.

Bon Nadal!

(For full view, click on the thumbnail)

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To BAGreaders: Héctor will be available in the discussion thread to discuss his knowledge of Brazzaville, where he has done quite a bit of work; what it's like there at Christmas time; his experience taking these photos; or anything else you would like to ask.  As with all the photographers featured here, Héctor is particularly interested in your reactions and feedback.  By the way, you can view the full series here.

Images from the series: AFRICAN CHRISTMAS MADE IN CHINA. All photos © Héctor Mediavilla/Picturetank.com.  Used by permission.