I Still Shoot Film

I had completed forgotten about these photos I took with my Moskva 5 right after the presidential election until I finished the roll the other day. These “Yes We Can” Sarkozy posters were literally all over the center of Paris within 2 days of Obama’s victory. There are several things I have always loved about the French:

1. They are not a nation of snitches. Mind your own business.

2. They don’t take shit.

3. They strike. Yes, I know for many this is not a good point, and I’ll admit that it’s a super annoying and inconvienient semi-apocalypse when it’s a Metro strike… but we are still talking about a whole nation of people who put their fuckin’ foot down.

4. They protest. Again, another annoying one if you actually live in the center of Paris, but the principle is there. The French protest every year about random stuff the way my parent’s generation protested about Vietnam. Since then, I am sorry, but American youth in general (especially my generation) has become a yuppie stock option toting luxury brand obsessed bunch of superficial idiots who don’t stand up to the government about anything. Ever.

5. They stage public events to create awareness. Two years ago, the Socialist party wanted to bring attention to the growing homeless problem in Paris, so they set up red tens along the Canal St Martin (a popular hang out) for the homeless to live in during winter. You can check a photo here. Needless to say, it became very difficult for the residents of Paris to ignore such a huge problem when it was in their faces everyday.

Which brings me to the zoom of these posters, because if you think they mean “Yes We Can! Yay Sarkozy is a great president!” then you do not know the French at all. Upon closer inspection, the Sarkozy Yes We Can posters feature what you might call “social suggestions” for the current administration:

For instance this one says, “Make companies who pollute pay? Yes we can!” There were several other phrases, including remarks about the current deficit and social security spending problem.

Love the French for speaking their minds? Yes We Can!

(PS This is medium format cross processed FujiChrome Velvia 100)