Literary Body of Work: Imtiaz Dharker
Imtiaz Dharker’s collection of poems, Postcards from God, focuses on various topics about human challenges. The author seems to define fundamentalism as one of the major causes of such dramatic situations. She addresses the experiences of several nations, including Pakistan (her birth country), India, and Britain (her countries of adoption). The poems “Namesake” and “Living Space” from Dharker’s collection show what exactly children are forced to survive under the pressure of globalization and poverty, using their hopes for a better life.
Child hope is one of the most precious things in the world because it consists of pure emotions and true feelings. In “Namesake,” lines 6-7 introduce Adam, who “gets up at four/follows his mother to the hotel/where he helps her cut the meat and vegetables.” Such obligations and expectations are not appropriate for a 10-year-old child. Nevertheless, he has to live his life, work with his family, and neglect the needs of an ordinary child. This narrative is full of angels and high powers that help the boy resist his family’s poverty and inability to enjoy his childhood. A similar atmosphere is conveyed by “Living Space,” dedicated to describing the child’s place of residence. Throughout the whole poem, including lines 2, 4, and 5, the author underlines that the building is dangerous and strange, with “not enough straight lines… flat or parallel.” Although the poem is not long, Dharker uses proper words to describe poverty in detail and underline feasible attempts to change something. In general, Postcards from God are not just evidence of child poverty as a serious global issue but the description of a road some nations cannot avoid despite their hopes and freedoms.
Non-Literary Body of Work: Kevin Carter’s Photography Portfolio
“Family,” a black-and-white photograph by Kevin Carter, depicts a forced famine slowly killing people. One of the individuals lies under a tree so thin that all the skeleton details are visible. The rest still retain the appearance of a human, but unhealthy thinness and lack of vitality are noticeable. Separately, the black and white filter of the photo is worth noting. It adds the feeling of the unambiguity that everything in the world is divided into good and bad. At the same time, a detailed review of people allows the viewer to notice a gray color, symbolizing significance. Human poverty might have many colors, and the worth of the chosen non-literary work is in the possibility of conveying the struggle in the face of inevitability.
Although the family is starving, people find the strength to look into the camera. In addition, they sit and chat, and one of them even smiles. This situation defines the moment of struggle and resistance when individuals do not give up in the face of such problems. They continue to forfeit their right to ordinary life, joy, and companionship. In addition, one cannot assert their sense of hopelessness. Separately, it is necessary to emphasize their tent, which performs the function of housing. People are next to her, protecting her and considering her the principal place.
It is also necessary to analyze the exposition chosen by the author. A man dying of hunger is depicted in the foreground, symbolizing the future that awaits the rest. It is noteworthy that the body next to the tree continues to grow and live, proving that the life of a human has become more unreliable and shorter than that of a plant. A particularly striking contrast is added by the fact that the trunk of the tree is several times wider than a person who was tortured by hunger. An understanding comes that young people are sitting in the background, namely children who are already facing starvation but not yet so critical. In this context, the interpretation of their gaze changes whether they fight or remain horrified by what they see. In the end, the photographer emphasizes how difficult and dangerous a child’s life in an impoverished country is and how many trials await such individuals. The future of such people is entirely devoted to the endless fight against hunger and disease and attempts to extend their lives.
Summary
The life of children in impoverished countries is full of challenges and the fight against hunger and low quality of life. These facts are reflected in art, both in the form of poems and photographs. The global problem of starvation and poverty is depicted in both art forms with the help of symbols and the characters’ beliefs. When analyzing two Dharker’s poems, it is impossible to establish that one of them reveals the topic more effectively or brighter. On the contrary, it is worth noting the general end to which the lyrical heroes come. Despite all the difficulties, they continue to fight and try to restore or save a life. Carter’s works show that human strengths are running out, and they have nothing to do but appeal to faith and higher powers. Studying this problem is vital since the works and photographs demonstrate the horror and danger that are relevant to people. It is the emotional urges that become motivators for starting actions. One of the principles of society is that life has the highest value and happiness. For this reason, it is urgent to care for people of any age who has to live in a developing country and deal with hunger and other serious global issues. It is not enough to recognize the problem but try to help them fight for their well-being.