Two Men
By Doris Abdolian (12)
2023-2024
The semi-symmetrical composition of the image implicitly encourages the comparison of these two men. The Wells Fargo signs loom over them while they interact with the ATM. In the center, an advertisement has the words "no matter where you live" underlined. There is an irony in these words as the United States has a history of redlining enabled by banks. It may appear that the men are receiving the same services and benefits from Wells Fargo; however, we must take into account the role banks played in maintaining oppressive social systems and hierarchies. Wells Fargo has a history of racial preferences that has disadvantaged Black and Hispanic people and was recently involved in 2022 in a modern-redlining lawsuit. Through this photo, I intended to bring into conversation the historic and political constructs that shape and affect our day-to-day activities. Although it is easy to compare the two men, I wanted to evoke a bigger conversation around the role of conglomerates and their direct socio-economic effect on people's livelihood.