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A keyboard - an author's (and photographers) equipment or a gate to power and fame?
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… but we must not forget that power has two meanings. There is the power over something; the power over nature and over people. But there is also power to--the power, or potency, to think, to love, to feel deeply, to create, and, as Nietzsche once put it, the power to promise.
Erich Fromm, The Condition of the American Spirit
I am not a poet. I am only an columnist and photographer. For the last years I have thought a lot about the question, whether I am a powerless columnist and photographer. The above quote helps me to endure that I am allegedly a powerless columnist and photographer.
Some famous poets in Germany get their power not only from the cogency of their (certainly good) style and observation skills, but also from powerful patrons (e.g. publishers, politicians, journalists and captains of industry). But times are changing. By means of the Internet more and more people can publish their texts/ photographs and more and more people can read those texts and view those photographs. And it becomes obvious that - besides a bulk of junk - there are more good texts/ photographs than famous texts/ photographs which have been promoted by patrons.
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Fame and power (of few people) are going to become a questionable terms. It's going to become obvious that there are a lot of people who 'have the power, or potency, to think, to love, to feel deeply, to create'.
I have realized that I don't get more readers in a long time, when an article about my website has been published in a newspaper. I recognized early on that I am less reliable when my project is mentioned in connection with politicians. I have realized that I only get more readers, when I unemotionally write about daily life and when I attractively showcase my texts and my photographs.
But I would be a very poor soul without the help of my numerous supporters, especially without the help of those Bremen businessmen and businesswomen who help me to eke out a living. And it would be a defiance of my supporters, if I wasted my time with chasing spurious fame and if I didn't work hard. And it's wonderful to work without ruffle or excitement and also without thirst for glory and envy. And by the way - in order to survive I have to do a small-time extra job.
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In order to start immediately with appreciating works of an other photographer I recommend you
two impressive b-w videos about a disabled woman and a homeless man by the American photographer Jeremiah Stanley.
Please also take a look at Charlie Dittmeier's worth reading collection of quotations.
The international poster organisation Loesje has started a project to train young people from all over Europe and Asia in how to organise and coordinate information campaigns about the Millennium Development Goals.
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These goals are set by the United Nations to fight poverty and to improve living standards world wide.
Next issue 'The Daily Groove'
Monday, May 17 2010
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We would like to point out that we translated articles from German into English for the purpose of service. We would like to make it clear that the German translations are deciding, because the articles are directed to users who live in Germany.
Wir möchten darauf hinweisen, dass wir zu Servicezwecken englische Übersetzungen vorgenommen haben. Klarstellen möchten wir, dass maßgeblich die deutsche Übersetzung ist. Grund dessen ist, dass wir uns an in Deutschland ansässige Nutzer wenden.
Please also read Cats Talk (46)
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