His name mirrors his images, flat with no highlights. Emotive, thought provoking, reality. Brilliant work. I am ashamed to say I had never heard of Matt Black, but I do now.
Love these type of videos that come from this channel. The most profound line for me was how he said poverty has been made to appear as a personal problem versus a systemic one. It’s part of the plan and it is and has been working. Stay strong.
These photos are born of the same stuff that had Willy Vlautin writing his novels and making his music with Richmond Fontaine. Powerful stuff, it just cuts into the film.
That mini mart at 5:29 is in a small town called Mckittrick. There used to be really good restaurant called Mike and Annie's penny bar owned by an older couple (Mike and Annie) and the whole bar area, floors, walls, bar, was covered in pennies they glued down themselves. Annie used to grill steaks a few times a week and they were some of the best steaks I've had in my life. A couple years ago some oil company started buying up chunks of the town and last time I drove through it looked like they started tearing down the few homes that were there
I grew up in the foothills just above the central valley of California and know the central valley well and sad to say Matt's right this country is full of places just like this and even much worse but like was said the promotion of the American dream is alive and well and poverty is presented as a choice .........
I just completed a 2400 mile journey along highways 101 and 5 and sampled the radio stations, both AM and FM. Once the Coast’s major cities are left out of range of the puny antenna on the car, the radio selection changes drastically. Christian preaching and admonishments in Spanish and English are available on many frequencies, some overtly political within minutes of my tuning to that station. Screaming Conservatives with blood pressures which must be at near stroke levels, spew their bile to the airwaves, turning news stories on their heads to make a point: Anyone who disagrees is misguided or treasonous. Christian soft rock is aired as well. Some are quite listenable. Some, so saccharine as to invite mocking. Mariachi and Latin music can be fun. Country hits are a staple but less numerous than latin and Spanish language stations. Once population centers are in range NPR is available and one has arrived on a different planet. Late summer 2016 while motoring near Sacramento I tuned to an npr station where a moderator was interviewing a Family Farmer of the central valley. They chewed the fat about this and that until the moderator asked who the man would vote for. Trump, was the reply, but I hope he changes his mind about immigrants, he remarked. They were winding up the interview when the moderator asked the Family Farmer how many acres he farmed. 49,000 acres. Family Farmer? Salt of the earth? Welfare cheat! (Check out the biggest “ getters” of subsidies.) Wrote this in 2016.
I just wrote a paper in my Women’s Studies class called Race, Class and Gender. It was about how the American Dream is unattainable for 53,000,000 of the working class who are making an average of $10.22/hr. It’s atrocious. I blame big business who has devalued workers and commits crimes against the people who make them all their money.
If you watched this, and thought it was negative and depressing, I challenge you to do this: Watch it, but see it as neutral. See being poor as an experience, rather than a polarizing view. Our society wants everyone to be a certain way = The American Dream. Yet, when major companies close, or move away, the people there still survive. Life goes on. Also, not everyone wants the status quo.
Suffering and failure is a part of life everywhere, I’m from Eastern Europe from a post Soviet and supposedly the poorest country in Europe. But so what. There is always something you can do. Hearing a Californian talk about the brutality of life and it being systemic is disingenuous. It’s disempowering. The United States is the greatest country in the world, with unmatched opportunities.
America is Not Poor at All. America is Rich. Just Like India. People Run to City Life leaving their Homes. America has Land to Live, Cultivate, and Cattle to Dairy. Thus, NoBody will be Hungry, Homeless. Self-Service is the Key to Success.
The only poor you have to feel sorry for are the elderly who are too old to change their situation. I grew up in a poor neighborhood in the city. Everyone who had the motivation to better themselves got out of there. The ones who felt sorry for themselves are still there complaining about all their bad breaks. They had it no worse than anyone else. Life is what you make it, nobody's going to hand you your future on a silver platter.
Are you sure that the system is to blame for many of these problems? Actually, the system is what is keeping many of these people afloat. Instead of blaming it maybe appreciate what good it’s done.
I don't like the way that this makes everything in the Central Valley seem desolate and bad. I remember growing up in places similar to this and those were honestly some of the happiest times I ever had. Our going out was going to McDonalds or the local pizza place and renting a VHS to watch or going to the river. Money does not always = happiness and well being that comes from within a person. This doesn't mean that there isn't people being exploited it just means that life is a mosaic. Did you talk to any of these people collect their stories or just snap a picture and create a suiting narrative?
@Alex Ramos As a photographer and follower of photographers, I can tell you that just about every significant collection photography--like a book--is out of most common people's price range. The 'message' is mostly attainable only by the rich. it's one of the cruxes of this game.
Good documentary, amazing photography, but I’ve to say this, poverty in USA is nothing compared with poverty in Cuba, the country I came from. I invite all photographers like him to go there and you will surprise what communism is capable to do.
Why are you comparing poverty like that? So if I find a capitalist country that has worst poverty than Cuba, does that invalidate the suffering of Cubans? Does that mean that communism isn't that bad? It's a poor argument. And it oversimplifies why each country has poverty in the first place
Compelling work and storytelling and all. .. . But it's also getting a little old--at least stale--to have yet another bleak picture painted of America, brought to light by a well-endowed org, helmed predominantly by people who come from enough privilege to pursue their Dream Job, and simply told without any meaningful attempt at changing the matter. . .as if watching and jeering, alone, changes a thing. And I'm a fan of Matt Black. Have been following him for years.
You are the promise of the American Dream! You are driving around freely in a truck most people in the world would desire, doing what you hoped to be doing, with a camera in one hand that comes in around 2k and another camera to record the images that can't be documented do to the limitations of eather the film stock or ISO you have personally selected at the moment. All awhile someone you care about is filming your quest to answer your negative questions, is America Died? You sir are a cup half full perpetuating a lie that is way too easy to tell and promote. Because were I sit you are the affirmative answer of yes to the fulment of your question. Cheer up you depressed old boomer. Your life is Amazing! And YES the American dream as exhibited through you is alive and well.
"You are driving around freely in a truck most people in the world would desire..." - I don't know. In all the countries you would compare the USA to it's not a big thing to have a truck and drive around "doing what you hoped do be doing". Not even in Russia I guess. Yet I have never been to a country in Europe with this sort of poverty. I've been to Germany, Austria, France, Slovenia, Netherlands, Italy, Croatia, Belgium, Switzerland... The situation is better there. So I'm not sure why you are being offended by a human you call a "depressed old boomer". What is triggering you? Isn't it a good thing to acknowledge a problem? That's what he is doing. It's a first step. Like Matt Black I'd like to see things getting better for everyone in the US.
He doesn't shoot on film. It's all digital work. Not sure how you can look at this kind of poverty and say the American dream is alive and well. For whom? Certainly not everyone.
We NEED tiny homes that poor Americans can buy working $18/Hour or less! Tiny house structure should be affordable and durable for under $30,000 [ 1 year of work to pay off ] 🔌🔌🔌
![ON THE STREET WITH [002] : Tatsuo Suzuki](/img/n.gif)
His name mirrors his images, flat with no highlights. Emotive, thought provoking, reality. Brilliant work. I am ashamed to say I had never heard of Matt Black, but I do now.
I see highlights
Love these type of videos that come from this channel. The most profound line for me was how he said poverty has been made to appear as a personal problem versus a systemic one. It’s part of the plan and it is and has been working. Stay strong.
Appriciate this. He shots in the area I live in and is in touch with the issues at hand.
I thought it ironic that watching a video showing poverty was interrupted by an add for a luxury holiday.
A very moving & honest film of a country that seems to hide this side of poverty & blames the poor & unfortunate. Excellent images throughout.
These photos are born of the same stuff that had Willy Vlautin writing his novels and making his music with Richmond Fontaine. Powerful stuff, it just cuts into the film.
That mini mart at 5:29 is in a small town called Mckittrick. There used to be really good restaurant called Mike and Annie's penny bar owned by an older couple (Mike and Annie) and the whole bar area, floors, walls, bar, was covered in pennies they glued down themselves. Annie used to grill steaks a few times a week and they were some of the best steaks I've had in my life. A couple years ago some oil company started buying up chunks of the town and last time I drove through it looked like they started tearing down the few homes that were there
This is extremely powerful.
I grew up in the foothills just above the central valley of California and know the central valley well and sad to say Matt's right this country is full of places just like this and even much worse but like was said the promotion of the American dream is alive and well and poverty is presented as a choice .........
Can relate to this video, thanks!
A masterpiece ✨ so sad, so true
Great short film, great score too.
Great photography pity clip not downloadable
Aloha ! Such truth in your work. Thank you.
I just completed a 2400 mile journey along highways 101 and 5 and sampled the radio stations, both AM and FM.
Once the Coast’s major cities are left out of range of the puny antenna on the car, the radio selection changes drastically. Christian preaching and admonishments in Spanish and English are available on many frequencies, some overtly political within minutes of my tuning to that station.
Screaming Conservatives with blood pressures which must be at near stroke levels, spew their bile to the airwaves, turning news stories on their heads to make a point: Anyone who disagrees is misguided or treasonous.
Christian soft rock is aired as well. Some are quite listenable. Some, so saccharine as to invite mocking.
Mariachi and Latin music can be fun.
Country hits are a staple but less numerous than latin and Spanish language stations.
Once population centers are in range NPR is available and one has arrived on a different planet.
Late summer 2016 while motoring near Sacramento I tuned to an npr station where a moderator was interviewing a Family Farmer of the central valley. They chewed the fat about this and that until the moderator asked who the man would vote for.
Trump, was the reply, but I hope he changes his mind about immigrants, he remarked.
They were winding up the interview when the moderator asked the Family Farmer how many acres he farmed.
49,000 acres.
Family Farmer? Salt of the earth?
Welfare cheat! (Check out the biggest “ getters” of subsidies.)
Wrote this in 2016.
I just wrote a paper in my Women’s Studies class called Race, Class and Gender. It was about how the American Dream is unattainable for 53,000,000 of the working class who are making an average of $10.22/hr. It’s atrocious. I blame big business who has devalued workers and commits crimes against the people who make them all their money.
Very cool and thought provoking.
Matt black voice sounds so cool
Loved the super 8 videography
He seems to shoot with a random collection of cameras. Panasonic, Nikon, Olympus. I like this, but am not sure why.
Powerful
this is incredibly
If you watched this, and thought it was negative and depressing, I challenge you to do this:
Watch it, but see it as neutral. See being poor as an experience, rather than a polarizing view.
Our society wants everyone to be a certain way = The American Dream. Yet, when major companies close, or move away, the people there still survive. Life goes on. Also, not everyone wants the status quo.
It’s an experience to sell your blood for water…
@jeremy
💩comment of the day
brilliant
Damn. That was a good one.
Suffering and failure is a part of life everywhere, I’m from Eastern Europe from a post Soviet and supposedly the poorest country in Europe. But so what. There is always something you can do. Hearing a Californian talk about the brutality of life and it being systemic is disingenuous. It’s disempowering. The United States is the greatest country in the world, with unmatched opportunities.
🤘
🔥🎥👌🏼
America is Not Poor at All. America is Rich.
Just Like India. People Run to City Life leaving their Homes.
America has Land to Live, Cultivate, and Cattle to Dairy.
Thus, NoBody will be Hungry, Homeless.
Self-Service is the Key to Success.
The only poor you have to feel sorry for are the elderly who are too old to change their situation. I grew up in a poor neighborhood in the city. Everyone who had the motivation to better themselves got out of there. The ones who felt sorry for themselves are still there complaining about all their bad breaks. They had it no worse than anyone else. Life is what you make it, nobody's going to hand you your future on a silver platter.
not if you blieve in the American dream...
The still photography was great, but it was ruined by the video portion. This kind of documentary work isn't for video.
Are you sure that the system is to blame for many of these problems? Actually, the system is what is keeping many of these people afloat. Instead of blaming it maybe appreciate what good it’s done.
I don't like the way that this makes everything in the Central Valley seem desolate and bad. I remember growing up in places similar to this and those were honestly some of the happiest times I ever had. Our going out was going to McDonalds or the local pizza place and renting a VHS to watch or going to the river. Money does not always = happiness and well being that comes from within a person. This doesn't mean that there isn't people being exploited it just means that life is a mosaic. Did you talk to any of these people collect their stories or just snap a picture and create a suiting narrative?
Did you watch it? It is his home.
Living the dream by making a living Documenting the failures of the American dream. Irony.
Pictures of poor people for rich people to look at. Lucrative!
@Alex Ramos As a photographer and follower of photographers, I can tell you that just about every significant collection photography--like a book--is out of most common people's price range. The 'message' is mostly attainable only by the rich.
it's one of the cruxes of this game.
@Alex Ramos You are that dumb, eh?
@Alex Ramos It's not an opinion.
But go on enjoying yourself.
He sure talks a good one. Terrible photos, but hey.
Good documentary, amazing photography, but I’ve to say this, poverty in USA is nothing compared with poverty in Cuba, the country I came from. I invite all photographers like him to go there and you will surprise what communism is capable to do.
Why are you comparing poverty like that? So if I find a capitalist country that has worst poverty than Cuba, does that invalidate the suffering of Cubans? Does that mean that communism isn't that bad? It's a poor argument. And it oversimplifies why each country has poverty in the first place
Poverty is poverty. Doesn t matters countries or comunist or liberal politics.
Don t be resentful.
All who never lived under a communist dictatorship don’t have any idea of real poverty.
@@jnez73 when someone does not have food to eat, they are not thinking in ideologies. again, don't be resentful
God bless USA.
Compelling work and storytelling and all. .. .
But it's also getting a little old--at least stale--to have yet another bleak picture painted of America, brought to light by a well-endowed org, helmed predominantly by people who come from enough privilege to pursue their Dream Job, and simply told without any meaningful attempt at changing the matter. . .as if watching and jeering, alone, changes a thing.
And I'm a fan of Matt Black. Have been following him for years.
You are the promise of the American Dream! You are driving around freely in a truck most people in the world would desire, doing what you hoped to be doing, with a camera in one hand that comes in around 2k and another camera to record the images that can't be documented do to the limitations of eather the film stock or ISO you have personally selected at the moment. All awhile someone you care about is filming your quest to answer your negative questions, is America Died? You sir are a cup half full perpetuating a lie that is way too easy to tell and promote. Because were I sit you are the affirmative answer of yes to the fulment of your question. Cheer up you depressed old boomer. Your life is Amazing! And YES the American dream as exhibited through you is alive and well.
"You are driving around freely in a truck most people in the world would desire..." - I don't know. In all the countries you would compare the USA to it's not a big thing to have a truck and drive around "doing what you hoped do be doing". Not even in Russia I guess. Yet I have never been to a country in Europe with this sort of poverty. I've been to Germany, Austria, France, Slovenia, Netherlands, Italy, Croatia, Belgium, Switzerland... The situation is better there. So I'm not sure why you are being offended by a human you call a "depressed old boomer". What is triggering you? Isn't it a good thing to acknowledge a problem? That's what he is doing. It's a first step. Like Matt Black I'd like to see things getting better for everyone in the US.
He doesn't shoot on film. It's all digital work. Not sure how you can look at this kind of poverty and say the American dream is alive and well. For whom? Certainly not everyone.
Dont agree with the sentiments expressed by Mr Black. All societies have their economic strata.
We NEED tiny homes that poor Americans can buy working $18/Hour or less! Tiny house structure should be affordable and durable for under $30,000 [ 1 year of work to pay off ] 🔌🔌🔌