Art or Not

The article I choose was from www.slate.com.  The photograph is Dubrow's Cafeteria by Marcia Bricker Halperin, 1979.  This article mainly focuses on whether or not people consider this photograph art.  Out of an experiment for the Brooklyn Museum it was the top choice of art from over 3,000 people.  The audience for this piece would most likely be for adults because children may be confused.  The photograph was shot from the street in front of the cafeteria.

The photograph is very interesting because it looks like multiple pictures have been fit into one photograph.  The view is the front window of the Dubrow's Cafeteria, but the reflection of the cars and street are shown.  An old woman sits at a table by herself looking out into the street.  Behind her are other people in the restaurant sitting at tables and eating.  Sometimes it is hard to distinguish in the photograph if people are on the outside of the restaurant or in the inside.  This photograph almost plays mind tricks because all the images are crammed together.  

The author analyzes the work by describing in detail the piece. It is stated by the author that the photograph is a "beguilingly complex image".  The author later goes on to talk about how people viewed the photograph and how it was popular among a survey.  The work is not compared to other photographs or other pieces done by Halperin.  Research that was needed to analyze the photograph was that is was taken on King's Highway in Brooklyn, New York.