The image I chose comes from a Palestinian checkpoint. For some context, the Palestinians have been forced by Israel to go through these checkpoints every morning before entering Israeli cities for work. On an average day, thousands of people will shove their way through these tight closure checkpoints in order to make work on time.
In analyzing the image, you can see from the start that the amount of people present does not equate to the amount of space available. Without having any context, that alone could tell you that something is wrong with what is going on. Secondly, the metal fences that close in these people is representative of their lifestyle as a whole. Just as they are enclosed in this small space, outside the checkpoint their lives are still constricted to designated areas in their respective cities. Lastly, I think the most telling part of this image is the look of despair on most of the people’s faces, as the everyday reality of the hassle they have to go through takes its toll. While some probably hold a smile trying to keep a positive outlook, the majority have a downtrodden look on their faces, coming from a place of frustration and being fed up with their social condition.
I really like how this image highlights the untold story of Palestinians’ everyday lives. Without providing context, it’s clear to me that the living conditions of these people are not ideal. Additionally, I think the fact the the people resemble animals in a pen highlights the broken system that doesn’t treat them as human beings.