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As I set out to begin photographing Shanghai, I…

“As I set out to begin photographing Shanghai, I encountered the insider/outsider phenomena in the most personal of ways. You would walk into an old neighborhood in the center of city, and people would begin to point at you. People would begin to talk about you, spreading the word about the…” quote by Howard W. French
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“As I set out to begin photographing Shanghai, I encountered the insider/outsider phenomena in the most personal of ways. You would walk into an old neighborhood in the center of city, and people would begin to point at you. People would begin to talk about you, spreading the word about the outsider who has wandered into their midst, look at him, he's got a camera, what's he doing, is this allowed, is this OK, how should be respond to him.”

Howard W. French

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Being an outsider in a community reveals social dynamics and perception.

In simple terms: Outsiders are noticed and judged.

Key Takeaway

Observe and respect local sensitivities.

Themes

culture perception identity

Mood

reflective cautious

Type

ethical observational

When to use this quote

  • journalism
  • travel photography
  • community engagement

Key Concepts

social anthropology visual storytelling ethics

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can you build trust as an outsider?
  • What responsibilities do you have when documenting others?
A Different Perspective

Outsiders may be seen as intrusive.

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