Cried Quote by Ben Shahn
“We tried to present the ordinary in an extraordinary manner. But that's the paradox because the only thing extraordinary about it was that it was so ordinary. Nobody had ever done it before, deliberately. Now it's called documentary, which I suppose is all right ... We just took pictures that cried out to be taken.”
About This Quote
Source Film: Documentary (general term), early 20th century
The quote highlights the irony of presenting everyday subjects as extraordinary, yet the true novelty lies in their ordinary nature, which was previously unrecorded deliberately
In simple terms: Ordinary subjects become notable when highlighted, but their uniqueness is their ordinariness
Key Takeaway
Recognize value in everyday moments
Themes
art
observation
paradox
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- photography
- film
- journalism
- museum c
- archival work
Key Concepts
Aesthetics
representation
authenticity
Questions to Reflect On
- What makes ordinary subjects compelling?
- How does framing affect perception?
A Different Perspective
The claim of being “extraordinary” may overlook deeper cultural or political implications
![“What I believe is really good in the so-called documentary approach to photography is the addition of lyricism.[this quality] is usually produced unconsciously and even unintentionally and accidentally by the cameraman.” quote by Walker Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bfe/walker-evans-14813_approach_what-i-believe-is-really-good-in-the-so_209744.jpg)
