Example 1: Learning Life Lessons by Faking One’s Own Funeral

“While South Korea’s economy has experienced strong growth in recent decades, another troubling statistic has grown as well. For years now, South Korea has had the second-highest rate of suicide in the world. Public and private programs have been developed to address the problem, and one getting notice lately is called “Happy Dying.” The program, led by Mr. Kim Ki-ho brings participants together to reflect on their lives by experiencing their own fake funeral. ” Photos were taken by Jean Chung.

This photo essay makes me wonder what it would be like to be at my own funeral? This exercise lets people experience it by recreating a mock funeral for themselves. It forces them to be pensive and aware of their life. I felt a little bit of existential crisis while looking at these photos as it forced me to think “What it it were me? How would it be like? Would anyone miss me when I die?”

The participants wrote mock wills and were left alone in the dark inside their coffins for at least 10 minutes, where they take time to contemplate life from an outsider’s perspective. I think this exercise really helps to make people realise what’s important in their lives. In a way, it’s sort of like meditation. Many participants get emotional throughout this process and I think that the more emotional you get, the more you learn from this exercise. You learn that life is precious, you are alive and you must fight for it.

I am very drawn to the lighting in this photo set. The rooms were lit with individual candles for each person and even the lighting feels like it’s mourning for them, lighting up no one else but just that individual.  The long shots in this photo set conveys this feeling. Most of the long shots are also diagonal to make it more dramatic. Whereas the medium shots give us more insight to each individual and their feelings at that moment. Some shots captured both the person and their funeral photo in the same frame, giving as sense of discomfort and detachment. Extreme close ups were only used to show important parts of the ritual. Not so much on the person themselves, maybe as a sign of respect during this deep, pensive moment. The sequencing is in chronological order and it gives us information on how the exercise was carried out.

Example 2: Mirage of the American Dream in Las Vegas

Photos by Christian Lutz. “Lutz returned each summer for three years, roaming the sleepless city for up to ten hours at night to capture the underbelly of this sparkling mirage . His new book, Insert Coins, presents those affected by the economic downturn. Some try their luck working in casinos, while others attempt to break into the entertainment industry. Both cases often lead to a dry spell that sends them in the streets, where many dress up in an attempt to pocket some extra dollars. Others collapse into indifference.”

His images feel very silent. It feels lonely, sad, resigned and defeated.
The American Dream is an illusion and these photos convey the idea very well. This photo sets reveals a lot of the “afters” and “backstage” of the glamour in Las Vegas. “A couple covered in peeling gold paint sleeps on the concrete ground; Two character costumes are discarded for the night alongside beer and leftover food; a man wrapped in a first aid blanket wanders beneath massive retouched billboards.” This is what the media rarely portrays in Las Vegas and it brings insight to the lives of these people and make us realise or reminds us again that these people exist.

His photos are mostly medium or long shots. There are no close ups. This is perhaps to show us the relationship between the subject and its background, which will evoke a more lonely and isolated feeling. The subjects are also candid, giving the illusion of us observing them in their environments secretively.

How will I act if I really come across scenes like this in real life? I think to myself “I don’t want to end up like that. ” and “Are they happy with their lives? How do I help these people? Do they want help?” I also ended up thinking “Money truly makes the world go round” lol. Now I’m worried for my future.