This photo represents the Kabul that Amir returns to. Growing up in Kabul, with nearly unlimited privilege, Amir enjoyed the greatest fruits that Afghanistan had to offer. Just like the pomegranate tree that grew near his house, the old Kabul of Amir’s memories could be represented by a big prosperous tree, which has now been cut down, reduced to a stump. Once a tree is cut down, it dies and has little prospect compared to a full grown plant. The hand, which represents the Taliban, is the cause of the tree being killed. The Taliban took over Kabul and began to run it with an iron fist, taking the fruits of the city for themselves, and casting fear over the people. They left the city in ruins, shown by the dirt sitting around the tree. The dirt around the stump is dry and not conducive to growth, just like Kabul after the Taliban arrives. The lives of the people of Kabul have been reduced to poverty, ruled over by a harsh and unsympathetic regime.
This is very insightful, and I was thinking that the fence behind the tree stump could even relate to how people in Kabul might not see a way out.
ReplyDeleteI like how it relates to Farid's criticism of Amir, when he told him he didn't know the "real Afghanistan," and how, when Amir comes back, he finds it defies all his expectations.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very well thought out interpretation of the photo. I especially liked how you included the shadow of the hand to represent the taliban. I think that the lines in the tree could also represent the scars both physical and mental that people recieved from the Taliban and the other unrest that people experienced in Afghanistan.
ReplyDeleteI really like the addition of the hand as a representation of the Taliban; I think it's an insightful and creative part of the image. I could also see how the leaning of the stump might represent Amir's desire for Kabul to be the same again.
ReplyDeleteWOW! This is so creative! I was thinking something you could add could be how the lack of any greenery or plants nearby suggests that Amir is not the only one affected by the Taliban and how others are feeling his pain as well.
ReplyDelete