When taking a look at Walker Evans' images presented in the gallery, I would have to say that they are more thought-provoking than anything. Sure, many people can discuss how they are disturbing, or heartbreaking, but what I believe that Evans was really trying to do was to notice the small details within the situation that he was capturing. During his lecture, when Lee interpreted the image of the poverty stricken family, he focused on the girl in the center, with her right arm slung over the bed, her dirty makeshift clothes, and her gaze off into the distance. Lee spoke of how we were called to assume that she was thinking of a better life, detached from her own surroundings.
Evans seemed to find ways to make simple images means so much more than we expect. Although he captures images that are directly related to American history, I feel that his techniques and the messages that are received through his work can be applied to global history. He focuses on poverty in many of his images, 
which is certainly not something that only Americans suffer. Also, many of the themes that he touched on are ones that are still prevalent and highly discussed today, here in America. In his image of the shoeshine advertisement, we learned that the word "shine" was also slang for an offensive term for black people here in the States. When looking at the shoes arranged in the picture, we cal also see that the black ones are placed separate from the white shoes, segregated, if you will. Evans' take on poverty in America is something that we viewers can still relate to as well. Especially in today's bumpy economy, many families are experiencing hard times, just as families were during the Great Depression. There are families today wishing for better times, just like the little girl in the previous image. There are families wondering where they will be able to find their salvation.
which is certainly not something that only Americans suffer. Also, many of the themes that he touched on are ones that are still prevalent and highly discussed today, here in America. In his image of the shoeshine advertisement, we learned that the word "shine" was also slang for an offensive term for black people here in the States. When looking at the shoes arranged in the picture, we cal also see that the black ones are placed separate from the white shoes, segregated, if you will. Evans' take on poverty in America is something that we viewers can still relate to as well. Especially in today's bumpy economy, many families are experiencing hard times, just as families were during the Great Depression. There are families today wishing for better times, just like the little girl in the previous image. There are families wondering where they will be able to find their salvation.Evans' work deals with themes that will be the subject of much cultural discussion for as long as there is organized society. His themes are broad and easy to interpret on an intellectual level. The real trick is being able to find these subtle details that bring us to the connections of poverty, racism and the evolution of community.
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