Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/11/17
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Hey- During Lange's time, Sears & Roebuck wasn't just a catalog - it was the catalog, and it was aimed squarely at the lower-middle class. At that point, the upper class wouldn't dare order from anything of the sort. They had enough money to visit the cities and buy their goods themselves, or better yet, pay someone else to do it. Lange photographed dirt-poor farmers who lived in the middle of nowhere. Sears & Roebuck not only carried relatively cheap goods, it had a huge selection of stuff that wasn't available in the boonies (shoes, clothing, hardware, etc.) and offered free rural delivery. I would imagine that a modern-day adaptation would read, "97% of the population shops at Wal-Mart." If so, she's probably still right. Somehow, I can't picture Bill Gates and the other 3% agonizing over Pert or Prell in the Shampoo aisle. - --Dan - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Matthew Powell" <mlpowell@directvinternet.com> To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us> Sent: Monday, November 18, 2002 1:11 AM Subject: Re: [Leica] Dorothea Lange - revisited > >> As an Englishman who has little knowledge of American culture, I have > >> always > >> assumed that she meant that 97% of US households had a Sears and > >> Roebuck > >> catalogue in the house. From those times to these I bet that the > >> percentage > >> has not changed as I think you will find a mail order catalogue of > >> some kind > >> or other in most UK homes. > >> > >> Gerry > >> > >> Gerry Walden LRPS > >> www.gwpics.com > > It could be something about how the population rarely seeks out anything > special, choosing convenience over quality. > > But you'd probably need more context to really tell. > > -- > To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html > - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html