Abandoned America: The Age of Consequences
Matthew Christopher
(Author)
Description
If the creation of a structure represents the values and ideals of a time, so too does its subsequent abandonment and eventual destruction. In "Abandoned America: Dismantling the Dream," internationally acclaimed photographer Matthew Christopher continues his tour of the quiet catastrophes dotting American cities, examining the losses and failures that led these ruins to become forsaken by communities that once celebrated them. From the heartbreaking story of a state school that would become home to one of the country's worst cases of fatal neglect and abuse to the shattered remains of what was once the largest mall in the United States, "Abandoned America: Dismantling the Dream" asks what leads us to leave places behind and what the consequences are of doing so. Matthew Christopher's journeys through these dangerous and hard to access sites force us to confront who we were, who we are, and who we wish to become. Exploring the remnants of two gorgeous theaters fighting for survival, the country's largest privately owned zoo, a a beachfront community left for dead when its bridge burned, a massive crumbling asylum, a derelict ocean liner larger than the Titanic, and more, this collection of photographs and essays will take you on a journey you won't soon forget.Product Details
Price
$39.95
$37.15
Publisher
Jonglez Publishing
Publish Date
December 07, 2014
Pages
240
Dimensions
11.9 X 1.1 X 8.4 inches | 3.25 pounds
Language
English
Type
Hardcover
EAN/UPC
9782361950941
BISAC Categories:
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About the Author
Matthew Christopher has had an interest in abandoned sites since he was a child, but started documenting them a decade ago while researching the decline of the state hospital system. While he originally had no formal education in photography, Matthew has recently completed his MFA in Fine Art Photography. He has had gallery shows across the US, been featured on NBC Nightly News, lectured on abandoned spaces and mental health history for the Pennsylvania State Museum, Preservation Pennsylvania, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, and others, and his work has been in several publications/media outlets including Photographer's Forum, the Weather Channel, The Huffington Post, the International Journal of Arts and Humanities and the United Nations Chronicle. His website, abandonedamerica.us, has gained international attention and is considered one of the leading collections of images of abandoned spaces on the internet.
Reviews
"Matthew Christopher's photographic record of decay depicts the tragic truth: that something extraordinary has ended and that nothing like it may ever come back. We're now going in the other direction despite a lot of wishful thinking: toward a loss of complexity, a reduction in the scale of activity, a loss of artistry, and probably the end of many comforts, conveniences and amenities we've come to take for granted." James Howard Kunstler, author of The Geography of Nowhere "The places Christopher photographs tell their stories with silence and extraordinary light - the spaces between the life and death of a building. His pictures make me feel like someone told me a secret." Jane Derenowski, Reporter, NBC Nightly News "It's romantic, it's nostalgic, it's wistful, it's provocative. It's about time, nature, mortality, disinvestment." Joann Greco, The Atlantic Cities "Through his photographs, Christopher makes a powerful statement about job loss, urban blight and historic preservation. In light of the collapse of American industry and the subsequent economic meltdown, the relevance of these topics has never been more important to the examination of America's national identity." Joseph and Barrie Ann George, The Sentinel
