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Dash Snow
About the artist:
Dash Snow was a photographer who originally began to take photos in order to remember his youth and nights which he thought may be forgotten. He was a defiant person being enrolled from a young age to a treatment facility to aid people with "defiant disorder". This defiance to society can be seen through much of his work with one of his most well known collage techniques being the act of using his own semen as a form of paint to deface newspaper articles. Snow died young at age 27 but left an impact on the photographic community due to his unusual and unorthodox methods of documentary and collage photography.
Denotation: The above image features a collection of polaroid images which document the photographers life.
Connotation: The use of polaroids creates a sense of nostalgia surrounding the images a polaroids are a historic medium of photography and often associated with scrapbook and memories. The bright but somewhat washed out images show the fact that youth is a bright point in life but often burns bright and fast becoming a washed out memory. This is important as it shows that a memory or polaroid will never be as bright or strong as the event itself so our youths should be cherished and lived in the moment to the fullest.
Context: Snow began to work with polaroids and instant film in order to remember the nights that he thought he may forget due to his fast paced lifestyle.
(2)
Julius D. High
About the artist:
Julius D. High is 22 living in Georgia, America and currently completing a Bachelors degree in Photography as well as studying sociology and gender/sexuality/womens studies. He hopes to use his photography to explore the others subjects which he is studying currently.
What is Love?
Denotation: This project is focused around discovering how strangers feel about love and what it means to them as a concept and emotion. The above images are of Alex, Ordonez and the text below is his view on what love is. The images are both shot on Fujifilm Instax mini film a modern form of instant film similar to the older Polaroid film.
Connotation: This image and text suggests that todays youth are a closed generation whom do not have the time to truly think about what love is as they are constantly being pulled from one necessary task to another leaving them to busy to focus on the present. The Instant film is important as it captures the subject in his current environment forcing him to stop and think for a moment.
Context: This series is focused around exploring what our generation views love to be and the different ways people can interpret the world.
(3)
Collier Schorr
About the artist:
Schorr was born in 1963 in New York City. Her work is described as "post modernist" "toeing the line between documentary and fiction". Schorr's work is heavily focused around identity and the way that this can be shaped by the society we live in. Schorr often incorporates collage as a medium in her series and produces images which critique the roles people are placed in in our society. School balances her fashion photography with her more experimental styles giving her a striking portfolio.
Denotation: This image features collage of a young man with a leather jacket draped over one shoulder and lipstick smeared across his mouth he has a shaved head. This image has been cut up to reveal another image of a figure in a blue shirt lounging on grass at night.
Connotation: The shaved head and leather jacket on the boy carry connotations of danger and masculinity as well as the rebellious attitudes of youth. This sense of danger is contrasted with the red lipstick smeared across his mouth as this is a traditionally feminine addition to his outfit. The fact that the subjects eyeline has been removed from the image and the other youth's face is not visible suggests a personal battle for identity from the subject as they struggle to fit into a society that forces us to fit into a strict gender binary and the roles that are dictated by this. The contrast between the black and white in this images adds to this as they are deeply contacting tones.
Context: This image is still relevant in society today as personal expression is still something that is explored in our current society. Schorr's work often focused around self expression and for this reason much of her work features youth.
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David Shama
About the artist:
Shama's work is a blend of spontaneous documentary and orchestrated shoots in a style which mimics documentary photography but presents a more idealistic view of the world as staging is involved. Shama is a Swiss photographer and grew up in a photographic environment with his mother being a photographer and both of his parents taking photographs of him since he was young.
7Eleven
Denotation: The image above is shot in portrait and features a group of friends hugging and looking at the camera. The image is saturated but features a range of muted tones and pastels this avoids it from appearing garish but enables it to look realistic.
Connotation: The embrace featured can be seen as relating to the way that over time gender roles have shifted as in the past it would have been viewed as unmanly for two male friends to hug in the way shown above. The bright colouration in the image carries connotations of happiness and summer giving the image an appealing and nostalgic appearance as it makes the viewers look back on their youth and past friendships.
Context: This shoot features a couple and the girls friend they were asked by Shama to take part in the shoot meaning it is an orchestrated documentary series however still contains aspects of the genre.
(5)
Fumi Nagasaka
About the artist:
Fume Nagasaka was born in Nagoya, Japan and is currently living in America where she moved to study English. She is a magazine photographer as well as completing independent projects enabling her to branch out into various mediums of photography.
Untitled Youth
Denotation: The above image features a young teenage girl with pink dyed hair and braces wearing a denim jacket. The image features muted tones and is in portrait dimensions.
Connotation: The connotations of the use of pink on both the subjects braces and hair can be liked to the fact that whilst they are a typically feminine colour pink is being embraced by the millennial generation as negative connotations of femininity fade over time.
Context: The clothing choices and colouration in this image are relevant to the societal view of youth today and there is focus around "millennial pink".
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Sonya Kydeeva
http://www.dazeddigital.com/photography/article/23283/1/coming-of-age-in-21st-century-russia
http://www.dazeddigital.com/photography/article/23283/1/coming-of-age-in-21st-century-russia
About the artist:
Sonya Kydeeva is a Russian photographer who focuses around photographing youth in Soviet Russia. Her images are in the style of documentary photography and often contain muted colours or black and white tones.
Denotation: The image above features a young man laughing sat on his bed in his boxers with a cross around his neck. The image is in landscape orientation and is black and white providing an interesting tonal contrast throughout the image.
Connotation: The subjects care free expression suggests that he is in a joyful mood and the fact that he is in his boxers suggests a carefree attitude. The cross hanging around his neck suggests that he is religious and Christian.
Context: The context for this series is that Kydeeva was interested in capturing the lives of boys and young men in Soviet Russia as not just a photographer but as a "friend".
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About the artist:
Ashleigh Armitage is a feminist photographer from Seattle, America. Her work is centred around telling stories of girls by girls through the medium of photography. Her work is all staged in a documentary style giving it a more realistic feeling and enabling the viewer to relate to it. Ermitage focuses around youth as a subject for photography.
Class of '93
Denotation: This image features two girls passing a tampon underneath the stall divider in a public toilet. There is a theme of blue throughout the image as well as other pastel colours and the image is orientated in landscape with a shallow depth of field drawing focus to the tampon and the girls nails.
Connotation: The passing of the tampon symbolises the sisterhood between women and the way that the only way for us to succeed is by working together. The use of blue throughout the image shows society working away from gender norms as blue is a traditionally masculine colour the use of blue can also be seen as a way to demonstrate that periods are not unsanitary opposed to some public views as blue is a colour linked heavily with purity and cleanliness. The chipped nail varnish on the girls hands link to breaking away from the idea presented by society that girls and women have to be presented perfectly in order to be successful.
Context: This image links towards the need to break away from traditional gender norms in todays society as this is still an issue that needs to be discussed.
Ashleigh Armitage is a feminist photographer from Seattle, America. Her work is centred around telling stories of girls by girls through the medium of photography. Her work is all staged in a documentary style giving it a more realistic feeling and enabling the viewer to relate to it. Ermitage focuses around youth as a subject for photography.
Class of '93
Denotation: This image features two girls passing a tampon underneath the stall divider in a public toilet. There is a theme of blue throughout the image as well as other pastel colours and the image is orientated in landscape with a shallow depth of field drawing focus to the tampon and the girls nails.
Connotation: The passing of the tampon symbolises the sisterhood between women and the way that the only way for us to succeed is by working together. The use of blue throughout the image shows society working away from gender norms as blue is a traditionally masculine colour the use of blue can also be seen as a way to demonstrate that periods are not unsanitary opposed to some public views as blue is a colour linked heavily with purity and cleanliness. The chipped nail varnish on the girls hands link to breaking away from the idea presented by society that girls and women have to be presented perfectly in order to be successful.
Context: This image links towards the need to break away from traditional gender norms in todays society as this is still an issue that needs to be discussed.
(8)
About the artist:
Balzary is a Photographer based in LA and the daughter of Red Hot Chilli Peppers "Flea". Her style is documentary photography based around candid shots featuring friendship and romance with soft colourisation. Balzary has also worked in advertising for brands such as Converse and in editorial roles for Teen Vogue.
Iceland
Denotation: This image is from a documentary series shot in Iceland. The image features the photographers hair being blown over the camera and pastoral imagery of rolling fields and a blue cloudy sky. The subjects red dress contrasts heavily with the blues and greens helping to make her stand out against the Icelandic landscape.
Connotation: The hair across the camera gives the image a candid appearance giving it an over all care free tone this amplified by the fact that the subject is running and the empty carefree landscape that the image has been shot in.
Context: Balzary enjoys capturing candid moments between herself and her friends this gives her images a relatable quality as viewers can se their lives through her lens.
Iceland
Denotation: This image is from a documentary series shot in Iceland. The image features the photographers hair being blown over the camera and pastoral imagery of rolling fields and a blue cloudy sky. The subjects red dress contrasts heavily with the blues and greens helping to make her stand out against the Icelandic landscape.
Connotation: The hair across the camera gives the image a candid appearance giving it an over all care free tone this amplified by the fact that the subject is running and the empty carefree landscape that the image has been shot in.
Context: Balzary enjoys capturing candid moments between herself and her friends this gives her images a relatable quality as viewers can se their lives through her lens.
(9)
Nina Manandhar
http://www.dazeddigital.com/photography/article/32904/1/documenting-the-style-subcultures-of-soho
http://www.dazeddigital.com/photography/article/32904/1/documenting-the-style-subcultures-of-soho
About the artist:
Manandhar documents the historical fashion of areas through photography. She does this as a form of activism "using social history to bring communities together".
What Soho Wore
Denotation: This image is in portrait settings and features a man dressed in drag with brightly coloured accessories in a club in Soho. A shallow depth of field as well as lighting is used to draw focus to the subjects face.
Connotation: This image carries connotations of freedom of self expression which is important as it allows people to represent themselves in a way which is true to who they are opposed to the way which society wishes for them to be.
Context: The context for this image is that Soho is an area of London which allows freedom of expression amongst those who go there.
Manandhar documents the historical fashion of areas through photography. She does this as a form of activism "using social history to bring communities together".
What Soho Wore
Denotation: This image is in portrait settings and features a man dressed in drag with brightly coloured accessories in a club in Soho. A shallow depth of field as well as lighting is used to draw focus to the subjects face.
Connotation: This image carries connotations of freedom of self expression which is important as it allows people to represent themselves in a way which is true to who they are opposed to the way which society wishes for them to be.
Context: The context for this image is that Soho is an area of London which allows freedom of expression amongst those who go there.
(10)
About the artist:
Richard Kern is a photographer and film maker who aims to document the darker side of human nature and the parts of ourselves that we have to hide from society. He currently works and resides in New York City and is most interested in sexual representation and the way that we often hide our true selves.
Denotation: The above image is one of Kern's early polaroid images and features a female subject with her arms crossed above her chest. The entire image has pink and purple tones throughout with some in the subjects hair dye and some in the images lighting which creates a glow over the image.
Connotation: The pink and purple glow suggests femininity due to the fact that pink is a traditionally feminine colour however the subjects bulky jewellery contrast with this as they remove the idea that women must be presented as fragile and delicate.
Context: Kern does not often shoot on Polaroids currently however he does often shoot images of women and focuses largely on identity and how we are viewed by ourselves opposed to by society.
Richard Kern is a photographer and film maker who aims to document the darker side of human nature and the parts of ourselves that we have to hide from society. He currently works and resides in New York City and is most interested in sexual representation and the way that we often hide our true selves.
Denotation: The above image is one of Kern's early polaroid images and features a female subject with her arms crossed above her chest. The entire image has pink and purple tones throughout with some in the subjects hair dye and some in the images lighting which creates a glow over the image.
Connotation: The pink and purple glow suggests femininity due to the fact that pink is a traditionally feminine colour however the subjects bulky jewellery contrast with this as they remove the idea that women must be presented as fragile and delicate.
Context: Kern does not often shoot on Polaroids currently however he does often shoot images of women and focuses largely on identity and how we are viewed by ourselves opposed to by society.
(11)
About the artist:
Martin Parr is a British documentary photographer who uses garish and bold colours to counter the images fed to us by society with his own humour. Parr's images provide an insightful look at how we as a society live and interact making Parr's documentary work although to some satirical also gritty and realistic as a representation of life.
Lifes a beach
Denotation: The above image is a landscape image shot on a British Beach by Parr focused around heavily saturated and bright colours. Shallow depth of field is used to draw focus to the British flags in the images foreground as well as the girl walking in the images centre.
Connotation: The flags in the images foreground carry connotations of England and how we are "Great" Britain. The girl walking through the image carries connotations of the younger generation and how they are the future of England. The image also conveys a sense of joy to the viewer as a result of the beach setting when combined with the bright and saturated colourisation.
Context: Parr's main focus in his photography is to create a somewhat satirical view of the world through documentary photography.
Martin Parr is a British documentary photographer who uses garish and bold colours to counter the images fed to us by society with his own humour. Parr's images provide an insightful look at how we as a society live and interact making Parr's documentary work although to some satirical also gritty and realistic as a representation of life.
Lifes a beach
Denotation: The above image is a landscape image shot on a British Beach by Parr focused around heavily saturated and bright colours. Shallow depth of field is used to draw focus to the British flags in the images foreground as well as the girl walking in the images centre.
Connotation: The flags in the images foreground carry connotations of England and how we are "Great" Britain. The girl walking through the image carries connotations of the younger generation and how they are the future of England. The image also conveys a sense of joy to the viewer as a result of the beach setting when combined with the bright and saturated colourisation.
Context: Parr's main focus in his photography is to create a somewhat satirical view of the world through documentary photography.
(12)
About the artist:
Loli is a Greek artist who is currently residing in America. She views herself as a "modern vintage artist" and enjoys using collage to create a sense of narrative throughout her work. Her work often features whimsical and surreal scenes which are created from a mesh of old and new items and images.
All Fun and Games
Denotation: The above image features an image of a young girl drinking out of a straw with a man screaming placed above it and a brain placed on his head with the straw appearing to go into the mans brain. The image uses a blend of coloured images and black and white with a vintage styled appearance.
Connotation: The connotations of this image are that children must take knowledge from the generation before them and that for us to be successful as a species we must allow for this to happen.
Context: Loli uses a range of different clippings from images in order to create an eye catching piece.
All Fun and Games
Denotation: The above image features an image of a young girl drinking out of a straw with a man screaming placed above it and a brain placed on his head with the straw appearing to go into the mans brain. The image uses a blend of coloured images and black and white with a vintage styled appearance.
Connotation: The connotations of this image are that children must take knowledge from the generation before them and that for us to be successful as a species we must allow for this to happen.
Context: Loli uses a range of different clippings from images in order to create an eye catching piece.
(13)
Hannah Hoch
About the artist:
Hannah Hoch is an artist who lived in the 1800's and the 1900's she began her work as a part of the Dada movement as a form of reaction to WW1. Her work is largely composed of collages as a way to act out against the constraints of what a person could be which were imposed but the society at the time.
Denotation: This image is a college featuring a female dancer with the face of what appear to be a man wearing a monocle pasted over it.
Connotation: The image carries connotations of femininity conveyed through the female in the ballet pose however this is contrasted heavily by the placement of what would appear to be an intellectual man placed above it.
Context: This is important as at this time the female rights movement was emerging with gender roles being questioned by society.
Hannah Hoch is an artist who lived in the 1800's and the 1900's she began her work as a part of the Dada movement as a form of reaction to WW1. Her work is largely composed of collages as a way to act out against the constraints of what a person could be which were imposed but the society at the time.
Denotation: This image is a college featuring a female dancer with the face of what appear to be a man wearing a monocle pasted over it.
Connotation: The image carries connotations of femininity conveyed through the female in the ballet pose however this is contrasted heavily by the placement of what would appear to be an intellectual man placed above it.
Context: This is important as at this time the female rights movement was emerging with gender roles being questioned by society.
(14)
Petra Collins
About the artist:
Petra Collins is a Canadian photographer who is currently living and working in New York. She completes both editorial shoots as well as independent shoots which often feature a soft and pastel appearance and are focused around youth.
Selfie
Denotation: This image features a group of teenage girls taking a selfie with a phone. The image is in landscape orientation and has a peach overlay with a shallow depth of field to draw focus to particular members of the group.
Connotation: The pink colouration carries connotations of femininity as well as our current society as pink has currently been dubbed "millennial pink" due to the fact that our society is removing the negative stigma surrounding femininity and pink and are reclaiming the colour.
Context: The use of the phone is important as cell phone an selfie culture is a pivotal part of youth in the 21st Century with social media being at the forefront of modern life.
Petra Collins is a Canadian photographer who is currently living and working in New York. She completes both editorial shoots as well as independent shoots which often feature a soft and pastel appearance and are focused around youth.
Selfie
Denotation: This image features a group of teenage girls taking a selfie with a phone. The image is in landscape orientation and has a peach overlay with a shallow depth of field to draw focus to particular members of the group.
Connotation: The pink colouration carries connotations of femininity as well as our current society as pink has currently been dubbed "millennial pink" due to the fact that our society is removing the negative stigma surrounding femininity and pink and are reclaiming the colour.
Context: The use of the phone is important as cell phone an selfie culture is a pivotal part of youth in the 21st Century with social media being at the forefront of modern life.
(15)
Thomas Ruff
About the artist:
Thomas Ruff is a German photographer who was born in 1958. His style is generally focused around simplistic portraiture of singular subjects. Ruff also uses photograms in some of his more recent work this a camera technique created and practised by Man Ray.
Denotation: The above image features a subject placed against an orange background which compliments her orange eyeshadow and lipstick. This combined with her angular black hair cut and and black and white striped shirt gives the image a clean, sharp and striking appearance.
Connotation: The orange used gives the image a warm appearance and gives the subject a quirky and unique appearance despite the fact that she is looking at the camera with a deadpan gaze.
Context: This image is indicative of Ruff's signature style.
Thomas Ruff is a German photographer who was born in 1958. His style is generally focused around simplistic portraiture of singular subjects. Ruff also uses photograms in some of his more recent work this a camera technique created and practised by Man Ray.
Denotation: The above image features a subject placed against an orange background which compliments her orange eyeshadow and lipstick. This combined with her angular black hair cut and and black and white striped shirt gives the image a clean, sharp and striking appearance.
Connotation: The orange used gives the image a warm appearance and gives the subject a quirky and unique appearance despite the fact that she is looking at the camera with a deadpan gaze.
Context: This image is indicative of Ruff's signature style.
(16)
Barbara Kruger
About the artist:
Barbara Kruger is a collage artist from America. Her work is designed as a form of political self expression and aims to link her viewers together by using phrases such as "us" and "them" in her collages. Her style can often be defined through her use of red blocks of colour with white font over black and white images.
Barbara Kruger is a collage artist from America. Her work is designed as a form of political self expression and aims to link her viewers together by using phrases such as "us" and "them" in her collages. Her style can often be defined through her use of red blocks of colour with white font over black and white images.
Denotation: This image is of a picture of Marilyn Monroe with the text "Not stupid enough" overlaid across her face. Other similar phrases are places around the images edges in Kruger's distinctive red and white style.
Connotation: The fact that the image of Marilyn Monroe has been used as the basis for these critiques is important as the critiques are all phrases used to belittle women. It is important for us as a society to see the fact that even women deemed as perfect as Marilyn Monroe are still judged by society and that no body is truly perfect in the eyes of our society.
Context: This image is relevant as a part of Kruger's feminist work as the feminist movement is still important in our society today as we are still being judged in the same way as the above image shows.
(17)
About the artist:
Rania Matar is a Lebanese/Palestinian/American photographer focused around documentary, portrait and fine art photography. This is seen through her work surrounding youth culture particularly teenage girls and the way that they escape society.
A Girl and Her Room
Denotation: This image is a landscape image and features a girl in her room with her back to the camera but with her face visible in the mirror. The image shows the subjects room as it would appear in real life opposed to a neat and presentable version giving the image a sense of realism.
Connotation: This image carries connotations of freedom of expression which are seen through the subjects tattoo as well as the need to hide ourselves from society through the way that the subject is faced away from the camera. This reinforces the idea that our room is our personal sanctuary from the world as the girls face can be sen in the mirror of her room.
Context: This image is relevant to our society as people are still judged by society through the way in which they wish to express themselves.
A Girl and Her Room
Denotation: This image is a landscape image and features a girl in her room with her back to the camera but with her face visible in the mirror. The image shows the subjects room as it would appear in real life opposed to a neat and presentable version giving the image a sense of realism.
Connotation: This image carries connotations of freedom of expression which are seen through the subjects tattoo as well as the need to hide ourselves from society through the way that the subject is faced away from the camera. This reinforces the idea that our room is our personal sanctuary from the world as the girls face can be sen in the mirror of her room.
Context: This image is relevant to our society as people are still judged by society through the way in which they wish to express themselves.
(18)
About the artist:
Patrick Winfield is a New York artist who works both in collage and composite imagery. This is interesting as it shows that both veins of photography can exist separately and effectively in a single artists portfolio. Winfield has done a lot of work with Polaroids which interests me as Instant film is an interesting and challenging medium to work with as a result of the fact that it is unpredictable.
Denotation: The above image is a portrait of a young girl shot on polaroids other images are also used to make up the composite giving the image a warped and psychedelic appearance which intrigues the viewer.
Connotation: The bright colours and somewhat "trippy" subject matter featured in this composite is interesting as it draws the viewer in and makes them want to look at the individual panels of the image and the closer you look the more shapes and images can be seen in the composite.
Context: This image was shot on 132 Polaroids and placed on metal. The image is still relevant today due to the fact that Instant film is currently making a comeback.
Patrick Winfield is a New York artist who works both in collage and composite imagery. This is interesting as it shows that both veins of photography can exist separately and effectively in a single artists portfolio. Winfield has done a lot of work with Polaroids which interests me as Instant film is an interesting and challenging medium to work with as a result of the fact that it is unpredictable.
Denotation: The above image is a portrait of a young girl shot on polaroids other images are also used to make up the composite giving the image a warped and psychedelic appearance which intrigues the viewer.
Connotation: The bright colours and somewhat "trippy" subject matter featured in this composite is interesting as it draws the viewer in and makes them want to look at the individual panels of the image and the closer you look the more shapes and images can be seen in the composite.
Context: This image was shot on 132 Polaroids and placed on metal. The image is still relevant today due to the fact that Instant film is currently making a comeback.
(19)
David Hockney
About the artist:
David Hockney is an English artist who creates both paintings and photography. His paintings generally feature bright and warped images of nature such as trees where as his most iconic photographic style is his joiner photography which also conveys this same warped appearance.
Denotation: The above image is one of Hockney's most well known images and features layered images of an man smoking a cigarette shot from different angles to create a piled and distorted image.
Connotation: This image is interesting as it shows layers of the subject possibly indicating the layers of self which we all possess. The orangey tones of the subjects skin and then blue tones of the subjects background create an interesting sense of contrast in the image as they are complementary colours.
Context: The image features Hockney's iconic joiner style which makes his photographic composites recognisable across the photographic world.
David Hockney is an English artist who creates both paintings and photography. His paintings generally feature bright and warped images of nature such as trees where as his most iconic photographic style is his joiner photography which also conveys this same warped appearance.
Denotation: The above image is one of Hockney's most well known images and features layered images of an man smoking a cigarette shot from different angles to create a piled and distorted image.
Connotation: This image is interesting as it shows layers of the subject possibly indicating the layers of self which we all possess. The orangey tones of the subjects skin and then blue tones of the subjects background create an interesting sense of contrast in the image as they are complementary colours.
Context: The image features Hockney's iconic joiner style which makes his photographic composites recognisable across the photographic world.
(20)
About the artist:
Ashkan Honarvar is an artist from Iraq who grew up in the time of war. His work features collages which place humanity on a minute scale against other organisms and items in order to represent society. This is achieved through the use of collage techniques.
Denotation: This image features an interesting blend of bright colours with black and white creating an interesting tonal blend.
Connotation: The bright colours and flowers can be seen as symbolic of youth and life in Iraq whilst the skulls and bones in the image as well as the black and white colourisation can be seen as a description of the harsh realities of war and death.
Context: This image is part of s semi-autobiographical series of Honarvar's time growing up in Iraq during the war.
Denotation: This image features an interesting blend of bright colours with black and white creating an interesting tonal blend.
Connotation: The bright colours and flowers can be seen as symbolic of youth and life in Iraq whilst the skulls and bones in the image as well as the black and white colourisation can be seen as a description of the harsh realities of war and death.
Context: This image is part of s semi-autobiographical series of Honarvar's time growing up in Iraq during the war.
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