Running the Numbers: An American Self-Portrait

November 17, 2008 in Conscious Living · Written by Tara Joyce · Follow Me on Twitter

Depicts 1.14 million brown paper supermarket bags, the number used in the US every hour.

Depicts 1.14 million brown paper supermarket bags, the number used in the US every hour. photo credit: Chris Jordan

I just learned of photographer/artist Chris Jordan’s brilliant exhibition, Running the Numbers: An American Self-Portrait. Chris combines specific quantities of something (such as plastic cups), statistics (one million plastic cups are used on airline flights in the US every six hours) and photographic inventiveness to present viewers with a real and stark understanding of America’s outrageous consumption patterns.

Depicts one million plastic cups, the number used on airline flights in the US every six hours. photo credit: Chris Jordan

You can view the complete Running the Numbers series on Chris Jordan’s website.

Keep in mind: The images are not Photoshop creations. You are viewing the actual number of items such as toothpicks, plastic bottles, etc. as enumerated in the captions.

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  • http://thecreativecareer.com Allie Osmar

    I saw Chris Jordan's TED Talk a few weeks ago – this is worth checking out as well – a very interesting way to put things into perspective

  • http://www.elasticmind.ca/innerpreneur Tara Joyce

    Thanks for the interesting link, Allie. I'll be sure to take a look. I really admire Jordan's ability to present consumption realities in an engaging, awe inspiring and alarming way.

    Tara

  • http://goodandcrazypeople.blogspot.com Carissa

    Wow, these are awful pictures really? You try to limit how much you add to the plastic garbage world, and then you realize your tiny effort is just that tiny. Grr.

    @carissarogers on twitter

  • http://www.elasticmind.ca/innerpreneur Tara Joyce

    Carissa,

    Don't feel hopeless. Your actions have a huge impact, never doubt that. Just think how much worse things would be if there weren't people like you and I, actively trying to make a difference. Hopefully, art like Chris's will help drive action in those that weren't aware of the problem. All we can do is educate and Chris does an excellent job of presenting the facts in an engaging and “holy shit, we need to do something!” way. I don't doubt his work may change a few minds.

    Thanks for commenting,
    Tara