“Raised In America”: My Photography Project That Depicts The Complex Childhood Of Modern Kids (15 Pics)
Childhood in America today is much more complex than it has ever been. I was lucky enough to be raised in the '80s and '90s when little children still had a sense of freedom and independence. There were very few worries and I was able to go on adventures and express myself freely. I was not concerned about what was going on in the world, who was a president, or whether I might be shot, kidnapped, hurt, sick, or addicted to anything. I could be myself.
In the past, children were forced to work like adults but a modern society child is forced to think like an adult. We are raising kids within a culture heavily dominated by the media and entertainment industry. We are hammering American kids with social rules and stereotypes, regulating them, overscheduling them while overprotecting and sheltering them at the same time. We drag them through our own social battles and expect the same from them. At the end of the day, we offer them electronic devices to keep them quiet and to entertain them so we don't have to.
I create my photo series utilizing negative panoramic space, breaking the quotidian of the photographic frame. The subject in these black and white photos is isolated and alone, a child's hands are raised, often holding up a simple object to bring a visual narrative of what it is like being “Raised in America”.
More info: nolanstreitberger.com | Instagram
This post may include affiliate links.
How Do I Look?
Assimilation
My wife and daughter are American Indian. Assimilation is: the process of becoming similar to something. The cultural assimilation of Native Americans was an assimilation effort by the United States to transform Native American culture to European–American culture. I also consulted other natives from multiple tribes, they all agreed that this is the best term, however other terms do also apply.
Load More Replies...The Modern Babysitter
Man well that certainly wasn't true for me!! There a family of truly lovable kids I babysat for many years before they moved away... I still check up on them, and I spent every payed hour giving the time of their lives. I understand what a positive influence an older teenager can have on young kids. It's an influence I always wished I had growing up myself
I don't think a child would be strong enough to hold a tellie
Load More Replies...Side Effects May Include
There was a mediceine that said: "May cause Heart Attack, Stroke, Hault of Breath, Death, terminal illness, intrest in suicidal actions, and other death related thoughts, actions, or illnesses, along with diahhrea, projectile vomiting, rash, or depression." Who would even take that risk?!
I had an antihistamine that could make some people tired (which I never experienced) so my doctor wanted me to try a new type of antihistamine which didn't have THAT side effect. It just had heart attack, vomiting and cardiac arrest as side effects. I refused to even try it and switched doctor and demanded to get back on the old antihistamine that claimed to make some people tired.
Load More Replies...Comfort
Go Play
I mean, i see this. Its OK to play video games, but if thats all you do, its an unhealthy obsession, and can ruin your physical and mental health. Example: Fortnite. If thats all you focus on, your IQ does get a bit lower each time you play. If you play something like Nintendo Labo, thats more innovative, and boots creativity, so that one is one of the best ones to play if video games is an obesssion...
Nothing's wrong with play them, but video games become a danger to kids when they desensitize kids and when kids and teens spend time playing video games when they should be sleeping. The average teen spends 8 hours on electronics, and plus the 8 hours they spend in school, time getting ready for school (longer for girls than for boys), and the time that they spend doing home work, that makes 20 hours where they are awake. This isn't healthy for any kid, considering that every teen should get 9 hours of sleep AT THE LEAST. Most kids get as little as 5 to NO hours of sleep. That is when video games are bad. When they control us, instead of us controlling them.
Load More Replies...Cut The Cord
Desensitized
My neighbor says that he wants to be in the military as a"Shooter Person". I don't think he fully understands.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Load More Replies...Candy Cigarette
Sheltered
Agitprop
Layers
Dress Code
To "cover up and shield" I think. That's how I saw it 🤔
Load More Replies...Ohhh... The dress code. :( They are getting so bad these days. Especially for girls. There have been several cases where girls were punished, had to change or expelled because they were "distracting the males". If boys can't focus because we're showing our shoulders, that ain't our fault.
Also, my interesting perspective for anyone who might care to listen, going to school I never had those problems of being told to wear longer shorts or longer sleeves, I actually felt peer pressured instead to wear more revealing clothes. I don't dress like Angela from the office (lol), but I do choose to wear longer clothes than perhaps the majority of people because I believe that although boys should have nothing to do with it, I'm not going to protest my "right to wear whatever I want" by putting myself in danger since we live in an imperfect world. Ideally, yeah, I could wear the shortest shorts and tank tops that I want, but I don't want to if I could be in danger for it. I hate that I can't, but I'm not gonna be dumb about it... anyway I was always peer pressured to wear more clothes which always hurt my self esteem growing up. Made me feel like I was doing something wrong, or like I couldn't be respected....
Load More Replies...At schools here in UK, there are a bit more laid back with dress code, as long as you dont wear playboy shirts, gang shirts, inappropiate apparel, boys can't wear women cut jeans, etc. My friends in America have the WORST most STRICT dress code apparently...
Aren't most british kids in uniforms still? If you walked in just about any American school you would not think the drrss code too strict.
Load More Replies...Piece Of Meat
Dark, depressing and lacking creativity. I don't even care if I get down voted.
I completely agree. The images should be able to speak for themselves without the caption. This one doesn't.
Load More Replies...why is the "dress code" one a welding glove? it would've been better if it was high heels like girls dress a certain way and boys dress a certain way
Metaphorical. It represents dressing "for their protection", obviously uncomfortable, but "safe".
Load More Replies...You make america look like a bad place, media/people like you, point out the bad and often blame someone else. Blah
I appreciate what the photographer/artist was doing. However, I come to Bored Panda for joy or to rant.
Nah, they missed the other talking head fave subjects, immigration and racial tension
Load More Replies...Dark, depressing and lacking creativity. I don't even care if I get down voted.
I completely agree. The images should be able to speak for themselves without the caption. This one doesn't.
Load More Replies...why is the "dress code" one a welding glove? it would've been better if it was high heels like girls dress a certain way and boys dress a certain way
Metaphorical. It represents dressing "for their protection", obviously uncomfortable, but "safe".
Load More Replies...You make america look like a bad place, media/people like you, point out the bad and often blame someone else. Blah
I appreciate what the photographer/artist was doing. However, I come to Bored Panda for joy or to rant.
Nah, they missed the other talking head fave subjects, immigration and racial tension
Load More Replies...
