Dance, American Legion, Bangor Mar-79

Editor: This is Larry Fink’s photo, Dance, American Legion, Bangor. The high contrast and close crop create such an intimate yet grainy portrait. How do you read the symbolism of this seemingly everyday scene? Curator: Note the material realities: the working-class dance hall, the cheap clothing, the close physical proximity. Fink's social documentary style implicates the viewer. Where do we situate ourselves in relation to this scene of leisure and labor? Editor: That's interesting. I was focused on the emotional connection between the dancers, but I see how Fink's choices highlight their social context. Curator: Exactly. By focusing on the textures and the environment, Fink elevates the mundane, prompting us to consider the socio-economic implications inherent in leisure and social dance. Editor: I hadn't thought about it that way. It changes my understanding of the work. Curator: Considering the means of production changes how we perceive the final product.