Untitled ("Great America") 1979

Curator: This is an untitled work by Bill Dane, often referred to as "Great America," held in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's stark, isn't it? Almost haunting for a theme park scene, the high contrast and tight composition draw you in. Curator: Dane's work frequently explored the everyday American landscape, questioning ideas of leisure and labor through his photographic practice. Notice the Ferris wheel in the background, framed by the park's architecture. Editor: The materiality of the silver gelatin print—its texture and tonal range—adds to that sense of distance. It feels less like a snapshot and more like a constructed commentary. Are we meant to think about the labor involved in creating this amusement? Curator: Absolutely. Dane's sharp eye captures not just the spectacle but also the underlying structures, inviting us to consider the social forces at play. Editor: It makes you wonder about the politics of leisure, about who gets to experience "Great America" and at what cost. Curator: It prompts a useful reflection on the production of photographic images, too, and the stories they tell about our culture. Editor: A powerful image when you consider all those implications.