“Our Hidden Poor” is a superb narrative piece that focuses on the poverty crisis in much of Illinois. In this report, published by the Chicago Tribune, it describes in great detail the discouraging facts outlined in this devasing truth about the poor and its struggles to survive in our society. According to the piece, the poverty rate of approximately 90% of all of the communities in Illinois, have reached an all time high. This piece focuses on seven families who currently live below the federal poverty line. Each session allows its viewers to hear from the families in their own voice.
The visual aspect of this narrative piece is very impacting. All of the images are in black and white which gives a sense of distress and distortion. Most of the photos taken are of close-ups of the elderly and childeren which futhers gives impact to the message of hopelessness and despair. I really liked the way each piece told a different story of how being poor has effected their quality of life. One picture shows the Castenda family, a family of six, forced to sleep in a one-bedroom home with the youngest children on the floor wrapped in blankets. The picture was shot from a high angle which gives the effect of looking down upon them. Also, the blankets add impact by allowing the viewer to imagine the cold air coming in through the cracks of their home. Another powerful photo was that of a single-black mom who receives $600.00 a month from the government for food, rent and clothing. In the photo, the mom is sitting on the couch while her children are in the foreground playing.
I believe this piece did a very food job. The sounds of the families drew you in to their world. The images were very moving and helped to tell the story behind the story.
