French carnie. Rouen, France. 1982
Posted by razzbuffnik on July 2nd, 2008
Unlike the tacky and highly flammable, polystyrene filled, stuffed animals that ones sees as prizes in carnivals here in Australia and in North America, the French carnies offer household goods.
The whole look of the “joints” in France is so different to what I was used from my days in the carnival. Much more old fashioned and that seemed to give them way more character. The only thing that it had in common with what I was familiar with was the tastelessness of prizes. It might’ve been more useful and less flammable, but it was still tat.
I saw this guy at a produce market.
July 3rd, 2008 at 9:57 am
Bonus! The guy looks like Charles Aznavour! Nice shot. Do you have a carnival series to show us by any chance?
July 3rd, 2008 at 11:03 pm
“Do you have a carnival series to show us by any chance?”
Not really. I didn’t take that many pictures when I was in the carnival. I was too busy partying all the time.
I’ll tell you what though, I wish I had. I was in some situations that would’ve made Diane Arbus jealous. How’s this for an image that I could’ve photographed but didn’t?
Dope smoking with a dwarf and a one armed man, passing his detached prosthetic arm with graspable hooks, as a roach clip.
I could kick myself!
July 4th, 2008 at 5:40 am
I’m kicking you, too! But, what am I saying? I lived in San Francisco for two and half years in the late 60’s and did not take one picture. Not one.
July 5th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Love the composition and the way Monsieur Aznavour looks ready to speak… But especially love the dolly toilet roll holder. My great aunt always had one in her loo… Such things still remind me of her.
July 6th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
Boy do I have a photographer for you! Try Joel-Peter Witkin – amazing but slightly deranged:
http://www.edelmangallery.com/witkin.htm
July 7th, 2008 at 8:14 am
Epic
“dolly toilet roll holder”
So that’s what it is! I always thought they were just tacky decorations that had no fuuction.
I wonder why all those Italian kid’s parents I knew at school had them in the middle of their beds? Actually, let’s not go there.
Nat
Thanks for the link. Very Eraserhead.
December 25th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
Nice pic! wishing that I can visit an “old-fashioned” carnival one day..