Customer Reviews

Assignment: Shanghai: Photographs on the Eve of Revolution (Series in Contemporary Photography)

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While very disturbing, to say the least, the pictures in this book are a necessary part of a history that remains with us. The privileged life for a few in Shanghai, contrasted with the starving masses eking out a living in their midst. Draconic measures, executions and riots, an emigre community divorced from the reality of life in China. In seeing these pictures you see the beginning of the end of a regime--to be substituted by another of unknown pedigree. But the heartening thing is that through the pain and suffering you do not see people giving up. Look at these pictures and get a shot of adrenaline!!

Assignment: Shanghai: Photographs on the Eve of Revolution reignited memories for all those that lived through the turbulent years of post WW11 Shanghai. The clear and graphical portrayal of those times came back to life. Elderly friends that lived in Shanghai at the time of this photographic history had tears in their eyes with the turning of each page. Truly if you want to understand what happened to China and in particular Shanghai -the Paris of the East as it was known- glance at these images and history will be brought to life.

Depressing shots of poor people in distress and the violence of the final days/months of the long Chinese civil war. Didn't see any artistry in the photographs, just poorly timed snaps. Not a Cartier-Bresson -ish magic moment in the whole book.