Photographs of Japanese-Americans at Manzanar

Embrey's story differs from Adams' pictures because she captures the reality of the internment camps; whereas, Adams' pictures only show smiling people and people playing cards. Adams neglects to share the real experience of the camps which is what Embrey does. Embrey gives a real life account of how dry and dusty the place was and how it was surrounded by barbed wire. Through Embrey's words, you realize how poorly they were treated and how they were cut off from civilization simply because of their race. If they were to leave the camp and walk out the gate they would have been shot. Adams' pictures don't show that aspect of the camp.
Adams' pictures show how the Japanese-Americans passed their time. His pictures show how they made the best of a horrible situation and instead of sitting around arguing about American democracy they played cards, grew crops, and learned how to make dresses. Adams shows the appearance of the outside of the internment camps; whereas, Embrey takes the reader in to the inside of the camps and tells us what really happened inside of the walls and barbed wire.

Photgraphs of Japanese-Americans at Manzanar

Embrey gives a personal account of how the people felt secluded at Manzanar. She sheds light on the subject of how they were "fenced" in from the rest of America as a "safety precaution" during the war and six months after. She also described how there was two opinions of those in Manzanar; those who beleive America is a just and democratic nation that will soon rectify their mistake of the relocation camps, or those who beleive that America clearly fucked up and there is no use in hopes for the near future. In comparison to Adam's photos do not portray the real emotions or feelings of those "interned" at Manzanar. They are protrayed a smitten and completley adapted to the American lifestyle and culture charecterized by their clothing and hairstyles. They are captured in peculiar settings in classes, outside, on the farm giving the feeling that they are quite smitten and giving the impression that the relocation camp is ok. Embrey's story was much more informational that was the truth of the harsh Mananar relocation camp, and exactly what was going on inside the fences of enclosure.

Manzanar

From the Embrey account you actually have a personal experience of how life at a relocation camp. Only looking at Adams pictures, it looks like the relocation camp did not look as bad as it really was. The pictures portray that the camp had a good environment to live in and the people who lived in those camps had a really good relationships with each other. When reading the Embrey account you learn that the camps were a little different than assumed by looking a the pictures. Something that can be learned from the pictures that can not be learned from the Embrey account is the way the camps looked. Embery does not give a description of the relocation camp.

Manzanar

One thing that you can learn from Embrey's essay that you cannot learns from Adams' photographs is a firsthand personal account of one family's experience in the internment camp. However, the photos give more details and provide a visual aid to help you understand the conditions of the camp.

Manzanar

Embrey and Adams bring out very different aspects to the Manzanar internment Camps. Like Brittany said, Embrey makes the place come alive with her vivid description of the camp. She is able to capture the emotions of the camp through her words. Because she experienced the camp fist hand she has a more personal effect on the reader. She is able to successfully portray the emotions of the imprisoned Asian Americans through her writings. This method iffers from Adams in that Embrey has a first hand account of the situation.

Adams pictures differ from the Embrey's writting in that you have a picture to tell you the exact emotion of the camp. The pictures capture exactly what the camps were like. It is not up to the reader to make up their own emotions regarding the camp like it is in the story. Adams pictures capture the exact moment. It is a sort of raw image of the world in the interment camps.

Manzanar- Brittany

What I learned from Embrey about Manzanar that I did not learn from Adams's photographs was the reality of Manzanar. It was this place that trapped people in, with no way out, except to join the Army. Embrey describes the barb-wired fence, and seeing Mt. Williamsons peak crested in gray clouds. Her stay there seemed to be forever. Embrey made her life in Manzanar seem rough and unhappy.
In contrast, what I saw from Adams's photographs that I did not find in Embreys account was that the pictures were beautiful. Through his pictures the people living there look happy. Adams does not show a photograph of the barb-wired fence, and he does show a photo of Mt. Williamsons as a very beautiful mountain. Adams's shows a side that to myself seemed to be wonderful, for example: his photo's show mountains, dressmaking classes, a church, a happy electrician, a happy little girl, and a proud farmer, and for his last picture it is women playing a game while they smile and laugh.
I feel that the stories "Photographs of Japanese-Americans at Manazanar" and "Some Lines for a Younger Brother..." relate to the story "A Small Place" by Kincaid. This is because Adams is like the tourist in Embreys town. He takes pictures that doesnt show the "true" side of the natives land. So for Embrey her story is more real, because it is her life, she lives day in and day out. Whereas, Adams takes great pictures of Manzanar, with leaving out the actual tradegy, and then he goes home.

-Brittany

Manzanar Matt P

In reading and viewing both of these selections, i can agree with almost everyone that has written so far. The written portion gives you a view from someone who was in Manzanar when all the tragedy happened. Ansel Adams was on the other side of the fence, he was a free man who could do what he wanted. Embrey's wrote about her own life story in those internment camps. Ansel gave a postivie outlook on this story but i have to state that it is alot easier to show good sides of people when your not around all the time.

My biggest problem with this section of reading comes from the fact that yes Ansel is a world renowned photographer, but thats all he is, a photographer. Embrey did not write this, to tell us a fictional story, or to entertain us, she wrote it to explain what she went through with these internment camps. You can view Ansel as a positive photographer yes, but i believe that the more powerful of the two is Embrey because she was there. She had to live the life that Ansel was able to just walk up and photograph. Adam's did portray alot of the more positive things that you can get out of his pictures. Although at the end of the day Adams's could go home to a nice comfortable house, while Embrey was forced to live in an interment camp. Which side do you propose has a better view on the situation.

Kate-Manzanar

I learned from Embrey's story that Manzanar was a rough place to live. Most people could not afford much because their businesses were getting shut down because they were Janpanese and were taken in to Manzanar and held in by barriers. People became afraid of the guards and had to try and find ways to escape. Adam's pictures show everyone with smiles on their faces like they were happy to be there. He shows them playing cards and enjoying themselves. Embrey talks about the hardships of life in Manzanar while Adam's shows that people enjoy themselves and having classes and going to church.