Happy Valley Photo Essay

[_Chap]

I have just looked through the comments. It is clear that nothing can stop Daniel Peterson once he has locked into his 'I am being unfairly criticized' loop. He just has no reset button, no matter how obvious it becomes that he is giving more and more scandal to believing LDS who find his posts obnoxious and embarrassing for the church, and creating more and more jaw-dropping incredulity amongst nevermos who find themselves asking 'Can this guy really be a bishop in their church? Is he for real?'.

Not for a moment does it occur to him to say to himself:

'This is not an edifying spectacle I am taking part in. I may be making souls who need my church feel less like wanting to know about it, and upsetting LDS who are not as tough as I am. So I shall let critics say what they want about me, even if I think it is unfair, and make a dignified withdrawal. That would be the Christ-like thing to do, and the best for everyone in the long run., including me.'

Nope. Not our DCP.

Oh yes, and the comments from Schryver are truly for the connoisseur! At least he didn't accuse Shumway of taking part in circle jerks in a trailer park ... well, not when I looked he hadn't, but give him time, give him time ...

[_Morley]

....
At least he didn't accuse Shumway of taking part in circle jerks in a trailer park ... well, not when I looked he hadn't, but give him time, give him time ...

Chap: No, but he did allude to the trailer park portion of that statement. And poverty equals moral deficiency.

[_Kishkumen]

These guys will be fortunate if Brother Otterson does not read this stuff.

[_sock puppet]

UPDATE: It appears that Will Schryver has joined the party over in the "Comments" section.

And leave it to William to be the one to finally draw out Brian Shumway himself, the actual photographer! Here are the relevant comments from (assuming this link will work) this page:

WILLIAM SCHRYVER originally writes:

As for Shumway's photography, I thought a few of the compositions were interesting. But make no mistake, virtually all of these photos were deliberately posed compositions—well-executed in some respects, but above all revealing of the artist's own gnawing sense of mediocrity.

Apparently he grew up on the "wrong side of the tracks". Alas, many did. Almost every county in America has neighborhoods on the "wrong side of the tracks". Shumway would have us believe his particular experience was typical of Mormon culture in general, and consequent to the (presumed) oppression of Mormon teachings. He would have us believe that the "slice of life" he pretends to spontaneously document in these photos is Mormonism. Of course, it's not. It's merely part of Utah, just as every poorly educated, culturally backward family in every bad neighborhood in every state is part of America.

The biggest problem with Shumway's photos, however, is that they scream out disingenuousness, as though an audio track accompanied each one and you can hear Shumway whispering, right before the shutter click: "Now remember, look as sad and depressed as you possibly can …" To me, disingenuous art is no art at all—it's merely propaganda.

BRIAN SHUMWAY responds:

i've kept silent during all of this, but can no longer. william, i will not tolerate this personal attack against me and my family. you're arrogance and ignorance are absolutely astounding. in fact, i demand an apology about suggesting my family is "poorly educated," "culturally backward" and from the "wrong side of the tracks." i applaud both the Mormons and non-Mormons who have defended this project against such idiocy.

WILLIAM SCHRYVER follows up:

Don't complain to me! You're the one who (apparently) calculated to make your subjects in your "Happy Valley" folder appear to be culturally backward and oppressed. Unfortunately, all you did (in my opinion) was demonstrate the axiom that contrived art is bad art.

"The artist's own gnawing sense of mediocrity?" "Poorly educated, culturally backward family?"
". . . calculated to make your subjects in your 'Happy Valley' folder appear to be culturally backward and oppressed?"

The icing on the cake, to me, is when Will responds to Shumway's demand for an apology by saying, "Don't complain to me!"

I don't know about you, but Will's utter audacity has me LOL!

Good to see the NAMIRS bunch released their Kraken on Shumway's photo expose and Time's blog.

[_RockSlider]

If only he would have given his standard priesthood cursing. But heck, who could have asked for more? Pure entertainment.

[_Darth J]

I knew Fratello Schryver would not let us down.

Please, please, PLEASE keep posting comments, Bros. Peterson and Schryver. PLEASE draw as much attention to yourselves as possible on this very public venue.

Speaking of "the artist's own gnawing sense of mediocrity," how is that game-changing explanation of the meaning and purpose of the Kirtland Egyptian Papers working out?

[_malkie]

These guys will be fortunate if Brother Otterson does not read this stuff.

Looks to me like they've been called off.

[_malkie]

Nope - I was wrong - Dan's back, supposedly to point out that the comment section was supposed to be about the photos.

But mostly he's just complaining (again) that he is being attacked and called names - behavior that he must know is likely to result in more negative comments about him.

You might think that a smart man would know to leave it alone ...

[_MrStakhanovite]

Mopologetic Maxim: Every hill is worth dying for.

This over reaction doesn’t scream cult at all, really…

[_Morley]

Comment:

Natasha

I thought it was rather neutral. If I wanted to show Mormonism in a bad light with a photo essay, I'd take photos of women crying. Lots of crying photos.