Thinking About Photography
Dedicated to expanding our ideas about photography
JeongMee Yoon
© JeongMee Yoon, Seoyoung and Her Pink Things, Seoul, South Korea
The Pink & Blue Project
The Pink and Blue Project began with my daughter. My six-year-old daughter loves pink. She wants to wear only pink clothes and only own pink toys and objects. My daughter is not unusual. Most other little girls in the United States and South Korea love pink clothing, accessories and toys. This phenomenon seems widespread among various ethnic groups of children regardless of their cultural backgrounds. This preference is the result of cultural influences and the power of pervasive commercial advertisements such as those for Barbie and Hello Kitty. Through advertising, customers are directed to buy blue items for boys and pink for girls. Blue has become a symbol of strength and masculinity, while pink symbolizes sweetness and femininity.
© JeongMee Yoon, Cole and His Blue Things, New York, USA
© JeongMee Yoon, Emily and Her Pink Things, New York, USA
© JeongMee Yoon, Seunghyuk and His Blue Things, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
To make The Pink and Blue Project series, I visited children’s rooms, where I displayed their possessions in an effort to show the viewer the extent to which children and their parents, knowingly or unknowing, are influenced by advertising and popular culture.
© JeongMee Yoon, Charity & Hopey and Their Pink Things, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
© JeongMee Yoon, Kyungjin and His Blue Things, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea