Linsy Fusch

July 11, 2009

Matt Kelley

The Disgust of America Towards Bush Captured By a Click of Soth’s Camera

The Last Days of Bush, by Alec Soth, is a collection of photographs that capture the effect

the Bush administration has had upon the country for the last eight years. The series consists of

thirty-six photographs along with one poem and a line of text from the same poem. Some of the

photographs are arranged while others are candid. The photographs were shot in an array of

locations within the United States; ranging from the east coast of New York to California’s west

coast. Many of the photographs in the series were shot in Minnesota, Soth’s home state. The

photographs shot within Minnesota showcase the issues that Soth feels are most detrimental to

America. Through the many images in the series Soth has been able to capture the contention

between the American people and the Bush Administration; therefore putting words into the

mouths of Americans who can not utter these critiques themselves. The words represented in the

photos speak for the outrages emotions felt by Americans in the issues of; the economic crisis,

September 11th, and Hurricane Katrina.

One photograph that evokes the emotions of these tragedies is the third in the set,

entitled, “Walker, Minnesota”. Minnesota is a location well chosen by Soth that serves as a

means for refuge for the American people. The state itself is located in the north central part of

the country. The choice of the town Walker is also interesting. Walker being George Bush’s

middle name gives the representation of people looking at the photographs representing George

“Walker” Bush from a distance. It is important in these photos to not only help his fellow
Americans find a voice through the pictures but also help to create a place of safe haven for them

as well. Having the photographs in Minnesota takes the Americans away from places like New

York, New Orleans, and Washington, D.C., all locations of turmoil and chaos in the years of the

Bush Administration. Being so far away from these locations helps give Americans a break

physically from the locations, leaving room for mental analysis. The distance from these sites of

events also helps Soth voice the opinions of Americans as well as present a new perspective. The

photographs taken in Minnesota give Americans the chance to examine the situations from a

place other that their direct occurrence; therefore aiding Americans interpret the last eight years.

This arranged photo consists of a mounted deer head upon the blank canvas of a white

wall. The head of the deer is not preserved but instead a bare skull. Soth chose this type of

mounted head to represent the death of the animal, along with the dilapidated spirit America has

acquired in recent years. The economic recession has been one of the many tragedies that have

left Americans feeling rundown, jobless, homeless, and hopeless. The dry barren skull of the deer

is the American people who have been drained of all funds, opportunity and faith in their

government. Soth chose to utilize the set of dice in the photo to represent the gamble made with

money by the government over the last eight years. The opinion of the American people is shown

as one of distrust and uncertainty, much like that of a gamble. Soth poses the question of, how is

one able to trust a government that has promised resolution with personal finance when they

themselves can’t resolve their own financial ruin.

This feeling of distrust between the American people and the government is further

established by Soth through the antlers of the deer in the photo. The deer has four horns on each

antler creating eight horns total, meant to represent Bush’s years in office. The antlers are

separated and put onto sides. They are meant to be a metaphor for his two terms. Hanging from
the antlers are dice. The dice hanging from the left set of horns display snake eyes, or two ones.

Immediately a punctum is seen, two ones, side by side make an eleven. This eleven represents

September eleventh, a date that will live in infamy within American history and the history of

George W. Bush’s presidency. During this time rumors were circulating that Bush was aware of

the attacks prior to the date and some even said that he was involved. Many in America had

mixed feelings towards the republican but chose to re-elect him in 2004. The public took a risk

and made a gamble in his re-election. That gamble is noted, and expressed by Soth for the people

through the dice. This is a representation for the risk the American people knew they were about

to make. It is a feature of the image that allows the voice of the American people to express their

regret and realization that they made a mistake.

This same distrust felt by the people continues to build through the right side of the

photograph. George W. Bush’s second term is represented through the right side of the antlers.

Here are another set of dice that display the number eight. This eight represents August, the

month in 2005 when Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast. This can also be seen through the

Mardi Gras beads that hang from the antlers as well. Mardi Gras is a celebration and tradition of

New Orleans, Louisiana, the area most affected by Hurricane Katrina. The Mardi Gras beads are

a powerful symbol for the culture of Louisiana. Soth placed the beads haphazardly among the

antlers to show the carelessness and lack of responsibility shown by George W. Bush during the

rescue efforts. The use of the Mardi Gras beads is a bold move by Soth; it captures both the

negligence of Bush and FEMA. The use of the beads is ironic in the context of Hurricane Katrina

and the lack of attention given to it. The beads themselves are eye catching, dazzling, glamorous

but the situation of Katrina was not. The beads are the first items in the photo that stand out,

grabbing the attention of the eye. Attention from the beads in the photo makes for irony in the
matter that during the aftermath the government abandoned of the Gulf Coast. Americans and the

people of Louisiana felt this abandonment and it is explicit in the photo. These are events and

emotions that won’t soon be forgotten and will cast a shadow upon his legacy; following him

throughout his life.

Soth captures this same shadow in the photograph through the use of harsh lighting.

Extreme lighting in the photograph against the mounted deer head emits a shadow behind the

head itself, upon the wall. This shadow is not only visually eye catching but also a representation

of how Bush’s legacy as the forty-third president. Bush’s mistakes are being examined and

people are voicing their opinions toward his actions. This shadow will follow him, wherever he

goes. In the photograph the shadow is another emotion expressed through Soth for the American

people. The shadow an “ah ha” moment, that what goes around comes around. Bush may be out

of office and free from the duties of his presidency but his legacy will following him for the rest

his life. Aesthetically the light is unpleasing to the eye. An unpleasing light is seen as a

representation of Bush as an eyesore to both the American people and the occupation as

president. He has not only disgraced America but has also managed to disgrace the highest seat

in US government.

Being one of the first photographs in the collection it makes a strong statement for the

feelings of Soth and other Americans. It is a photograph that lays Bush’s mistakes on the table. It

is a photograph that takes a bit more analysis and thought during examination. Compared to the

other photographs in the collection it is one that covers an array of issues during the Bush

administration. As the photographs in the collection progress they become more specific in the

critiques of Bush. The progression depicts the progression of problems in the Bush

administration, and how issues transcended from bad to worst throughout the years. With the
progression of more elaborate issues and photos come a more artistic and metaphoric approach in

attaining the photographs. For example in the photo entitled, “Columbia, Missouri” there is an

Islamic flag masked by sheer curtains. Soth depicts the feeling of Americans in the sense that

they know little of the Islamic faith and its people; the majority of Americans know only what

Bush has told them. This photograph is not more symbolic than that of “Walker, Minnesota” but

it is more specific in its attack on Bush. Through this collection Soth tells the story of the Bush

administration, completely uncensored. This story helps not only Soth express his frustration but

also expresses the dissatisfaction of the American people. “The Last Day’s of W” is a brilliant

collection of the last eight years and chronicles the problems of the United States.