This
documentary explores the work of legendary Danish-American journalist, Jacob Riiss, whose work focused on documenting the
lives of the poor and working class during the turn of the 19th Century in the United States. The title comes from his famous quotation, "It was said long ago, that one half of the world does not no how the other half lives". Throughout his works, Riis recounted the lives of those
living in impoverished
conditions in Shanty towns throughtout New York
City. He offered the middle and upper classes of America to "know" someone living in
poverty by publishing books and articles that told their stories of hard labor, low wages, and filthy living conditions, combined with photographs of his subjects, which alarmed those who were previously unaware of these conditions. Throughout the documentary, sociologists and historians comment on the importance of Riis' work in informing the new American middle class about the situation within the inner city. Riis was one of the first journalists to do so, and he often held public meets to share his findings, which motivated many to push for legislation that protected workers rights and improved the situation of the poor. This era was a unique moment in history when many believed the end of poverty and suffering was just around the corner, and the right legislation and regulations could bring it to an end. This enthusiasm to help the less fortunate at the turn of the century is contrasted with the feeling of American society in the early 1990's, 100 years after Riis helped revolutionize the way people viewed the role of government in public welfare. Current documentary makers and photographers, who are following in Riis' footsteps demonstrate that shanty towns still exist within New York City, documenting the lives of the
homeless, and their struggles in daily life. Now days, many photographers attempt to present the poor and homeless as people who work, live and struggle, just as everyone else, and are not just a spectacle for those who are better off. Unfortunately, as the documentary proves, the optimism that existed in the 1890's no longer exists, and many have come to accept poverty as an inescapable reality.
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