Sunday 18 April 2010

The Word on the Street

Messages on walls are the voices of the invisible, but normally the stories behind them are screamingly obvious. Occasionally though you find something a little more enigmatic and melancholic.

On a large blank wall canvas, someone has sprayed “Refusons le monde de ceux qui ont” (loosely translated as ‘reject the world of those with’). Is this deliberately enigmatic? Was the author interrupted? Will they ever come back and finish the message? What was the message they wanted to share with the world?

The second message is a more classic attempt to sell some unwanted goods. However, the items for sale are rather surprising - two wedding dresses in two different sizes. The message doesn't tell us if they have ever been used or not.

9 comments:

Tim said...

The graffiti photo is particularly interesting because [...]

Alexandre said...

I have to disagree with you on your translation (although you did say it was a loose translation).
In English, don't you say "the haves" and the "have nots"
I think this means "Refuse the world of those who have/belonging to the haves".
It may not sound very nice in English, but the point I would like to make is that this seems like a complete thought to me in French.

Owen said...

"With, without...and who'll deny it's what the fighting's all about?"

As for the second one, don't they know about eBay ?

Adam said...

Alexandre: I said 'loose translation' because the sentence for me is most definitely unfinished. If you look next to the word 'ont' you can see that the person has begun another word. I guess you are close to the sentiment of the author, but I really don't know what they wanted to say exactly (and so cannot translate), but if anyone else has any ideas, feel free to leave them here in the comments!

Cergie said...

Mince j'ai laissé s'effacer mon très intéressant (comme d'habitude) commentaire / les robes de mariées pendues dans l'armoire le poids pris par les mamans etc...
Et / le dîner de samedi soir avec notre fils au restau "l'illiade" en face du dessin de ZOO PRO dont je t'ai déjà parlé ainsi que la peinture murale sûrement une commande de la ville à Ben93.
Ce ne te sera pas difficile de le compléter avec ce que je t'en ai reécrit.

Res I(p)sa said...

There's definitely a novel in that second one...

jonnifer said...

It's simple politeness that if you get cut off mid-graffiti you come back and finish. Some people!

Starman said...

I think the first message is complete.

Dragut said...

I guess this is just a critic of consumerism...

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