Academic

Orlando t-shirt seller uses homeless models

Photo by Wheat Wurtzburger

An Orlando t-shirt business called Fat American every so often uses homeless people to model their t-shirts in photos by Wheat Wurtzburger.

"It may be an unorthodox way of flaunting our t-shirts, but we feel it is appropriate when we consider our feelings about the failure of the United States social system. Throughout the photo shoot we didn't meet a single person whom the US government hadn't failed. Of the 11 homeless men and women we photographed 5 are mentally ill, two are Vietnam war veterans, two are physically disabled, one is down on his luck (unemployed), and one has aids, he apologized for the spots and sores he displayed while putting on the shirt we gave him. The only system caring for this group of people is the prison system."

Full post as published by the 13th juror on December 11, 2009 (boomark / email).