A. Sanders and his seven category system (peoples of the 21st centrury)
In looking at this seven point system of Sanders it makes me think that in some ways the clarification is quite general and rather rigid. He tries to fit into a tight system in an organised way what is in fact only one dimension and way of identifying the people of his country and time. I suspect that there was a desire on his part to organise what he was perceiving by creating a narrative of order. However, when I look at the photos I don’t so much as see types as in a typology, but more an approach to looking at people by identifying them in their social and work oriented setting. This gives us a theme and something to identify with via the signifiers of work or social class making the pictures interesting.
Whereas Sanders was documenting and aiming to provide a sense of the social class structure of Germany at a time of social change, as compared to Nelson’s work for example it seems that he is making a point of looking at customs and practices that are dying out or are threatened by impending social and economic change.
