Comments on: Roger Ballen's Photography of Rural South Africa.

By: headspace

headspace — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 14:32:19 +0000

The British were as equal to oppression as the Afrikaners were. This is not a political platform you cretins. Brilliant photo.

By: Ano

Ano — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 21:19:10 +0000

Shame on you publishing these boys here...as the same for the author, these two look as if they're from a mental hospital! and that's no joke. Poor people from the rural country side don't look like them...I grew up there and even if the country side is big, you will not see men/youngsters like this...i think this pic was taken from somewhere in Europe and for the sake of his book published as if it's SA. Those men don't have the characteristics of SA men!

By: Black South African

Black South African — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 04:40:51 +0000

It may come as a shock to you dear Vanessa that the British descendants in South Africa wholeheartedly supported and benefited from Apartheid as well. The British were just better at hiding their prejudice.

By: Nick

Nick — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 21:51:46 +0000

Perhaps they would look better if they smiled.

By: Vanessa

Vanessa — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 17:32:46 +0000

Wynand Winterbach:

You've got some nerve talking about the "prejudiced" British in SA, and the poor, poor Afrikaners. Because we all know the Afrikaners in South Africa have never bestowed prejudice upon anyone; especially not the Black South Africans!

By: Kirsten

Kirsten — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 06:35:42 +0000

I think these pictures are sort of beautiful actually. Especially the woman so sweetly holding the puppies. These people have obviously had a rough life and the diversity of humankind is kind of wondrous, if sometimes seemingly a bit tragic.

Although Greg Smith's comment was pretty funny.

By: Storm

Storm — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 23:15:20 +0000

Yes, they do seem somewhat unflattering. I suppose the Diane Arbus school of freakshow photography will never die. In my eyes it is an immature photographer who seeks out these types of easy hits. When we start out we all shoot old people with lots of wrinkles, and tramps with torn faces. Eventually, hopefully, we learn to see the freaks inside ourselves instead.

For more great fun at other people's expenses, Google "Shelby Lee Adams".

By: Miranda Vink

Miranda Vink — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 20:53:41 +0000

I guess photographer Roger Ballen's goal was to make the most unflattering portraits possible of South Africa's white trash population. Judging by this photograph he certainly succeeded...

By: Justin

Justin — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 17:04:52 +0000

Can you hear me now...

By: HvH

HvH — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 15:55:13 +0000

Deliverance 2 Revenge of the Banjo Boy

By: MarlonS

MarlonS — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 14:30:58 +0000

Apologies for being pedantic, but a correction to the post left by BrianT...

Literally translation for "platteland" would be flatland.

In context however, it means countryside.

By: Wynand Winterbach

Wynand Winterbach — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 11:13:33 +0000

[Deleted per request of user]

By: BenJCarter

BenJCarter — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 07:26:00 +0000

Is it just me or do those ears look like LOTR special effects...

By: Joe

Joe — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 03:26:26 +0000

They look like two cars coming down the road with both doors open. Is that drool I see?

By: Greg Smith

Greg Smith — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 01:35:47 +0000

What's the story behind those ears?

By: Carl Huber

Carl Huber — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 00:52:52 +0000

Those are outstanding portraits. Really, there's so much story behind those eyes.

By: melissa

melissa — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 00:41:59 +0000

is this a real photo, or has it been doctored?

By: brian t

brian t — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 23:25:31 +0000

It's not just breeding, malnutrition played a part. It's a harsh life. I was there from age 6 to age 23. No, I'm not sorry I left! My fellow Brits used to call the Afrikaners "Rocks", and it wasn't a compliment. Every school vacation they'd throw themselves down from the Highveld to the Natal coast, an event known as the Rockslide... PS: "Platteland" translated from Afrikaans is "Flatland". As two-dimensional as it sounds.

By: americano

americano — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 23:11:48 +0000

Geezus H Christ....I took a look at the link and was shocked. The folks in the Platteland make the country folk back home in the South look like supermodels. WTF? Is this a result of inbreeding or what? Scary scary scary looking people....

By: dodgyd55

dodgyd55 — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 23:10:53 +0000

wow they look inbred...... you were thinking it to

By: Barry

Barry — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 22:20:40 +0000

Heeeeeey, I'm 1/4 jackal too!