Taliban 2009

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Taliban 2009

Thomas Dworzak

The Taliban ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001. It's strict version of Islam allowed no photography or any depiction of Mammals. All men were required to wear a beard and women were no longer allowed an education and forced to wear burkhas.

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Really, really good! Many of them have a highly artistic quality (the very produced kitsch-ones).

Comment posted by nico ruesch (not verified) on September 21st, 2009

ingenuous, ironic and very... sacred

Comment posted by david matos (not verified) on September 18th, 2009

I find the images both striking and very disturbuing at the same time.

Comment posted by Richard Sharpe (not verified) on September 3rd, 2009

taliban-2009 - Very good news.

Comment posted by imprezy integracyjne (not verified) on August 30th, 2009

seeing them tells us they are very human... desiring a hope for good things in life... and yet are sadly being taught to fight a war where there is a high likelihood of their not surviving... so they capture their participation as fighters, holding their guns, and even as many are visibly already in adulthood, trained and ruthless as combatants... one can see they are essentially very much still children... a world where they have no accurate view of what is out there in the world... what can we do so people do not have to have such doomed hope?

Comment posted by sdyue (not verified) on August 14th, 2009

I came across your work (website) via the Digital Photography Review. There were mixed opinions / emotions / reaction to you work. I pried myself in being open minded, hence, I clicked the link. Perhaps I did not notice your purpose in creating you work. Regardless of your intent, I appreciate seeing the photographs and reading and listening to narratives. The photographs you presented reminds me of the portraits I used to oil paint forty-five years ago. A crude way of enhancing and preserving portraits. What I gained from viewing your work is a different perspective on the Talibans, beyond the religious and political issues, and a pleasant surprise of the ALMOST universal appeal of photography.

Comment posted by E. Cubarrubia (not verified) on August 14th, 2009

I hate to break it to you all but achieving anything through violence is an absolute myth! Good luck! but any success will only be short lived! Also, how men can ignore the absolute beauty of a woman is beyond me.

Comment posted by Davin Ellicson (not verified) on August 10th, 2009

I think that this portrait is awesome, thanks a lot folks I emailed this to my friends.

Comment posted by Poda Pozemky (not verified) on August 2nd, 2009

Maybe I've missed it but the voice-over commentator's name is not given. It sounds very much like the Pakistani author and journalist Ahmed Rashid.

Comment posted by notimportant (not verified) on June 3rd, 2009

A terrific find by Mr. Dworzak and a fascinating way to view not just a distant culture but an unintended outcome of what happens when so many diverse historical, religious, technological and personal currents overlap. We are a bizarre species and this essay captures a twisted fascinating moment along with unpredictable permutations of human behavior. However, the commentary was overly condescending as the kitsch homosexuality of the region has little in common with Pierre et Gilles except to desperately cynical westerners.

Comment posted by Bob Tine (not verified) on March 8th, 2009

what a fantastic essay. it has taught me a little of which i did not know about the taliban. i love the portrait of mr. dworzaks at the end. will he be using this as a future passport photo!!! regards, brian

Comment posted by brian shaw (not verified) on July 26th, 2007

I have been in Kandahar, but more primarily Tarin Kowt, for the past six months. I know everything stated in here to be true. However, most of my family and friends have a hard time believing the stories I tell them. I will be passing this around to all of them in hopes they can understand a little more. When I return home, I will also be purchasing the book. Thank you, Mr. Thomas Dworzak. It is truly excellent work. Matthew

Comment posted by Matthew Rowe (not verified) on July 27th, 2007