In a message dated 11/2/2005 9:04:21 AM Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I think the importance of the description is that it clarifies who thinks the lady is useless. Without it, and without knowing Marnie, a viewer might draw the awful and incorrect conclusion that "useless" is the photographer's perception of the subject, not the subject's perception of herself.
ERNR ========= Thanks. That is exactly why I included a description. When I asked Mom about it, describing the theme as useless, she first reacted that I meant she was useless. I had to explain it was about her feeling useless -- which she got. So I didn't want anyone else doing the same thing. One thing for her to feel that, another for me to imply I feel that. Also I included the bit about not being able to sort anymore to maybe increase one's understanding of dementia. I am not sure everyone realizes that that goes too. A lot may know that the ability to read goes (to make sense out of the letters, putting them together into words, although the person may still be able to do small, short words), but not that the ability to sort goes also. It first starts with being unable to distinguish between white objects (did some research and found that was fairly common). Dementia not only affects memory it also starts affecting higher level cognitive functions. I wasn't really aware myself, until it started happening, that sorting was a higher level cognitive function. But think about it, tons of work depends on sorting. Filing in an office, sorting out a sock drawer, folding laundry, most paper work in an office, doing one's taxes, looking at old photos, filing old letters, well, the list is endless. So if you can't sort anymore you can't do much anymore. You can get along without reading if you have to, but you cannot get along without the ability to sort. Thanks again. (I am sure in scientific circles it's got a fancier name.) Marnie aka Doe :-)
