Talking to Americans
Jonathan Forsyte & Thomas Venker
From East Coast to West Coast in 19 days and 25 cities
New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington,
Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago, Louisville,
Memphis, Hot Springs, Texarkana, Austin, San Antonio,
Marfa, Terlingua, Fort Davis, Roswell, Vaughn,
Albuquerque, Houck, Grand Canyon, Williams,
Las Vegas, Tecopa, San Francisco
Photographs by Jonathan Forsythe / Interviews by Thomas Venker
Whoever’s running the show, the United States of America always looms large.
But almost two decades into the twenty-first century, what do its actual people
think about their lives, their hopes, their futures?
Perhaps that most American of activities, a road trip, could provide some
answers. The idea for an expedition all the way across the US had been h anging
in the air between myself and photographer Jonathan Forsythe for a long time.
We’d worked together for over a decade, whenever music journalism had
brought me from Cologne, Germany to New York. During this time our work
flourished into a friendship and our conversations gradually ranged beyond our
professional cultural endeavours to the current state of the USA.
The election of Donald Trump as president was the deciding factor: we
wanted to experience with our own eyes and ears what makes this country tick,
hearing it in the voices of its own people. Our manifesto? Visit at least one
different US city every day for three weeks and simply approach so meone at
random, catch their eye and start a conversation.
One thing overwhelmed us both: people’s openness, their readiness to share
the private details of their lives with two foreign tourists. To be photographed
as they go about their day. Turns out the only thing stopping us were the fears in
our heads.
For that reason, it was hard to select whose stories to tell, which photos
to include from endless rolls of (yes, analogue) film. But we ho pe we’ve done
justice to all those kind people who agreed to take part.
In Volume 1 you’ll find the photos of our journey in chronological o rder,
in Volume 2 the talks. So come and meet the Americans (and enjoy the trip).
Order Now!
Jonathan Forsyte & Thomas Venker – Talking to Americans – KP 001
If you want to purchase additional copies of this edition please contact us.