Congratulations to Carla Barkham for her winning entry to the Second International Politics Photo Contest!
The Significance of the Picture
“The picture shows Fortune Cats, known as manekineko in Japanese. Traditionally, the cat has its paw raised as if it’s waving in good fortune for its owners and can bring monetary luck into the household.
I took this photo at a shrine near my home in Japan, and it makes me think of the workers throughout history who have prayed here for money and success while the capitalist system sets them up to fail; in my recent modules I have been learning about the history of capitalism and found this visual representation of all those who have hoped for success very poignant. The cats are crammed in, queuing up for their portion of good luck, just like the modern American Dream teaches labourers that they, too, can be billionaires. This unrealistic, tenuous hope is captured in this pale procession of manekineko.”
About Carla
Carla writes:
“I moved to Japan when I was 18 and only recently returned to study International Political Economy at City. While in Japan, I adored visiting shrines, as each one was dedicated to a specific spirit or god, and this one touched me the most out of my whole time there. The cats, so numerous, so weathered, represented so many individuals to me. I chose to take the photo from above, just as the spirits would see them- but I also thought of all the businessmen looking down on us ants in central Tokyo, with money and power, while we worked and hoped. Now, living in London, a similar class divide fizzes under the skin of the city, and therefore I hope this photo will resonate with you.”