Nobody Applauds You: An American Story of Depression by Photographer Alec Dawson (14 photos)

American photographer Alec Dawson is deeply interested in the topic of depression, which he calls "an emotional cancer." This interest is far from idle—the artist is searching for new methods of art therapy for this unpleasant condition, which has become a real scourge of American society. Anxiety, apathy, constant regret, and the need for solitude—all of this is reflected in his series "Nobody Applauds You."





Looking at Dawson's work, dedicated to the depressive states of Americans, it's hard to believe they could have a therapeutic effect. But in reality, "Nobody Applauds You" has a powerful effect on people who are depressed.



Many who have encountered Alec's work claim to recognize themselves in his characters and feel a sense of relief. With his photographs, the photographer lets anyone who is down in the dumps know that they are not alone in this world and that there are thousands of people around them with similar problems who also revel in their condition. This may seem like small consolation to those in real despair, but for most people whose problems are imaginary or easily solvable, Dawson's photographs can be a powerful catalyst for recovery.

To add maximum tragedy to his subjects, Alec Dawson plays with light. This gives his subjects a slightly theatrical quality, and the scenes themselves resemble stills from horror films. This method of emphasizing the tragic nature of a situation has the opposite effect on the viewer, and this is precisely what the artist strives for.



The characters in "Nobody Applauds You" are emphatically unhappy—not only are they morally oppressed, but they are also unkempt, disheveled, and surrounded by disorder. Those around them don't understand and don't want to console them, and, of course, they won't get any applause.











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IN Recently, photographers have become increasingly concerned with social issues, and this interest has resulted in powerful projects such as Joel Pares's series on prejudice and stereotypes.