Foot binding is a tradition that began during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, flourishing during the Song Dynasty and fading in the early 20th century; British photographer Jo Farrell captured the last remaining women who were forced to endure such pain to achieve 'lotus feet,' a sign of wealth and aristocracy in the past. Yet looking at these images, it is hard not to liken it to a form of child abuse and torture.
Jo Farrell interviewed and shot 50 women in three Chinese provinces, the results of which she hopes to put together for a coffee table book titled 'Living History: Bound Feet Women of China.' Jo Farrell is currently seeking crowdfunding on Kickstarter. She reveals, "They feel somewhat ashamed of their feet, as it is a bygone tradition and does not represent modern ways in China. They are a generation of forgotten women."
What's Driving This Trend
- Cultural Traditions Preservation
- There is an opportunity to innovate by creating platforms to showcase and preserve cultural traditions that may otherwise fade into oblivion with time.
- Historical Documentation Through Storytelling
- There is an opportunity to innovatively document history through different storytelling mediums that create empathy and awareness towards historical events.
- Iconic Image Preservation
- There is an opportunity to preserve iconic images that can serve as a reminder of historical social arrangements and cultural norms that have influenced modern-day societies.
Who This Affects Most
- Photography
- Photographers can join in the efforts to document historical events and traditions that are unique to different cultures using innovative techniques.
- Publishing
- Publishers can tap into the opportunities available to showcase different cultures and their traditions through coffee table books and other literary materials.
- Technology
- Technology companies can develop tools and applications that are useful in distributing and showcasing storytelling and documentary materials to a diverse audience.
