Untitled (Ford Motor Company luncheon) 1945

Editor: This photograph, "Untitled (Ford Motor Company luncheon)" by Harris & Ewing, shows a crowded luncheon with a Ford advertisement looming in the background. It's intriguing how the people seem almost secondary to the promotion of the Ford Motor Company. What does this image tell us about that time? Curator: This image speaks volumes about the intertwining of industry, labor, and consumption. The luncheon itself is a performance, a constructed event meant to solidify the relationship between the company, its workers, and the promise of a prosperous future symbolized by Ford. Editor: So you're saying the luncheon isn't just a meal, it's part of the production? Curator: Precisely. It's about manufacturing consent and loyalty. Consider the labor involved in staging this event, the materials consumed, and how this all reinforces the Ford brand. Editor: That gives me a lot to think about – it's not just a photo, it's a snapshot of the means of production in action. Curator: Exactly, and how those means shape our perceptions and social relations.