Untitled (San Jose, Calif.) 1984

Curator: This gelatin silver print, dating from sometime around 1970, is simply titled *Untitled (San Jose, Calif.)*, and was created by the American photographer Bill Dane. Editor: It strikes me as… ominous. The stark contrast, the partial view of what seems like military garb, and then those rifles on the right. It feels like a repressed memory resurfacing. Curator: Yes, the image plays on familiar themes of militarization and the display of power, especially potent in the era of the Vietnam War. The context of San Jose, California, adds another layer, given its proximity to Silicon Valley and the military-industrial complex. Editor: The layering is what’s so compelling. The uniform, almost ghostly, juxtaposed with the regimented display of gunstocks. The gun, of course, representing violence, and also perhaps the potential for control. It feels like a statement on the pervasiveness of that culture. Curator: Precisely. And Dane's choice to photograph this scene, to capture these elements, suggests a critical engagement with the political landscape of his time. He transforms a seemingly mundane display into a powerful commentary. Editor: I think it resonates even now, in a world that often feels defined by similar anxieties. Food for thought, definitely.