# Help me understand "Understanding Joshua"

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-understand-understanding-joshua/624948>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [June 12, 2012, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-understand-understanding-joshua/624948 "2012-06-12T19:49:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-understand-understanding-joshua/624948/1 "2012-06-12T19:49:55Z")

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Photographer Charlie White has created a collection of staged photos called “Understanding Joshua,” with the purported purpose of helping him “to explore the themes of male self-image and self-loathing.” The photos revolve around Joshua, a creepy humanoid puppet who is placed into various social situations and photographed.

The photo collection can be seen here:

http:// [photoslaves.com](http://photoslaves.com/understanding-joshua-by-charlie-white/)

Two-click rule in effect, as some of the pics are NSFW.

I’ve never been good at making sense of interpretive art, so I’m at a loss to understand what points White is trying to make in each of these pictures. Care to offer your perspective on any particular pics, or on the collection as a whole?